Schoolgirl's research inspires new tribute to war hero

It was an emphatic and deeply personal way of honouring a young man who had followed his father into the service of his country, and paid the ultimate price.

On September 15, 1940, during the Battle of Britain, Flt Sgt Leslie Pidd was strapped into a Hurricane high above Kent engaged in a fierce defence of London during the second of three Luftwaffe attacks that day.

He was, despite his boyish looks and relatively brief career, already an experienced pilot, having fought in the battle for France and the evacuation from Dunkirk. As a member of 238 Squadron, based at Middle Wallop, Hampshire, was often among the first to intercept enemy fighters, which could cross the English Channel in six minutes.

At 3pm, after three of his squadron colleagues were forced to leave the fray with their aircraft damaged, Flt Sgt Pidd was shot down and

killed, a hit that was claimed by a Messerschmitt Bf 110.

His death drew an angry response from the rest of the squadron, who initially believed he had baled out and been machine-gunned while falling to earth beneath his parachute.

Flt Sgt Eric Bann revealed the strength of feeling in a letter to his parents the next day, writing: "We just went in as one man and held our fire until very close range then blew them right out of their cockpits.

"We're all just mad for revenge. Never again shall any one of us give any mercy for our poor flight commander and yesterday the Yorkshire boy Sgt Pidd fell victims to these swines, machine-gunning whilst coming down by parachute.

"Now, after seeing poor Pidd go, shall I ever forgive the Hun."

Flt Sgt Pidd was buried with full military honours in the small cemetery at St Peter's Church, Woodmansey, less than a mile from the family home in the East Yorkshire village of Dunswell.

He had celebrated his 22nd birthday a month earlier and had been due to marry his fiance Marjorie Noble on his next home leave.

Flt Sgt Pidd had not managed to bale out and was in the Hurricane when it crashed into an oak tree in the grounds of Kent College, Pembury, a girls' school.

In a fortnight – 70 years to the day since he was shot down and killed – a memorial to Flt Sgt Pidd will be unveiled at the school as the culmination of a remarkable research project by one of its current pupils, Vicky Vizard, 13, whose father Steve has spent more than 30 years researching the Battle of Britain and has excavated the site.

Wanting to learn more about the pilot who became part of the school's history, Vicky got in touch with relatives of Flt Sgt Pidd – leading to some emotional reunions and helping the family to learn more about the pilot, who despite being one of The Few, is to many of them, simply Uncle Les.

His great nephew, Nic Morton, 48, said: "When I was growing up I never knew whether he was just a novice pilot shot down on his first sortie or had been an experienced pilot. I know so much more about him now and I admire him as a person more, but I've just got so much more respect for him and his memory.

"It's been an emotional journey thinking about it and what it must have been like for him. I'm just incredibly grateful there were people like him willing to do it."

The Battle of Britain raged between July 10 and October 31, 1940.

It was intended as a prelude to a Nazi invasion of Britain, but the might of the Luftwaffe was seen off by the British, Commonwealth and Allied aircrew who took part.

Father won medal at sea

Leslie Pidd's father George Pidd was decorated for gallantry in the First World War while serving in the Merchant Navy.

He was the carpenter on SS Aracataca, which for a merchant ship had the unusual distinction of fighting an enemy submarine to a standstill.

SS Aracataca was attacked by a German submarine off the Irish coast on March 10, 1917, while on her way to Liverpool from Costa Rica.

George Pidd was one of two crew members manning a 12-pound gun in an exposed position, firing 40 rounds while his ship took evasive action, zigzagging between shell splashes.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his actions.

The official history of the Mercantile Marine recorded that the ship's master "gave special praise" to the chief steward, for his care of the wounded, and to the two gunners.