Died 16th September 1942

Aged 21 years

Commemorated in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany.
Coll. grave 4. B. 3-19.

Peter Gifford Felce, born 12.11.1920, entered Wellingborough Grammar School in September, 1932. In November 1936 he joined the Staff of the Tecnic Boot Co., Rushden.

In June 1939 he joined the R.A.F.V.R. at Sywell and was called for War Service on 1st September. He was commissioned as Pilot Officer in June 1941, promoted Flying Officer in June 1942, and again promoted, to Flight Lieutenant in August 1942. In September 1942, he was posted missing after his 37th operational flight, (presumed over Cologne) on September 16/17th, 1942. His death was confirmed in October 1942. Thirty-nine planes were lost that night.

He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Felce, of 68, Wharf Road, Higham Ferrers.

Air Gunner of 1940 Campaign – Now “Missing”

After fine service in the air since pre-war days, Flight-Lieut. Peter Gifford Felce, R.A.F.V.R., younger son of Mr and Mrs Fred G Felce, of 68 Wharf-road, Higham Ferrers, has been posted “missing” and further news is anxiously awaited by his parents.

Flight-Lieut. Felce failed to return from an operational flight in September. He had had considerable experience on bombers, especially as a gunner, and made his first operational flight on June 1, 1940, when the British were still fighting in France. A busy period followed, and after completing a long series of operational flights with the famous 99th Squadron he was transferred to other duties.

Having joined the R.A.F.V.R. at Sywell in June 1939, and been called up for whole-time service on September 1st, he became a Flight-Sergeant and gained his commission in June 1941. His promotion to Flying Office was announced on June 12th of this year, and on August 1st he rose to Flight-Lieut.

Aged 21 years, he was educated at Wellingborough Grammar School, where he played Rugby football, and afterwards joined the staff of the Tecnic Boot Co., Rushden. For a few years prior to the war he was a keen and useful member of the Rushden Adult School Male Voice Choir. He was home on leave early in September.