Biography – Flying Officer Sydney John Cornes

Family situation

• John was born in 1918 at his grandparents’ house in Halmerend, as a descendant of a family with Betley associations since the 16^th
• He had a younger sister Marie.
• He married Margery Cowell (17) when he was 20 and from 1940 lived at Bow End House, Betley.
• They had two children.

Employment and Interests

• Accountant’s Assistant, an amateur radio enthusiast and a keen flyer.

Service

• He enlisted in December 1939 as an Aircrafthand/Wireless Operator Class 2 at Cardington.
• He progressed through the grades and into training as a pilot, with an Emergency Commission in RAF Volunteer Reserve in February 1942.
• He saw active flying service over the Channel and was posted to Malta at Christmas 1942.
• Acting as Navigator he made many sorties in the North African theatre until he was lost in February 1943 at the climax of the Battle of Tunis.

Buried

• His body was never recovered but he is honoured on the Malta Memorial.