No.6287135, Private, Rodney Derrick KENT
Aged 23
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Rodney Derrick KENT was born in 1919 in Brandon (Thetford Q1-1919 4B:419), son of William and Lily Hilda KENT (née BELL). His father was a furrier's
labourer in 1911, living at Porters Row, Thetford Road, Brandon. His mother died in 1936.
In the 1939 register, at 135 Thetford Road, Brandon were his widower father William [1-9-1878] a furrier's labourer/special constable; brother Clive [28-6-1925] a grocer's errand boy and Aileen M ASHLEY [6-6-1912] a married domestic. There is one closed record. |
click here to go to the ww2.brandonatwar.co.uk website for more information
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Rodney died at the height of the aerial blitz on Malta. The reason for the collective graves is due to the rocky nature of the ground and the difficulty digging graves under the constant air attacks. It is likely that Robert's death was that reported in Malta as below (from https://maltagc70.wordpress.com/category/1942/july-1942/) " 1752-1819 hrs:- Five Ju88s with fighter escort attack Luqa, landing a direct hit on the HQ building of D Coy, 2nd Royal West Kent Regt at Ta Kandia, killing one Other Rank and wounding two Officers, including the Company Commander, and four Other Ranks. At Qrendi one Other Rank of 3rd Bn Kings Own Malta Regt was wounded by anti-personnel bomb splinters. One serviceable Beaufort was burned out, two other Beauforts and one Spitfire are damaged. Heavy Ack Ack engage: no claims. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details