Lunnun, W E

Name on memorial: Lunnun, W E
Memorial panel: Centre
Full name: Lunnun, William Edwin
Rank: Aircraftman 2nd Class
Service details: 977727, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age at death: 24
Date of death: 17/06/1940
Birth place: Chipping Norton
Parents: William and Helen Lunnun, of Banbury
Mother's maiden name: Bryan
Parents' marriage details: unknown
Wife: unknown
Wife's maiden name: unknown
Marriage details: unknown
Cemetery: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional information:
William Lunnun was an apprentice at Batts Shoemakers, Parsons Street, Banbury when he won The National Shoe Repair Competition Medal in 1939. He was killed during the sinking of the troopship HMT Lancastria, which was bombed and sunk by Junkers 88 bombers in the estuary of the River Loire, on Monday, 17 June 1940. Over 2000 troops, RAF personnel, civilians and crew died, making this the worst single loss of life in British maritime history. Newspapers were banned from reporting the event for many weeks, because of the possible effect on British morale. The Lancastria was part of Operation Ariel, which ran from 14th to 25th June 1940, and during which 215,000 troops were evacuated from French ports. The Lancastria, anchored off St Nazaire, had embarked up to 9,000 civilians and troops when she suffered three direct hits at 15.48 and sank within 20 minutes.

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