Date of birth:

August 10th, 1907 (Mussori/Lahore, India)

Date of death:

September 12th, 1940

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves St. John the Baptist Churchyard
Plot: N.W. Part. 

Service number:

26029

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

John Dewar was educated at King's School Canterbury from January 1922 to December 1925. He became a Sergeant in the Officer Training Corps in 1925 and entered Cranwell as a Cadet, January 1926, where he excelled and graduated with ´Exceptional´ ratings.
In December 1927 Dewar was posted to No. 13 Squadron, flying Avro Ansons. After qualifying for deck landings he joined 822 Squadron on H.M.S. Furious (Carrier), May 1933, and stayed aboard her as Flight Lieutenant with 801 (Fleet Fighter) Squadron. In July 1934; whilst serving on the Furious Dewar was washed overboard during a gale in the Bay of Biscay, fortunately he was quickly rescued.
In 1939 he was sent to France and took command of No. 87 Squadron as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. Despite being severely incapacitated for flying due to a broken right shoulder in a flying accident he lead the squadron in the destruction of some 60 enemy aircraft of which he claimed 5.
The squadron was subsequently evacuated back to Debden to refit.
On the 12th of September 1940 he took off on a routine flight from Exeter for Tangmere in Hurricane V7306 but failed to arrive. The weather was very poor and enemy operations were hampered that day. Dewar was the only RAF casualty that day and the highest ranking officer to be lost during the battle. His body was washed ashore on September 30th at Kingston Gorse in Sussex. There is some mystery surrounding his death as some reports suggest that he had taken to his parachute and that his body "was riddled with bullets" when it was found implying that he had been killed in his parachute during his descent.
He was the highest ranking officer to be killed in the Battle of Britain and one of the first four officers to be awarded the double honour of DSO and DFC of the war.
John Dewar was burried on North Baddesly (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard in Hampshire.

Promotions
December 17th, 1927: Pilot Officer
June 17th, 1929: Flying Officer
February 1st, 1934: Flight Lieutenant
February 1st, 1938: Squadron Leader
September 1st, 1940: Temporary Wing Commander

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 87 (United Provinces) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 31st, 1940

Citation:
"Before intensive operations started this officer injured his right shoulder in a severe flying accident. Despite this, he flew regularly and led his squadron with skill and dash, more than 60 enemy aircraft being destroyed by them. He remained in command of the squadron throughout the operations, in spite of the injured shoulder, trained his new pilots well and continued throughout to be a very efficient commander, inculcating an excellent spirit in his squadron."

Covering Remarks by No 14 Group Commander:
"Squadron Leader Dewar was in the Saar area when intensive operations started. He had had a severe flying accident on May 7th, which incapacitated his right shoulder. In spite of this he flew consistently and led his squadron with skill and dash. Under his leadership No 87 Squadron accounted for more than 60 enemy aircraft. He remained in command of his squadron until the evacuation, in spite of his injured shoulder, he trained his new pilots well, and throughout continued to be a very efficient commander. I cannot speak too highly of the spirit he inculcated in his squadron. I recommend the immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 87 (United Provinces) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 31st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Wing Commander

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1941

Posthumously awarded.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" clasp.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1:
• - SHORES, CH. & WILLIAMS, C., Aces High, Grub Street, London, 1994.
  - The London Gazette Issue 33348 published on the 17 January 1928
  - The London Gazette Issue 33519 published on the 23 July 1929
  - The London Gazette Issue 34020 published on the 2 February 1934
  - The London Gazette Issue 34478 published on the 1 February 1938
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 34860 published on the 28 May 1940
  - The London Gazette Issue 34949 published on the 20 September 1940
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35029 published on the 31 December 1940
  - Spink
  - The King's School Canterbury- Roll of Honor
  

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