Flight Lieutenant Leonard William OVERTON D.F.C and Bar

F/L Overton with his Father and Wife at Buckingham Palace in 1944 after his investiture for the Bar to his DFC.

Sudden death of Labour Stalwart Mr Len Overton, a leading member of the Labour movement in Thanet, died suddenly at his home on Thursday, aged 62.

Mr Overton of Northdown Hill, St Peter's was a former chairman of both Thanet East Labour Party and the Broadstairs and St Peter’s branch.

He was the first Labour councillor ever to be elected to the former Broadstairs Council. Latterly he had run the "tote" which is the branch's main source of income.

Mr Overton was also an active trade unionist and was secretary of his branch of the National Union of Public Employees for many years. He retired because of ill-health from his job as foreman and fitter with the Southern Water Authority. He had worked for the local water undertaking for 36 years.

He was born at Broadstairs and educated at Chatham House Grammar School Ramsgate.

In 1938 he took an entrance examination for the R.A.F. and during the war served as a pilot with the famous "Pathfinders".

L-R Henry Overton [brother just on edge of picture] unknown man behind bride [possibly her father]

Best man [ can anyone identify him? He could be an Australian, D P Clements perhaps?]

Others in picture are unknown apart from the white haired gentleman who is William Overton, father of the groom,

It would be nice to identify the best man, I believe the other man in the picture maybe the father of the bride.

He won the D.F.C and bar, but would never tell his family the circumstances of the two awards for bravery.

Mr Overton leaves a widow, one son, Roddy, and two grandchildren, who live in Canada, and one daughter Christine ,who lives in Ramsgate. The funeral took place at Thanet Crematorium Margate, on Monday.

Comments by Tessa Towner: I feel very humbled to have known him, and to find out now, after all these years, how brave he was. He would never talk about his war time experiences and it wasn’t until his funeral that I saw his DFC & Bar; he also had his log book, which his son now has.

I have been researching my family history for many years, but until now was unable to find anything about his war service, the only thing I regret is that none of his generation are left to be able to tell them, his two sisters and brother would have been so pleased to have known all this, and would have been so proud of him.

Above details and Photographs supplied by Tessa Towner

F/L Overton's history with 156 Squadron, including the citations for both D.F.C. awards can be seen at:

http://www.156squadron.com/view_aircrew.asp?pCrewid=2649

The table below lists the details of all Pilots on roster for April 1943 when Sgt Overton and crew reported to 156 Squadron on 5/4/43 from 100 Squadron.

As can be seen the survival rate was not great.

Most crew would have served at another Squadron prior to posting at a Pathfinder Squadron, so their 45 missions required would be made up from those with their prior squadron and those completed with 156 Squadron..

The mission list is incomplete for 1943 (still being compiled) so F/L Overton's tally will definitely be greater than the 15 shown.

Surname	Initials	First Mention	Last Mention	Deceased	NoTrips	Subsequent
ANDERSEN	H R	06/11/1942	16/04/1943	17/04/1943	25	K.I.A.
BUSBY	D C C	20/04/1943	16/06/1943	17/06/1943	5	K.I.A.
BYASS	R A	02/04/1943	03/04/1943	03/04/1943	2	K.I.A.
COOK	A S	08/04/1943	04/10/1943	04/10/1943	24	K.I.A.
COOPER	G S	03/04/1943	18/04/1943	18/04/1943	5	K.I.A.
CRAMPTON	L R	26/04/1943	27/07/1943	27/07/1943	4	K.I.A.
DAVIES	C H	02/10/1942	04/04/1943	04/04/1943	21	K.I.A.
DONALDSON	D W	13/02/1943	11/06/1943		19	to 1637 CU
DUIGAN	B L	22/03/1943	03/09/1943		13	to 81 CTU
GONCE	H B	03/03/1943	16/04/1943	16/04/1943	11	K.I.A.
GRANT	G F	18/04/1943	04/10/1943		12	not known
GRIMSTON	The Hon B	10/09/1942	04/04/1943	04/04/1943	24	K.I.A.
HALDEMAN	W C	04/04/1943	04/04/1943	04/04/1943	1	K.I.A.
HORAN	J M	06/12/1942	26/04/1943		20	not known
HUDSON	R J	13/04/1943	24/06/1943	24/06/1943	7	K.I.A.
KEARNS	R S D	13/09/1942	16/04/1943		31	Completed Tour
LANG	A G	15/10/1942	04/05/1943		28	POW
LAY	K L W	02/04/1943	11/06/1943	11/06/1943	10	K.I.A.
MACLACHLAN	A R A	02/04/1942	06/09/1943	07/09/1943	34	K.I.A.
MARSON	J A	16/04/1943	21/06/1943	22/06/1943	5	K.I.A.
MILLER	R B	26/03/1943	16/06/1943	17/06/1943	10	K.I.A.
MOIR	D T	26/04/1943	29/07/1943		6	not known
OVERTON	L W	08/04/1943	23/12/1943		15	Completed Tour
SMITH	B F	03/04/1943	29/07/1943	30/07/1943	10	K.I.A.
STEWART	R G F	06/11/1942	01/01/1944	02/01/1944	50	K.I.A.
SULLIVAN	M A	03/04/1943	20/12/1943	20/12/1943	16	K.I.A.
TAYLOR (SERVED AS BENSON)	H F	30/01/1943	31/03/1945	31/03/1945	21	K.I.A.
THOMPSON	J F	28/03/1943	03/09/1943		9	not known
THOMSON	E M	03/04/1943	18/04/1943		2	not known
VERDON-ROE	L	02/10/1942	12/05/1943	13/05/1943	30	K.I.A.
WAUGH	D H	20/04/1943	26/04/1943	27/04/1943	2	K.I.A.
WENDON	W M	22/03/1943	12/05/1943	13/05/1943	8	K.I.A.
WHITE	J H	03/03/1943	18/11/1943	18/11/1943	21	K.I.A.
WOMERSLEY	G H	05/10/1942	13/04/1943		22	to No. 8 (PFF) Group.
YOUNGER	R G	03/04/1943	08/04/1943	08/04/1943	2	K.I.A.