881177 Flight Sergeant Eleanor Maud Barker WAAF

 

Rank

 Flight Sergeant

Name & Decorations 

 Eleanor Maud Barker (nee Edwards)

Service

 Womens’ Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Unit

 RAF Hospital Rauceby

Attached To

 Technical Training Command RAF

Operation

 N/A

Date of Death

 30 September 1944

Place of Death

 RAF Hospital Rauceby, Rauceby,Lincs.

Circumstances

 Died from injuries received in a traffic collision

Age

  26

Buried or commemorated at

  Sleaford Cemetery, Sleaford, Lincs.

Grave or Memorial Number

 Section AA: Grave 145

 

 

Daughter of George Edwards, a chef, and Eleanor Edwards of Romford, Essex. She had a twin brother George Norman Edwards, and an elder brother Edward William Edwards who was about two years older than her. (1921 census).

She also had a younger sister Veronica June Edwards, born 1922.

 

She was the wife of Kenneth George Barker 93/9/1919-10/8/2009) of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, whom she married on 4th August 1943 at Quarrington Parish Church. Kenneth was an RAF Clerk who also worked at RAF Hospital Rauceby, where Eleanor was a senior storekeeper..

 

Circumstances of Death: Road Accident.

On 30 September 1944, Eleanor and an RAF Sgt colleague Sgt Stanley Ackroyd were cycling along Sleaford Road near Rauceby at night when they were struck from behind by a passing US Army Air Force lorry. Sgt Stanley Ackroyd was hit first, and his bicycle was carried forward into FS Barker. Tragically, Maud later died of head injuries in RAF Hospital Rauceby where she worked.

 

(Source: Jon Heyworth https://forum.rafcommands.com/forum/unaccounted-airmen-and-airwomen-project/1944/17043-440930-unaccounted-airwoman-airmen-30-9-1944#post247990)

 

(Image of grave to follow).