Second World War - Lynsted Memorial Project
Peter George HILLS (of Newnham)
b. 18th August 1922 Leading Aircraftsman, Service Number: 1331347 |
The son of Kenneth William (who was serving as a special constable) and Winifred Clara Hills (née Anderson) of The Stores, Newnham, Peter was born on 18 August 1922.
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Peter had just successfully completed his pilot training at Sumpter Field, Americus, Georgia, when he, alongside another Leading Aircraftsman, Harold Norman Evans, also 19, accidently drown at Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA.
| Evening Despatch of 3rd November 1941 |
MIDLAND R.A.F. MAN FEARED DROWNED IN U.S.A. The men Peter G. Hills, aged 19, of Newnham, Sittingbourne, Kent, and Harold Evans, aged 19, of 66, Wynn-road, Wolverhampton, Staffs, were on weekend leave. Artificial respiration was given to Hills for over an hour without success. Harold A. Newland, of London who was accompanying the two R.A.F. men, but did not go swimming with them, is helping in the search for Evans. Evans would have been 20 on Thursday. He joined up just before last Christmas. Previously he worked at an engineering company in Wolverhampton before he joined up. |
Other newspaper accounts include:
The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama. British Cadet Drowns At Jacksonville Beach. JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Nov.2 - Peter G Hills, 19, of London, England, an R.A.F. cadet on leave from his training headquarters at Americus, Ga., was drowned at Jacksonville Beach today and a swimming companion also was feared to have perished in the surf. Searchers were unable to locate Harold Evans, 19, also a British cadet, who went swimming with Hills. They were assisted by Harold A. Newland, of London, who accompanied Hills and Evans to the beach but did not go swimming with them. |
Florida Times Union, 6th Nov. 1941 HILLS - Funeral services for Cadet Peter G Hills, 21, of the Royal Air Force unit stationed at Souther Field, Americus, Ga., whose death occurred Sunday, by accidental drowning at Jacksonville Beach, will be held from the Memorial Chapel of Seashole Funeral Parlors, at 11 a.m. with Lieut. E.L. Pennington, chaplain, Naval Air Station officiating. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be selected from the RAF students at the Naval Air Station. |
Florida Times Union, Jacksonville, Florida. Nov. 6, 1941 Final Rites For Cadet Set Today Funeral services for RAF Cadet Peter G. Hills, who lost hislife in a vain attempt to rescue a friend from the surf at Jacksonville Beach Sunday, will be held at Seashole Memorial chapel at 11am today. Lieut. E.L. Pennington, Jacksonville Navel Air Station chaplain, will officiate, and burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetry, instead of a national cemetery as announced yesterday. Pallbearers will be selected from RAF Trades Schools students at the Air Station. Hills, 21, was drowned as he sought to rescue Howard Evans, 20-year-old RAF flier, while in swimming with a third RAF student, Harold Newland, Sunday afternoon. Evan's body still was being sought along the beach yesterday. Newland also attempted to go to the rescue of Evans, but was forced to turn back to save his own life. All three had completed their primary flight course at Souther Field, Amricus, Ga., and were to be transferred to Macon, Ga, for further training.
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Peter George Hills' body was recovered and he and Harold are buried next to each other at Oaklawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Plot Sec. D. R. L294. Grave 5 and 6.
A commemorative stone in honour of Peter is to be found on the grave of Ernest and Annie Josephine Hills (presumably his grandparents) in the extension churchyard of St. Peter & St. Paul at Newnham in Kent, England.
Also in Oaklawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA.
