CUMMING, Rober Alexander

Credit: Gary Newman

Lieutenant (Pilot)

229 Sqn. Royal Air Force

South African Air Force

Robert was born in 1922 to Gerald G & Dora E CUMMING of East London, Cape Province, South Africa.

Robert served with 229 Sqn Royal Air Force, based at RAF Detling, Kent, flying Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX aircraft, providing cover to day bombers in raids during the invasion period, & also over the beaches to assist the invading forces. On the 11th of June 1944 Robert, aged 22, Spitfire MJ219, & his fellow pilot Flight Lieutenant George MAINS flying Spitfire BS167 are believed to have flown into the cliffs at Freshwater in heavy fog. George MAINS is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Robert's body was recovered & buried at Parkhurst Military Cemetery beneath a Commission Headstone alongside 88 First & Second World War casualties.

CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Parkhurst Military Cemetery

Location

Construction of the barracks, which were originally named Parkhurst Barracks after the forest where they were located, was completed in September 1798. Shortly after completion they were renamed "Albany Barracks" after Prince Frederick, Duke of York & Albany, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. By 1807 they were occupied by the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot preparing for action in the Peninsular War. In 1859 the Isle of Wight Rifles was raised as a defence force for the Island & stationed at the barracks.

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The Parkhurst Military Cemetery, on Forest Road, was established in the 1840's, replacing an older cemetery which has since been developed.

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The cemetery serviced the families & servicemen of the Parkhurst Barracks (later Albany Barracks) & Military Hospital.
The cemetery includes a 'Cross of Sacrifice', designed by Sir Reginald BLOMFIELD, as it has over 40 War Graves.

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During WW2 a number of Germany servicemen (50) (mainly crashed aircrew) were buried in the cemetery; their bodies were exhumed & re-interred at the Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in the early 1960s. This included the body of Major General Dr Hans Volkmar FISSER of the German Air Force who was shot down over the Island on 12 August 1940 in a Junkers 88. He was a doctor of Political Science. He is buried with Sgt Jakob BIRNDORFER an ME109 pilot also relocated from Parkhurst.

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After the closure of the barracks in the early 1960's, the cemetery remains part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Estate managed by the Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCC) at Ijim Barracks, Gloucester although the CWGC monitors the War Graves, the MOD is responsible for its general upkeep

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