Wing Commander Reginald Fred Lord JP Royal Air Force
The Man Reginald Fred Lord was born on Saturday 24th July 1920 in Burnley, Lancashire, his mother was Annie nee Brown.
By late 1939 Reginald was living at 43 Market Street, Manchester as an Apprentice Electrician and following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, enlisted into the Royal Air Force at Padgate between September and the following February with service number 1055764 (from a block 965000 to 1149977 allotted to RAF Padgate in September 1939 – April 1941). He was appointed as a Class F Reservist, this denoting his eligibility for mobilisation.
In 1940 he was living at 148 Broadway, New Mostyn, Manchester with Annie and on 2nd June 1940 aged 19, possibly whilst awaiting his RAF call up, enlisted into the 63rd County of Lancaster (Collyhurst Battalion) A Company Home Guard. Reginald served at home during World War II and was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 for his service.
During the second quarter of 1945 in St Ives, Cornwall, married Molly Anderson and they had one Daughter Angela Ruth born in 1946.
On 28th February 1952 aged 31 Reginald was Commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) as Pilot Officer, with the same service number and promoted to Flying Officer on 28th February 1954. He was further promoted to Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader and Wing Commander, his extension of service being confirmed every four years in the London Gazette. By 1964 he had been appointed as Officer Commanding of Hampshire and Isle of Wing Air Training Corps and on 28th February 1964 awarded the Cadet Forces Medal and first clasp on 28th February 1972. He also became a Justice of the Peace.
Reginald retired from the RAF VR(T) on 28th February 1975 aged 54 retaining his rank of Wg Cdr, living with Molly at Dormers, Church Lane, Huntingdon and later Keith House, 2 Waldron Grove, Huntingdon. Sadly Molly passed away on 17th March 1979.
During the last quarter of 1979 aged 59, Reginald re-married to Ruth Adeline Mary Wiltshire nee Willliams, gaining stepchildren Nicholas Robert and Rosalynd Wiltshire.
In later life Reginald and Ruth lived at 4a Croft Close, Brampton, Huntingdon. He passed away on 7th July 1997 aged 76 and was cremated at Cambridge Crematorium on 16th July and his ashes strewn. Ruth died two years later in May 1999 aged 66.
By late 1939 Reginald was living at 43 Market Street, Manchester as an Apprentice Electrician and following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, enlisted into the Royal Air Force at Padgate between September and the following February with service number 1055764 (from a block 965000 to 1149977 allotted to RAF Padgate in September 1939 – April 1941). He was appointed as a Class F Reservist, this denoting his eligibility for mobilisation.
In 1940 he was living at 148 Broadway, New Mostyn, Manchester with Annie and on 2nd June 1940 aged 19, possibly whilst awaiting his RAF call up, enlisted into the 63rd County of Lancaster (Collyhurst Battalion) A Company Home Guard. Reginald served at home during World War II and was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 for his service.
During the second quarter of 1945 in St Ives, Cornwall, married Molly Anderson and they had one Daughter Angela Ruth born in 1946.
On 28th February 1952 aged 31 Reginald was Commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) as Pilot Officer, with the same service number and promoted to Flying Officer on 28th February 1954. He was further promoted to Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader and Wing Commander, his extension of service being confirmed every four years in the London Gazette. By 1964 he had been appointed as Officer Commanding of Hampshire and Isle of Wing Air Training Corps and on 28th February 1964 awarded the Cadet Forces Medal and first clasp on 28th February 1972. He also became a Justice of the Peace.
Reginald retired from the RAF VR(T) on 28th February 1975 aged 54 retaining his rank of Wg Cdr, living with Molly at Dormers, Church Lane, Huntingdon and later Keith House, 2 Waldron Grove, Huntingdon. Sadly Molly passed away on 17th March 1979.
During the last quarter of 1979 aged 59, Reginald re-married to Ruth Adeline Mary Wiltshire nee Willliams, gaining stepchildren Nicholas Robert and Rosalynd Wiltshire.
In later life Reginald and Ruth lived at 4a Croft Close, Brampton, Huntingdon. He passed away on 7th July 1997 aged 76 and was cremated at Cambridge Crematorium on 16th July and his ashes strewn. Ruth died two years later in May 1999 aged 66.
The Story The medals awarded to Reginald Fred Lord were acquired from E-Bay on 15th October 2021 as a buy it now. They were of interest because of the rather scarce naming of the Cadet Forces Medal to a Wing Commander.
The usual trawl of Ancestry.UK, London Gazette, Wills and Forces War Records enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
A not unusual grouping, but scarce due to the rank on the medal.
The usual trawl of Ancestry.UK, London Gazette, Wills and Forces War Records enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
A not unusual grouping, but scarce due to the rank on the medal.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Cadet Forces Medal: ACT WG CDR. R.F.LORD. R.A.F.V.R.T.(T)
This page last updated 9 Nov 21
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