Cambridge District Scout Archive
One of The Few
Edit: The assumption was that the reference above would be understood by most but history continues to accumulate and some older bits get lost from ‘common knowledge’. It refers to Winston Churchill speach of August 1940 during the Battle of Britain, the aerial conflict between the Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffere. In this speech Churchill stated ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much been owed by so many to so few’. Only 2,936 airmen were entitled to the clasp.
A member of the 7th Cambridge Scout Troop Frederick Cecil Harrold joined the RAF on a short service commission in July 1939. He completed his training and went to 5 OTU Aston Down.
On 12th July 1940 Harrold crashed Blenheim L1177 at Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire and on the 15th crashed Blenheim L6597 into the River Severn. He then joined 25 Squadron at Martlesham Heath on 19th August.
Harrold saw active service during the Battle of Britain with No 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAF, RAF Kenley, Surrey. He joined as a replacement on 26 September 1940, flew two operations on 27 September 1940. Frederick was shot down while flying Hurricane P3417 on his third operational flight by Messerschmitt Me 109s near Deal, Kent and killed in action on 28 September 1940.
Harrold was 23 years old. He is buried in St Andrew’s churchyard, Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire.
Comprehensive details of kit and letters, telegrams etc. can be found at https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/these-objects-tell-the-story-of-one-casualty-from-the-battle-of-britain including
‘a Form of Service (6pp, October 1947) in memory of the pupils of the Cambridgeshire High School for Boys who died in the Second World War;’ and the following medals
the middle of which is a Star with Battle of Britain Clasp: see https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30103832
- Rt War Medal
- Middle Air Crew Europe Star with Battle of Britain clasp
- Lt 1939-1945 Medal
For details of the medals See https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals
JWR Archivist Mar 2020
Cambridge District Scout Archive 