Wing Commander John Scatliff DEWAR (26029) DSO DFC
213 Squadron Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 10th August 1907
Date of death: 12th September 1940

Killed in action aged 33
Buried at North Baddesley (St John the Baptist) Churchyard in Hampshire
He was born at Mussoori, Lahore Province in India on the 10th of August 1907 the second son of Douglas Dewar, Indian Civil Service, later of 'Almora' Camberley in Surrey.

He was educated at the King's School Canterbury from January 1922 to December 1925 where he became a school monitor in 1924 and played in the Cricket XI in 1925 and in the Rugby XV in 1924 and 1925. He became a Sergeant in the Officer Training Corps in 1925 and was editor of the Cantuarian in the same year. He played in the Kent Public Schools Rugby trials from 1924 to 1926.

In January 1926 he entered the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell as a Flight Cadet, graduating in December 1927. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on the 17th of December 1927 and was posted to 13 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron based at Andover. He was confirmed in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 17th of January 1928 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 17th of June 1929. He qualified for deck landings on carriers and was posted as a flying instructor to the School of Naval Cooperation, based at Lee-on-Solent, on the 18th of July 1929. On the 6th of May 1933 he was posted to 822 Squadron on board HMS Furious and served with them in the Mediterranean. On one occasion he was washed overboard during a storm in the Bay of Biscay but was quickly rescued. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 1st of February 1934 and transferred to 801 (Fleet Fighter) Squadron on board the same ship on the 10th of July 1934. On the 23rd of June 1936 he was posted to the Armament Testing Section at the Experimental Establishment, based at Martlesham Heath, where he served as a test pilot.

He was married to Kathleen 'Kay' (nee Bowyer) at Christ Church, Highfield, Southampton on the 10th of July 1937.

He was promoted to Squadron Leader on the 1st of February 1938 and was posted to Station Headquarters at Thorney Island on the 23rd of March 1938.

On the 20th of November 1939 he was posted to 11 Group Pool at St Athan for a refresher course on Hurricane aircraft and was posted to 60 Wing in France on the 25th of November where he took command of 87 Squadron, based at Lille/Seclin, on the 2nd of December 1939. At 12.45pm on the 8th of May 1940, he was returning from a sortie in bad weather in Hurricane LR-L and was low on fuel and was forced to land at an airfield at Villefranche. As the aircraft landed its wheels dug into the mud and the aircraft overturned, injuring his chest, breaking his shoulder and leaving him suffering from shock. In spite of this injury he continued to fly, claiming the shared destruction of a Dornier 17 and two Junkers 87s of I/StG2 on the 11th of May and a Junkers 87 on the 12th of May. On the 20th of May 1940 the squadron received orders to return to England which they did on the 22nd of May, where they were based at Debden before relocating to Church Fenton to refit.

For his actions during the Battle of France he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross which appeared in the London Gazette of the 31st of May 1940. The citation reads:-

'This officer has shot down five enemy aircraft and led many patrols with courage and skill.'

In the same edition came the announcement that he had been also been awarded the Distinguished Service Order with the following citation:-

'Before intensive operations started this officer injured his right shoulder in a severe flying accident. Despite this, he flew regularly and led his squadron with skill and dash, more than 60 enemy aircraft being destroyed by them. He remained in command of the squadron throughout the operations, in spite of the injured shoulder, trained his new pilots well and continued throughout to be a very efficient commander, inculcating an excellent spirit in his squadron.'

87 Squadron became operational once again on the 22nd of June 1940 and on the 5th of July they moved to Exeter where John Dewar assumed command of the station there the following day, but officially transferred from 87 Squadron on the 12th of July. He continued to fly on operations occasionally, usually with 213 Squadron.
At noon on the 11th of July 1940 John Dewar was leading B Flight, 87 Squadron when they sighted a formation of enemy aircraft off Wittering in Sussex. On his return to Exeter he filed the following report of the action which followed: -

