Birtill, H R (Henry Roy)
Birtill, H R (Henry Roy)
Squadron Leader Henry Birtill was the son of Henry Edward Birtill and of Annie Ethel Birtill (Hesketh); husband of Helen Birtill. He resided at 68 Main Street, Limavady.
Henry Roy Birtill was commissioned into the Administrative & Special Duties Branch of the RAFVR[1] as a Pilot Officer on probation from the 26th of November 1940. He was then promoted to Flying Officer exactly a year later and then to Flight Lieutenant on the 1st of January 1943. It is likely that he was an Acting Squadron Leader at the time of his death.
Henry’s career in the Royal Air Force ended suddenly when he unfortunately developed pneumonia and was sent to Campbell College, Military Hospital in Belfast. Here he deteriorated and suffered until he developed a pulmonary embolism.[2] This unfortunately took his life.
Squadron Leader Henry Birtill was laid to rest with a full military funeral.
Date of Death: 20/04/1945 (Aged 40)
Service: Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Service Number: 88319
Burial Location: Grave 21.
[1] RAFVR is the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves. During war time these men volunteered for service but returned to civilian life after their Oath of Allegiance, to await their call up into the Royal Air Force.
[2] A pulmonary embolism is a blood blockage in his lung.
