Acting Squadron Leader GLB Hull “Laurie”

Links of Long Standing

Several joined well before war was declared including amongst others, TH Archbell, AS Ainslie, I Bocock, CBE Burt-Andrews GL Cruickshanks, G Chater, IB Difford, FA Harte, GDL Haysom, CB Hull, GLB Hull, AG “Sailor” Malan, EJ Morris, MT Pattle, H Rosofsky, JF Roulston RN Selley, HWL Sheahan CR Taylor and FL Watson.

Against Unfavourable Odds

“The London Gazette” issue on December 24th announced the “Distinguished Service Order” award to Squadron Leader AG Malan DFC and Bar and “Distinguished Flying Cross” awards to Pilot Officer AC Hamman, a No 115 Squadron Wellington pilot, No 114 Squadron Blenheim pilot Acting Squadron Leader GLB Hull and Flying Officer AER Fry a No 59 Squadron Blenheim pilot. The four pilots had strong Cape Town connections, Malan being a General Botha graduate, Hamman was educated at SACS while Fry and Hull were former Bishop’s pupils.

More than a “Few” South Africans

Wing Commander GLB Hull DFC crash landed his No 114 Squadron Blenheim during an unrelated “Intruder” operation in Holland at around the time Nettleton was heading back in his badly damaged Lancaster. Hull and a crew member Pilot Officer JF Morton ended in up in Stalag III joining Flying Officer AJ Garwell DFC DFM, an “Augsburg Raid” survivor, spending over 3 years as “POW’s”.

The Dreaded Telegram

Denis Norman McCarthy and Anthony Ellerton Fry left Bishops in 1934. McCarthy’s post school activities are unknown. Fry, completed an Engineering degree at London University with Honours, a member of the University Air Squadron with PHV Wells and CW Goldsmith, he and Goldsmith were appointed Flying Officers in December 1939. Denis McCarthy commissioned as a “Pilot Officer on probation” on June 18th 1940, a few days before Flying Officer “Tony” Fry joined No 59 Squadron. Fry had flown more than 40 operational sorties when “The London Gazette” announced his and another former Bishops pupil Laurence Hull’s “Distinguished Flying Cross” awards on December 24th.

Not at Home for Christmas

No 40 Squadron SAAF Hurricane pilot Lieutenant RD Mellor and Lieutenant JHO Dellow, another No 24 Squadron airman, were shot down in March 1942 followed in April by another No 40 Squadron Hurricane pilot Lieutenant JS Gouws, No 144 Squadron OC Wing Commander GLB Hull DFC and Flying Officer BS Booker one of his squadron pilots. were also shot down in April.