"3 Hurricanes at 5,000 ft. West of Weymouth, sighted 9 enemy aircraft approaching Portland from the south at 15,000 ft approx. Commenced to climb going south to get in between E.A. and sun. Saw 9 more E.A. and one group of about 12 Me110's as we were going up. Got level and up sun of enemy at about 12,000 ft. As we approached some aircraft dived to attack shipping. Enemy did not appear to be aware of our presence. Saw two other Hurricanes attacking and swung into 110's which seemed to be flying to form a circle. Saw a Hurricane diving and turning slowly with 110 on his tail, put four burst (sic) in 110. On last burst port engine appeared to blow up. Aircraft flicked onto its back and dived almost vertically. Owing to presence of numerous E.A. I did not watch this aircraft hit the sea, but I feel certain it must have gone in about 4 miles east of Shambles. Method of approach was line astern then "free for all". Fire brought to bear from astern, with full deflections, as aircraft was turning. The aircraft had the normal markings. Having disposed of one Me110, I went into a full turn to review progress of battle and remove two other E.A. trying to get on my tail. Saw a bomb exploding by shipping in the harbour and two enemy aircraft diving for ground. One enemy aircraft still pursuing me. The Hurricane turned easily on to his tail - he was vertically banked. He then dived for ground going east - I followed but withheld fire as I was getting short of rounds. E.A. pulled out about 1,000 ft and continued in S turns. I gave him a burst from about 100 yds and vapour came out of both engines. I had to slam throttle back to avoid over shooting. Vapour then ceased to come from engine and he gathered way again. I was very close and saw no rear gun fire so held my position and took careful non deflection shot using all ammunition. E.A. at once turned inland going very slowly. Seeing me draw away, he turned seawards again. I went to head him off and he apparently thinking I had more rounds turned for land again sinking slowly. At about 200 ft, another Hurricane came up and fired a short burst at him, he immediately turned and landed at Grange Heath (or near). Both crew got out wearing yellow jackets. Army were close by. Number of Hurricane was UW-F (I think)."

The enemy aircraft was Messerschmitt Bf110C-4 2N+EP of 9/ZG76 and it crash landed at Grange Heath near Lulworth at 12.10am. It had also been attacked by pilots of 238 Squadron, as well as by Dewar and lastly by Flying Officer Hugh Joseph Riddle of 601 Squadron. The enemy pilot, Staffelkapitan Oberleutnant Gerhard Kadow was shot and wounded by soldiers as he attempted to burn his papers after the crash while his gunner, Gefrieter Helmut Scholz, was slightly injured during the action.

On the 5th of August 1940 he went to Buckingham Palace to be decorated.

At 6.40am on the 13th of August 1940 Blue Section, B Flight, 87 Squadron, led by John Dewar along with Australian, Flying Officer Richard Lindsay Glyde and Pilot Officer Dudley Trevor Jay, was scrambled to patrol Portland. At 7.35am they sighted and engaged a Junkers 88 at a height of 6,000 feet, some ten miles to the south of Selsey Bill. On his return to base he filed the following report of the action: -

"Enemy was sighted about one mile on port section which was eastwards near NAB. I gave signal for line astern and pursued. Enemy climbed into cloud. I followed, cloud was not thick and I knew it dispersed towards France. Saw enemy above cloud, he dived into it again. Coming out of cloud found myself so close that I had to back away and let No. 2 commence attack. No. 2 & 3 attacked from astern. I attacked from quarter and above. After firing 200 rounds from each gun, starboard engine stopped. About 30 secs later aircraft hit sea and slowly sank. No one was seen to leave aircraft which was last seen with only tail showing. One of the crew baled out about 2 minutes before aircraft landed on the water. It had normal markings. On the return journey No. 2 disappeared and may have landed in the sea."

On landing he claimed a share in the destruction of the enemy aircraft with the two other aircraft from B Flight and reported that he had opened fire at a range of two hundred yards. The missing pilot was Richard Glyde, who was flying Hurricane P3387 and was thought to have been hit by return fire from the enemy aircraft which had damaged his aircraft's cooling system as Jay had seen glycol streaming from his engine as they broke off the combat. No trace of him or his aircraft was ever found.

