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Flight Lieutenant Ulric John Gerry DAVISON (125497)
No. 12 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Royal Air Force Date of birth: 27th August 1911 Date of death: 2nd December 1943 Killed on active service aged 32 Buried at Grantham Cemetery Section 19 Row E Grave 15
Ulric John Gerry Davison was born at Sunderland on the 27th of August 1911 the son of William Davison, a Chartered Accountant, and Irene (nee Gerry) Davison of 7 Belle Vue, Gray Road, Sunderland, later of 1 Raglan Avenue, Ryhope Road, Sunderland in Tyne and Wear. He was educated at Lancing College where he was in Sandersons House from September 1924 to December 1928. He served as a member of the Officer Training Corps, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant and acheived Certificate A in 1927. He was a member of the Shooting VIII from 1927 to 1928 and was appointed as Hon Secretary and as Captain from September 1928. He shot for his house, winning the Haig-Brown House Challenge Cup in 1927, and was appointed as a House Captain in 1928. On leaving school he trained as a Chartered Accountant and practised in Sunderland. Following the outbreak of war he served in the 9th Battlion Durham Home Guard from June 1940 to July 1941 before enlisting in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 20th of May 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 20th of November 1942. He was later posted to No. 12 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit based at RAF Grantham as an instructor. On the 2nd of December 1943 Ulric Davison and his pupil, Flying Officer Julian Aylmer Osborn, took off from RAF Harlaxton in Blenheim Mk V AZ941 for a night training exercise. Weather conditions were foggy and the aircraft flew into a patch of mist before crashing shortly after take off at 2.22am. The wreckage of the aircraft was not located until 9am the following morning at Sharps Field, near Hungerton Hall, Ponton Heath. Ulric Davison was found to be dead, having suffered a fractured skull and a penertrating injury to his right lung. LAC Osborn was found to be seriously injured but alive, with a depressed fracture of the skull. He was taken to Grantham Hopsital where he died from his injuries at 3pm. An inquiry into the accident was convened on the 4th of December under the chaimanship of Squadron Leader D.G. Allison of 21 Group. He is commemorated on the Roll of Honour of the Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Articled Clerks. He is not currently commemorated on the war memorial at Lancing College.

Sandersons House