Squadron Leader Richard Frederick Cyprian MARKHAM (76479)
36 Squadron Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 21st September 1901
Date of death: 26th January 1942

Killed in action aged 40
Commemorated on the Singapore Memorial Column 4111
Richard Frederick Cyprian Domenichetti was born at Horncastle in Lincolnshire on the 21st of September 1901 the eldest son of the Reverend Richard Hippisley Domenichetti, Rector of Etchingham, and Mary Louisa (nee Dalzel) Domenichetti later of 8 Montefiore Road, Hove. He was christened at Belchford, Lincoln on the 21st of October 1901.

He was educated at Lancing College where he was in Fields House from September 1915 until July 1918. He was a member of the Football XI in 1917, the Swimming Team in 1918 and was Drum Major in the Officer Training Corps. He won his House Colours for Cricket in 1916 and was appointed as a House Captain in May 1918. His surname when he arrived at Lancing was Domenichetti until 1916 when his father changed the family name to Markham by deed poll. On leaving school he joined the Royal Air Force.

He went on to Oriel College Oxford in 1919 where he achieved a BA in 1922.

On leaving university he became a preparatory school master at Hassocks in Sussex.

In 1924 he left for Malaya where he worked for the Educational Service of the Malay Government, and became Assistant Inspector of Schools for Perak. In October 1925 he became engaged to Miss Ethel May King but it seems the marriage did not take place.

He played rugby for Perak for many years at wing three quarter, representing them in many Malaya Cup finals including their victory against United Services in 1930. In April 1933 he transferred to Taiping (North Perak) and was appointed as special correspondent for Taiping for the Straits Settlement Times at the same time. In September 1935 he returned to Singapore and worked from offices at the Fullerton Building in the city.

He was married at the Singapore Registry on the 2nd of February 1937 to Bridget Nora "Biddy" (nee Downing) De Heritz-Smith. They lived at 17 Capitol Flats, Singapore.

While in Malaya he joined the Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force. He learnt to fly while he was with them and was know by his comrades as "Cyp". In March 1937 the Governor of Singapore granted him the rank of Pilot Officer.

On the outbreak of the war in Europe the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force was disbanded and all qualified personnel were merged with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. As a result of this Richard Markham was granted the Rank of Flying Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 1st of November 1939 antedated to the 14th of September 1939. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 1st of November 1940 antedated to the 14th of September 1940 and was promoted to Squadron Leader on the 1st of December 1941.

On the 19th of December he took command of 36 Squadron based in Singapore operating the obsolete Vickers Vildebeest Mk III aircraft. They had been operating in the defence of Singapore and Malaya since early December 1941 against the invading Japanese forces who were attacking from the north.

On the 26th of January 1942 Japanese troops landed at Endau on the east coast of Malaya in order to link up with their advancing forces in the west. The Royal Air Force were despatched to try to stem their advance and at 1pm 100 Squadron and three aircraft of 36 Squadron, escorted by a small force of Hurricanes and Buffalo fighters, attacked Japanese transports and landing craft off the small port. Despite the attentions of Japanese Zero fighters they pressed home their attack losing five of their number.

At 3pm plans were made for the attack to be repeated by nine Vildebeest aircraft and three Albacore aircraft from three different squadrons including 36 Squadron. Each aircraft was loaded with six 250lb bombs and the force would be led by Richard Markham. The bombers took off from Seletar at 4.15pm. It was planned that these vulnerable aircraft would have a fighter escort but, in the event, due to a mix up in communication, the Hurricane escort took off some 40 minutes later than the bombers which meant that they arrived over the target area with no escort.

Markham's aircraft, Vildebeest Mk III X9106, was "way out in front" as they approached their target at 5.30pm at a height of 10,000 feet. In a short space of time it was "every man for himself" as the Japanese fighters tore into the undefended bombers below them. Richard Markham’s aircraft was seen to attack the Japanese transport "Kanbera Maru" without effect, shortly before it was shot down and sent crashing into the sea with the loss of all three of its crew.

The crew was:-

Squadron Leader Richard Frederick Cyprian Markham (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Humphrey Frank Hicks (Observer)
Flight Sergeant John Binning Seaton (Air Gunner)

Eight Royal Air Force bombers were lost in the attack including that of their leader

By the 7th of March 36 squadron had lost all its aircraft and it was disbanded to be reformed six months later in India.

Major General Percival's despatches read:-

“Throughout the later stages of the Malayan campaign, they went unflinchingly to almost certain death in obsolete aircraft which should have been replaced many years before”.

His mother received the following telegram dated the 30th of January 1942: - "Regret to inform you that your son Squadron Leader Richard Frederick Cyprian Markham is reported missing as the result of air operations on 26/1/42. Enquiries being made through the International Red Cross Geneva and any further information received will be communicated to you immediately. Should news of him reach you from any source please inform this department. His wife had been informed."

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