At 5.30pm on the 25th of August 1940 John Dewar was leading B Flight, 87 Squadron when engaged an enemy formation at a height of 10,000 feet near Lulworth. On his return he filed the following combat report: -

"Led Squadron to patrol Warmwell at 10,000 ft as ordered. Sighted A.A. bursts over Portland but no aircraft. Then sighted large enemy force coming westwards along coast. Selected squadron of Ju88s least escorted and led in on a quarter attack. Fired about 800 rounds, as I pulled away I saw aircraft smoking. F/Sgt Badger (Flight Sergeant Ivor James Badger) who was following saw it burst into flames. It must have fallen near Lulworth. Later it was confirmed by Observer Corps that it fell there. I continued my turn on pulling away and met about ten 110's head on taking a fleeting burst at one. By the time I had turned round again I could see no aircraft near me. Beyond Lulworth there was a huge circle of wheeling aircraft. Every now and then one dropped out smoking. The bombers seemed to be making out to sea. Very high over Portland way a white Verey light was fired. I flew climbing towards the west, turning now and again to sweep the sky above. During one of these turns I almost collided with an Me109 turning in the opposite direction. I started to pursue as he went past me and saw that he was the leader of 4. They did not seem to have seen me so I joined them in the rear. Unfortunately their initial speed did not allow me to get nearer than about 600 yds and although I had +9 on the boost I could not catch up. As they turned, however, I slowly gained. When about 300 yds away I opened fire on the rearmost in short bursts. He immediately turned more steeply than the rest and increased speed before vapour came pouring from him. His manoeuvre carried him to the front of the others and I had to break off action with him. Last seen he was diving at about 45 degrees slightly banked and may have come down near Lulworth also on the land or in the sea. Fumes were pouring from him. I fired at least 800 rounds with almost dead astern shots. The others quickly climbed out of reach. I was greatly handicapped by lack of speed. Seeing no further activity and being short of ammunition I returned to base without seeing any of my squadron since the first encounter. I consider that greater effect would be got from our attacks and less losses suffered if we patrolled in larger numbers, if possible two Squadrons going together twin engined bombers can take terrific punishment from the rear and their own shooting was greatly improved. I consider it a mistake to attack from the rear if any other method is possible. With fighter escorts, only fleeting attacks can be made making it difficult to obtain conclusive results."

His claimed the Ju88 as destroyed and the Me109 as probably destroyed.

He was promoted to Wing Commander on the 1st of September 1940.

At 3pm on the 12th of September 1940 he took off from Exeter in Hurricane Mk 1 V7306 for a flight to Tangmere to visit his wife there. He had been briefed on enemy activity over Selsey Bill and had planned to fly by a route from Exeter via Winchester to Tangmere in order to avoid the balloon barrage over Southampton and was expected to arrive there at around 3.40pm. He failed to arrive and was reported as missing the following day. The weather was very poor and although enemy operations were hampered that day, there was an enemy attack on Eastleigh airfield at about the same time as he was flying in the area and it is thought that he may have become engaged in the action there. One of the aircraft involved in the action over Southampton reported seeing a lone Hurricane following his Squadron before it became engaged. Squadron Leader R.S. Mill, acting Station Commander at Exeter, formed the opinion that Dewar would have seen the anti aircraft fire over Southampton as he was passing at about the same time. The squadron operations diary recorded that he: - "Must have run into more trouble than he could cope with."

A body was washed ashore at Kingston Gorse in Sussex on the 30th of September 1940 which was identified as that of John Dewar by means of the laundry marks on his shirt. A tunic was found near the body marked "J.S.D" which had both the DSO and DFC ribbons on it. It was reported on the 13th of October 1940 that: -"It was established that this officer was killed by machine gun fire, there being machine gun bullet wounds in the back and head and the left leg was practically shot off."

His wife received the following telegram dated the 2nd of October 1940: - "Deeply regret to inform you that further information received states that your husband Acting Wing Commander John Scatliffe Dewar DSO DFC is reported to have lost his life as the result of air operations on Sept 12th/40. Letter follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. His father has been informed."

He was the highest ranking officer to be killed during the Battle of Britain and was one of the first of only four officers to be awarded the double honour of DSO and DFC during the war. He was mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette of the 1st of January 1941.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at North Baddesley in Hampshire.
School House

Back