207695 Sgt. Arthur James Vaughan Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 242 Squadron (d.26th April 1941) I live on the south coast in a place called Telscombe Cliffs, near to Newhaven Harbour. About 2 miles going inland from the coast is a little hamlet of about 6 cottages and a lovely old Saxon church and it goes by the name of Southease. In the little churchyard the graves go back 200 plus years apart from one and it is a typical war grave headstone with the RAF arms on the front, buried in the grave is Pilot Sgt. Vaughan. What we would like to unravel is the mystery of how Sgt. Vaughan came to be buried in our little churchyard. We are more than honoured to have Sgt. Vaughan in our church grounds but it would be nice just to know a little more about this very brave man.
Sgt. Vaughan was flying Hurricanes in 242 Squadron, being based at Stapleford Tawney, North Weald from April 9th to May 22nd and was shot down and killed near Chartham in Kent. We know he was married to a lady called Christine. Another strange thing was his age, he was 41 when he was shot down. As he was RAF Volunteer Reserve could he have been a ferry pilot who was in the wrong place at the wrong time? Does anybody know how Sgt. Vaughan came to be laid to rest in our little churchyard? If there is anyone with any clues no matter how small we would love to be able to put his story to rest. We always place flowers on his grave on the anniversary of his death and say a little pray and thanks for the ultimate price he paid so we can tell this story.
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