BAND Alfred Vernon

On leaving Worcester Royal Grammar School in 1938, Alfred assisted in his father’s well-known funeral furnishings business. He joined the RAF three days after the outbreak of war and was made Pilot in December 1940. He trained abroad for 6 months, returning to the UK 5 weeks before his death. The Ministry of Defence records that he crashed his Hurricane fighter whilst training at Allendale, near Hexham, on 26th April 1941. He died of his injuries at Hexham Emergency Hospital. Five hundred mourners attended his funeral at St Nicholas’s Church before he was buried in Astwood Cemetery, Worcester.

Source for additional information: In Dedication to a Future World by Mark Rogers, 1999.

Alfred Vernon Band, occupation: Sgt Pilot R.A.F., resident St Nicholas Street, Worcester, died at Allenheads, Hexham, Northumberland. He was buried in Astwood Cemetery on 1st May 1941, aged 19 years, Dissenter. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend C.E. Cutler.

Source for additional information: Register of burials in Astwood Cemetery, entry no 53435, available on microfilm at Worcestershire Archives.

A letter from Reverend A.B. Drew, St Nicholas Rectory, “Highbrake”, Whittington Road, Worcester dated 4th May 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that A. Vernon Band’s name be added to the county roll of honour.

Worcester Evening News, Monday 28th April 1941