Well-known as a pre-war member of the Rushden and District Electrical Supply Co’s staff, Sergt. Horace Robert Willis, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis, 47, Midland-road, Rushden, has lost his life on service with the R.A.F. in which he had qualified as a wireless operator-air gunner.

Sergt. Willis was born in Midland-road, and received his education at Kettering Grammar School, after which he served the Electric Company as clerk until he joined the Air Force voluntarily in December, 1939. He had a marked talent for technical subjects and passed his three yearly examinations at Wellingborough Technical School in electrical engineering, also taking the City and Guilds Final Examination at Northampton Technical College, this enabling him to become a student of the Institute of Electrical Engineering, London.

The sad news of his death was conveyed to the parents on Saturday, and the body was expected to be brought home today (Monday).

The funeral will take place on Tuesday afternoon at St. Peter’s Church, where Sergt. Willis was for several years a sidesman.

Air-Gunner Loses His Life — Rushden Parents Bereft of Their Only Son

Well-known as a pre-war member of the Rushden and District Electric Supply Co.’s staff, Sergeant Horace Robert Willis, only son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Willis, 47, Midland-road, Rushden, has lost his life on service with the R.A.F., in which he had qualified as a wireless operator-air gunner.

Sgt. Willis was born in Midland-road and received his education at Kettering Grammar School, after which he served the Electric Co. as a clerk until he joined the Air Force voluntarily in December, 1939. He had a marked talent for technical subjects and passed his three yearly examinations at Wellingborough Technical School in electrical engineering, also taking the City and Guild final examination at Northampton Technical College, this enabling him to become a student of the Institute of Electrical Engineering, London. A worshipper at St. Peter’s Church, he was a sidesman there for several years up to the time of his enlistment.

The sad news of his death was conveyed to the parents on Saturday, and the body was brought home on Monday.

About thirty airmen formed a guard of honour and acted as bearers at the funeral, which took place at Rushden on Tuesday.

The service was held at St. Peter’s Church and was conducted by the curate, the Rev. W. G. B. Snell. The coffin, draped with the Union Jack, was borne by five sergeants and a warrant officer from Sergt. Willis’s own unit. An officer was in command of the guard of honour, which executed a slow march at both ends of the journey to the cemetery.

The principal mourners were Mr. and Mrs. H. Willis (father and mother), Mr. W. Willis and Miss E. Sharp (grandfather and aunt), Mr. Robert Knight and Mr. D. Dickens (friends), Mr. and Mrs. J. Shortland (uncle and aunt), Mr. and Mrs. C. Clifton (friends), Mr. R. Barnes and Mr. F. C. Lockwood, of the Rushden and District Electric Supply Co., and Mr. and Mrs. S. Norton (friends), Mrs. E. White and Miss May White, of Earls Barton (aunt and cousin).

Mr. E. Bennett represented the British Legion and the Serving Men’s Parcels Fund.

Among the many wreaths were tributes from the officers and all ranks of the Station, Squadron and Flight with which Sergt. Willis had been associated.

Messrs. T. Swindall and Sons carried out the funeral arrangements.