Kent, James Frederick Stamford (Pilot Officer, b.1913 - d.1941)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 402124 Pilot Officer James Frederick Stamford Kent, 250 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, at sea, India, and Egypt, 1941-1951.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains two folders of material relating to Pilot Officer James Frederick Stamford Kent.

Folder 1 of 2 consists of five letters [including associated envelopes] and one telegram from Pilot Officer Kent to his mother, Mrs Winifred Irene Kent, dated between c February and 20 June 1941. They cover the period of his embarkation, time in a Royal Air Force camp in India, and service in the Egypt and Libya. In his letters, Pilot Officer Kent writes about his sea voyage, his impressions of India, leave in Egypt, sand storms, meeting old acquaintances, receiving mail from home, having a limited water supply, flying over Libya, engaging in air battles with enemy aircraft, and air raids. He also responds to news from home and sends his love.

Folder 2 of 2 consists of documents relating to the service and death of Pilot Officer Kent.
It contains:
1x Birth certificate of Pilot Officer Kent, issued 2 February 1940
1x Signed menu for farewell dinner, HT Aquitania, 21 February 1941
1x Certificate of commission of Pilot Officer Kent, issued 2 May 1941
1x Photographic postcard depicting airman with aircraft, c 1941. Airman is thought to be Pilot Officer Kent.
5x Envelopes addressed to Mrs Winifred Irene Kent, c 1941
1x Notice of address relating to Pilot Officer Kent, c 1941
1x Letter from the Air Ministry to Pilot Officer Kent’s father, Mr Harold Frederick Kent, London, England, 5 July 1941. This letter informs Mr Kent that his son is missing and believed killed as a result of air operations near Tobruk, Libya, on 30 June 1941.
1x Newsletter for St. Anne’s Church, Strathfield, Sydney, New South Wales, July 1941.
2x Letters from the Department of Air to Mrs Kent, Melbourne, Victoria, 6 and 21 August 1941. These letters inform Mrs Kent of the circumstances of her son’s probable death.
1x Letter from the squadron leader of 250 Squadron to Mrs Kent, Middle East, 25 August 1940. In his letter, the squadron leader informs Mrs Kent of the circumstances of her son’s death, and conveys his sympathy.
1x Letter from Flying Officer Clive Robertson Caldwell to Mrs Kent, Middle East, 26 August 1941. In his letter, Flying Officer Caldwell informs Mrs Kent of the details of her son’s death, and conveys his sympathy.
1x Memorandum on the steps taken to trace missing personnel, July 1940
1x Confidential notice regarding the limited information on official casualty lists, [date unknown]
1x Form regarding the personal effects of Pilot Officer Kent, [date unknown]
1x Obituary of Pilot Officer Kent, from an Australian Golf Club publication, c 1941
1x Letter from the Imperial War Graves Commission to Mrs Kent, Melbourne, Victoria, 29 March 1951. This letter informs Mrs Kent that the locations of the graves of her sons, Pilot Officer J F S Kent and Signalman E J [Eric Jefferis] Kent, are unknown.
2x Order forms for photographs of the memorial of Pilot Officer Kent, Imperial War Graves Commission, Melbourne, Victoria, [dates unknown].
1x Handwritten copy of poem “The only son” by Henry Newbolt, c 1900