King, Neville Stuart

Flying Officer

No. 112178, 603 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Killed on active service on Wednesday 8 July 1942 (aged 29)

No known grave

Commemorated:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Malta Memorial, Valetta, Malta (Panel 3 Column 1)

Rockport School, Craigavad

BIOGRAPHY

Neville Stuart King was born on 24 March 1913 in Foxrock, Rathdown, Dublin and he was a son of Jonas Lowcay (sometimes Lowry) King and Charlotte Mary King (nee Stack) who were married on 4 July 1900 in Langfield Lower Parish Church of Ireland Church, Drumquin, Co. Tyrone.  Jonas Lowcay King (aged 33) from Woodvale, Ballymena was a son of Rev Robert King, a deacon.  Charlotte Mary Stack (aged 23, born in County Kerry) from the Rectory, Lower Langfield was a daughter of Rev Thomas Lindsay Fitzgeorge Stack, a clerk in holy orders.

Jonas Lowcay King worked as a Local Government auditor and he and Charlotte Mary King (nee Stack) had four children:

Nannie Mary Valentine (born 14 February 1903 in Glencree, Omagh)

Harriette Doreen (born 3 October 1905 at 30 Sydney Avenue, Rathdown, Dublin; died April 1997)

Carlotta Joan Stuart (born 22 November 1910, died September 1996)

Neville Stuart (born 24 March 1913 in Foxrock, Rathdown, Dublin)

For a time, the King family lived at Martello, Holywood and Neville Stuart King attended Rockport School, Craigavad.

Jonas Lowcay King was 60 when he died at Martello on 2 October 1927.

Neville Stuart King married Brenda Howarth of Leeds, Yorkshire and their marriage was registered in the third quarter of 1939 in Leeds.  At that time, Neville was a policeman in the Metropolitan Police.

During the Second World War he served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and he was 29 when he was killed on 8 July 1942.

Flying Officer Neville Stuart King (No. 112178) was flying a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft in pursuit of German Junkers Ju 88 aircraft over Gozo and, when turning to return to base, he was flying so low that a wing tip touched the water and his aircraft crashed.  His body was never recovered.  His effects amounted to some £2,593 and probate was granted to his widow.

Flying Officer Neville Stuart King (No. 112178) is commemorated on the Malta Memorial and in Rockport School, Craigavad.