Memorial

Squadron Commander E H Dunning

Source: Copyright Tony

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Current Location

The church is at the junction of Station and Harwich Roads., St Lawrence's Church, Station Road, Bradfield, Tendring, Essex, CO11 2US, England

OS Grid Reference

TM 14444 30785

Denomination

Church of England

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Names listed on this memorial

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Memorial Details

Type of Memorial: Board / Plaque / Tablet
WMR Reference Number: 22593
Description: MARBLE TABLET WITH SEMICIRCULAR PEDIMENT. INSCRIPTION IN BLACK LETTERING WITH A GRAPE VINE BORDER AROUND IT. COLOURED SHIELD IN THE CENTRE OF THE PEDIMENT
Inscription: SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF / SQUADRON COMMANDER / EDWIN HARRIS DUNNING D.S.C. R.N. / H.M.S. FURIOUS / BORN 17TH JULY 1892 SECOND SON OF / SIR EDWIN HARRIS DUNNING KNIGHT / OF JACQUES HALL IN THIS PARISH / WOUNDED 20TH JUNE 1916 WHILE BOMBING / ENEMY TERRITORY ON A FIGHT WITH GERMAN / SEAPLANES AND WAS AWARDED THE / DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS FOR / GALLANTRY ON THIS AND OTHER OCCASIONS / KILLED 7TH AUGUST 1917 / BURIED IN BRADFIELD CHURCHYARD / BESIDE HIS MOTHER / "THE ADMIRALTY WISH YOU TO KNOW WHAT / GREAT SERVICE HE PERFORMED FOR THE NAVY. / IT WAS IN FACT A DEMONSTRATION OF LANDING / AN AEROPLANE ON THE DECK OF A MAN-OF-WAR / WHILST THE LATTER WAS UNDER WAY. / THIS HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE; AND THE / DATA OBTAINED WAS OF THE UTMOST VALUE. / IT WILL MAKE AEROPLANES INDISPENSIBLE TO A / FLEET; & POSSIBLY REVOLUTIONISE NAVAL WARFARE. THE RISK TAKEN BY SQUADRON COMMANDER DUNNING / NEEDED MUCH COURAGE. HE HAD ALREADY MADE / TWO SUCCESSFUL LANDINGS; BUT EXPRESSED A WISH / TO LAND AGAIN, HIMSELF, BEFORE OTHER PILOTS DID SO; / AND IN THIS LAST RUN HE WAS KILLED. MY LORDS / DESIRE TO PLACE ON RECORD THE SENSE OF LOSS / TO THE NAVAL SERVICE OF THIS GALLANT OFFICER." / HIS CAPTAIN WROTE;"I SHALL NEVER CEASE TO ADMIRE / AMD REGRET HIM. HE WAS SO KEEN AND FULL OF / ENTHUSIASM AND SUCH AN EXCELLENT AND CAPABLE / FELLOW IN EVERY WAY. BOTH OFFICERS AND MEN / SERVING UNDER HIM DEEPLY FEEL THE LOSS OF / SO FINE AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN."

Commemoration

War: First World War (1914-1918)
Number Commemorated: 1
Served: 9
Died: 1
Information shown: rank, surname, date of birth, date of death, service, forenames, manner of death, relationships, additional, decorations
Additional Information: He is also listed on IWM 22590 and 22591 at the same location

Conservation

Components

Tablet

Made from: Marble

Condition: Good