THE VILLAGERS OF COLLINGHAM AND LINTON WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO

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This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham and Linton who served during World War 2.
Browning, William Edward
(1921-1941)
 
Full World War 2 medal rolls are not yet available. Where medal ribbons shown, those are the awards we believe would have been awarded, taken from information on the service records or surviving medal cards. Where no ribbons are shown we do not have any information on medal entitlement. We apologise if there are errors in the awards shown.

Rank and Unit at End of World War Two

Rank Aircraftman 1st Class

Service Number 639264

Service RAF

Unit 234 Squadron

Regiment Royal Air Force

Died: 25th January 1941

Buried St. Eval Churchyard, Cornwall

Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Named on village war memorials
  • Named in articles or lists in The Wetherby News or Collingham Parish Magazine
  • Address in 1939 or 1945/46: Harewood Road, Collingham
    (taken from either the 1939 National Registration or the 1945 and/or 1946 service electoral rolls)

Biography

Family background

William Edward Browning was born in Hunslet in 1921, the son of Edward William Alwyn Browning. The family had moved around in the early 20th century, being in Armley, Leeds in 1901 and 1911. William's father, Edward worked first as a solicitor's clerk but by 1911 was Clerk at the County Court. In 1921, at the time of the census, the family were registered at 21 Hollyshaw Terrace in Whitkirk. The electoral rolls for West Yorkshire allow us to track the movements of the family and by 1925 they appear on the electoral roll at Fullerton Terrace in Collingham, marking their first connection with the village. From 1928 to 1934 they lived at 4 Garth End, Collingham, and from 1935 until at least 1947 at Onestac, Harewood Road, Collingham. During this time in the village William's singing ability was recognised, first singing in the church choir and later as a solo chorister at Ripon Cathedral.

Nine months before the war began William Edward Browning joined the RAF with a service number 639264.

Service record

After his initial training, for which we do not have details yet, William Edward Browning was posted to 234 Squadron. By January 1941, they were based at RAF St.Eval in Cornwall flying Spitfires. William Browning was an aircraftman, part of the ground crew for the squadron. On the 25th January 1941 the base was subjected to a Lufwaffe air raid and staff at the base took shelter in air-raid trenches and bunkers. At 2000 hrs 100 incendiary and 5 high explosive bombs plus 2 parachute mines were dropped on the base. Unfortunately, the shelter that William Browning had chosen near the watch office was directly hit by a parachute mine, killing 22 service personnel. The raid was the worst in the station's history and is commemorated on a granite monument on the site. One of those killed was William Browning.

News reached his parents and the local community:

The Yorkshire Post, January 30, 1941

Yorkshiremen Die on Active Service

Mr. E.W.A. Browning, a Leeds County Court official, and Mrs. Browning, of Harewood Road, Collingham, have been informed that their only son, William Edward Browning, aged 19, has been killed by enemy action somewhere in England. He joined the RAF nine months before the outbreak of war. He was a solo chorister at Ripon Catherdral before joining the Air Force.

 

His death was also reported in both the Parish Magazine and The Wetherby News:

Collingham Parish Magazine, March, 1941

OBITUARY

Very widespread has been the sympathy which has been expressed with Mr and Mrs Browning upon the tragic and most grievous loss they have sustained by the death of their only son, who was killed by enemy action, somewhere in England. Once, one of the choir boys of our own Parish Church, "Billy" Browning, as he was affectionately known, had the great distinction of becoming a solo chorister at Ripon Cathedral. He joined the Royal Air Force nine months before the outbreak of the war. Those who knew him, recognised in William Edward Browning a splendid type of boy, who put all his heart into whatever he did. We should like to add our expression of sincere sympathy to the many, which have been received by his sorrowing parents.

 

The News and Reporter, February 7th, 1941

COLLINGHAM

FOR HIS COUNTRY

A wide circle of friends will ympathise with Mr. E.W.A. Browning (official of Leeds County Court) and Mrs. Browning, Harewood Road, Collingham, in the loss they have sustained through the death of their only son, William Edward (Billy), aged 19, who joined the RAF before the outbreak of war. He was killed by enemy action in this coutry and has been laid to rest with full military honours.

 

William Edward Browning is buried in St.Eval churchyard with the others who were killed in the air raid.

Biography last updated 19 November 2025 16:36:04.

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info