T.M. Lockyer Spitfire pilot R.A.F.

[David Layne]

I am interested in contcting the family of T.M. Lockyer, pilot of Spitfire R6598 of 1 PRU who was shot down 23/2/41 and ended up a P.O.W. at Stalag Luft III.

His wartime adress was.

8 Hamilton Road,
Chorley, Lancs.

I have information I wish to share.

[andrewalston]

There don't seem to be many T M Lockyers around Lancashire.

There is a birth of a Thomas M Lockyer in Cockermouth, Cumberland in the 4th quarter of 1913. Ideally for a Spitfire pilot, hs mother's maiden name was Mitchell.

Chorley is not exactly handy for any aerodrome which would have flown Sptfires, so this may have been the address of his next-of-kin. If so, they were probably working at one of the many local factories doing war work.

The places most likely to have had workers needing billets because they were away from home would be the ROF at Euxton and Leyland Motors. The ROF had two dedicated hostels for their workers, but many would seek out a traditional landlady.

[David Layne]

As I said in my original post, Thomas Mitchell Lockyer's wartime address was in Chorley.

His aircraft took off from Heston  (Middelsex) on a mission to Oostende and was possibly shot down by Ofw. Staege of 2./LG 2.

Thanks for the other interesting information Andrew.

[andrewalston]

If the Cockermouth chap does match, his parents seem to be Samuel J Lockyer and Mabel Mitchell, who married in the district Q4 of 1911.

Mabel is with her parents at the 1911 census, but the best match for Samuel appears to have been in the Navy.

FreeBMD gives a pretty certain brother for Thomas, born 1915 in Cockermouth. There are three other possible siblings, the first born 1920 in Yarmouth, the others 1921 and 1924 in central London. I won't mention the names here in case they are still living.

[David Layne]

Andrew wrote......

"There is a birth of a Thomas M Lockyer in Cockermouth, Cumberland in the 4th quarter of 1913. Ideally for a Spitfire pilot, hs mother's maiden name was Mitchell."

I would imagine that is him, his middle name being Mitchell.  Thanks Andrew, I hope a relative can be contacted.

[longtown]

T. M. Lockyer was the fiancee of Miss Irene Arkless of Carlisle who was killed as an ATA pilot. I knew her brother-in-law who put me in touch with Tommy. He died a few years ago.

[David Layne]

Thanks longtown.  I knew that Tommy had passed away.

[longtown]

David - may I use Tommy's sketch of the spitfire in a privately printed local history book - Peter

[David Layne]

Most certainly, it needs to be shared.