SQUIRES Isobel

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for navy casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

A letter from Isobel’s mother, F. Squires, 1 Offmore Lane, Kidderminster, dated 13th March 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that her name be added to the county roll of honour. The letter states that Petty Officer Isobel Squires, WRNS attached to the Fleet Air Arm, age 21, was killed in an aeroplane accident whilst testing wireless equipment on 27th July 1945.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Anthony Bowkett:
Isobel was served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service and was stationed at shore base HMS Condor, in Arbroath Scotland. She was serving as an air radio mechanic with 753 Naval Air Squadron (753 NAS), part of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.
On the 27th July 1945, Petty Officer Squires took off in a Barracuda Mk II aircraft, to test equipment. The Kidderminster High School Old Girl never returned. The wreckage of her aircraft was found at Leysmill Farm, three miles northwest of the base. Her colleague Petty Officer Pauline Gowper and pilot Warrant Officer George Francis Burns also perished. They were 21, 22 and 23 years old respectively.

Flying Tragedy
Petty Officer Isobel Squires Killed -In company with another Wren whilst carrying out a radio test on a duty flight at the R.N. Air Station, Arbroath, on Friday, July 27, Petty Officer Isobel Squires, of the W.R.N.S. Fleet Air Arm lost her life. Both women and the pilot, an experienced Warrant Officer, R.A.F., were killed instantly, when the aircraft got out of control and dived into the ground from about 2,000ft. Much sympathy is felt with the bereaved parents and families in their tragic loss.

Miss squires was the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs T Squires Jnr., 1, Offmore Lane, Kidderminster, and aged21. A former pupil at Kidderminster High School, she passed the School Certificate examination, was a keen member of the hockey team, played cricket and tennis, won the bronze medal for swimming, and was an all round sport at school. She also played for Kidderminster Ladies Hockey Club. On leaving school she joined the staff at the local branch of Barclay’s Bank, and was held in the highest esteem by the management and her colleagues. She joined the W.R.N.S. nearly two years ago, and gained rapid promotion through her aptitude as a radio mechanics of the Aircraft department, she is greatly missed by all who were associated with her.

The funeral took place on Tuesday, service at St George’s Parish Church being followed by internment in Kidderminster Cemetery. Rev. B.J. Isaac, M.B.E., T.D., S.C.F., Vicar officiated, assisted by the Rev. P.J. Martin. Besides the family mourners, friends and neighbours, others at the church included Mr and Mrs J.F. Coney, Mr E.A.K. Forrest (Barclay’s Bank), Mr and Mrs W.A. Greenway and Miss Margaret Greenway, Mrs H. Broome, Messrs. G. Evans, A. Turner, C.H. Simmonds (Churchwarden), Messrs. Stanley Goodwin Ltd., represented by Mr A.H. Simmonds.
A list of those who sent floral tributes followed.

Source: Kidderminster Times 1945.
Acknowledgements: ©Shuttle/Times & News, Blackwell Street, Kidderminster.
Kidderminster Library, Market Street, Kidderminster.

Edited by Mrs V. Ruth Butler.

Isobel Squires
Photo courtesy & Copyright of Kidderminster Times