During the 2nd World War, three of John and Alberta's grandsons were tragically killed fighting as pilots:
Two of Ethel's son's:
Augustus Harold Jervis Ryan https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/augustus-harold-jervis-ryan
Leonard Terence Jervis Ryan https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/leonard-terence-jervis-ryan
Ursula's son Robert Harold Rigby: https://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Rigby.htm
From the book 'Coastal Dawn':
On July 11th three Blenheims took off rom RAF Thorney Island (on south coast) at 11.20am. The formation was lead by Pilot Officer Charles Powers, Robert Rigby was number two and the third aircraft was piloted by Pilot Officer Charles Thomas. The three aircraft were registered L6779, L6639 and L1278. They then headed towards Le Havre and Cherbourg on a reconnaissance mission - no doubt photographing the invasion barges the Germans were assembling on the coast to invade England.
As they flew towards the north westerly Cape de la Hague they were hampered by torrential rain, affecting their visibility and then encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire which caused the formation to scatter and lose contact with each other. Pilot Officer Charles Thomas along with his air gunner, Sergeant Harry Elsdon, checked L6779 for damage whilst 24 year-old Pilot Officer Robert Rigby did the same on L6639. Desperately scanning the skies for enemy aircraft they were lucky for nine minutes when suddenly two Messerchmitts fighters swooped down upon them out of the clouds. A minute later one Blenheim was shot down by Major Wolfgang Schellman at 13.15 hours. The second Blenheim was then shot down ten minutes later at 13.25 hours by Unterofficier (Sergeant) Willie Melchert.
Pilot Officer Charles Powers then emerged from the clouds looking all round for any signs of the other two aircraft. He then returned to RAF Thorney Island and the other two aircraft were declared 'missing'. It was then some thirteen months before they were 'presumed killed', their sweethearts and families being notified by the Air Ministry.
Thanks to Kate Gibson for the information on Robert Rigby.
Both of Edwin's (Roy's) sons joined the Air Force. He is an article about his youngest son, which refers to John Alcock:
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