Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website

Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website



Additions will be checked before being published on the website and where possible will be forwarded to the person who submitted the original entries. Your contact details will not be forwarded, but they can send a reply via this messaging system.


210007

Henry "Piggy" Brett

Royal Air Force 9 Squadron

from:Sutton Courtenay, Berks

My father Henry Brett, first joined the Royal Flying Corp (RFC) 9th Squadron, in 1916 when he was 17 or 18 years old. He had previously been in the Royal Ambulance Corps.

At the beginning of World War II, Henry, or Harry as he was more commonly known, joined the squadron and became a flight controller. Harry earned the nickname Piggy, and was wounded a number of times while rescuing aircrew from crash landings, and for which he was twice decorated. There is a cartoon of him holding a mic talking a wounded pilot down on one engine, titled 'Piggy Control'; the cartoon is signed on the back by the squadron. Harry later joined Headquarters Bomber Command at High Wycombe where he worked with the New Zealander "Square" Mckee. Although not in the best of health, my father survived the war, and left as Squadron Leader. He returned home to my mother, brother and me,and we were lucky enough to have him with us until his death in 1957. Harry enjoyed going to reunions with his great friend "Batchy" Batchelor who did so much to support the RAF Bombers. Batchy and my father would be cheered no end to know that finally, and despite such controversy, a memorial was erected outside St Clements Danes in the City of Westminister to commemorate the efforts of the RAF Bomber Command.



Please type your message:     

We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit.
Your Name:            
Email Address:       @

**Please type the first part our your email in the first box (eg. john.smith) the @ sign is added automaticallly, please type the second part in the second box (eg. gmail.com). Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**

Please type in the code shown here: CAPTCHA Image   

If you are unable to read the code please click here.

If you have received an error message for incorrect code, please click to refresh the code before resending. This should overcome the error message.