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'On National Service' Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft Ltd Insignia Badge
'On National Service' Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft Ltd Insignia Badge

Roy Humphry Cave-Penney

Born 28th April 1906 at Sherril, Poundsgate.

Father: Frank Cave-Penny: Mother Amelia Hine.

Youngest of 5: Sisters Joan & Veronica. Brothers: Tony & Frank Lindley.

Educated at Stanmore, East Sussex and Blundell’s School Tiverton.

In 1925 (aged 19) was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the RAF. In 1933 he relinquished his commission due to ill health.

In 1938 records indicate Roy Humphry Cave-Penney was working and living in Southampton.

The 1939 census lists an address in Southampton and employment as a foreman fitter in the Cunliffe Owen aircraft factory at Eastleigh. The factory specialised in the construction of wings and fuselages for Hurricane and Spitfire fighters. It also built planes sent in crates from USA.

On 11th September 1940 during a worker’s afternoon “tea break” a lone Messerschmitt fighter bomber, part of a raid on Southampton, dropped 16 bombs on the “B” building of the factory.

Roy Humphry Cave-Penney was amongst the 52 men and women killed in this raid.

Questions were asked as to why the Air Raid warnings were not sounded. The reasons given by the authorities were (a) The plane was misidentified as a British Blenheim Bomber. (b) it was believed to have been a captured plane being flown to the factory for investigation into its construction.

Roy Humphry Cave-Penney is buried at St John The Baptist Church at Leusdon close to his sisters Joan & Veronica. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission memorial to Civilian War Dead in Southampton.

Roy's Older Brother Evelyn Anthony ('Tony') who fell in World War One

Roy Humphry Cave-Penney's older brother Tony was one of the fallen in World War One.

You can view Tony's entry here.

Watch the Video of the Cunliffe Owen Works Bombed

Roy Humphry Cave-Penney in Pictures

Click on an image for a larger view

Blundells School Tiverton Devon (Photo source: Blundell School House Magazine)
Blundells School Tiverton Devon (Photo source: Blundell School House Magazine)
Royal South Hants Hospital Southampton where Roy died (Photo Source: flickr.com)
Royal South Hants Hospital Southampton where Roy died (Photo Source: flickr.com)
St John The Baptist Church Leusdon (Photo Wikipedia)
St John The Baptist Church Leusdon (Photo Wikipedia)
War Memorial Plaque Leusdon Church (Photo Widecombe History Group Archive)
War Memorial Plaque Leusdon Church (Photo Widecombe History Group Archive)
Aerial view of damaged Cunliffe Owen Factory (Photo Supermariners.wordpress.com)
Aerial view of damaged Cunliffe Owen Factory (Photo Supermariners.wordpress.com)
Southampton Memorial to all those civilians killed in Air Raids (PhotoSource: Imperial War Museum)
Southampton Memorial to all those civilians killed in Air Raids (PhotoSource: Imperial War Museum)
Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighter Bomber (Photo Wikipedia)
Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighter Bomber (Photo Wikipedia)

The wording on the Southampton Memorial reads as follows:

"During the Second World War, Southampton suffered a series of air raids in which 631 people were killed and over two thousand injured. In November 1940, a public shelter in this park received a direct hit in one of the heaviest nights of bombing endured by the city. This tree was planted on Friday 30th November 1990 by the right worshipful mayor of Southampton, Councillor Mary Key, in memory of all those who lost their lives during the air raids".

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments are shown alongside each photograph above.

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