| Date | 21 April 1944 |
|---|---|
| Source | Windsor, Slough & Eton Express |
| Reference | EE02-0011 |
| Volume | Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, Volume 2 |
| Collection | Eton Excelsior |
Transcript
Death of One of “The Few”
Burnham D.S.O. Killed in Accident
Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Cork, of “Lurley”, Dawes East Road, Burnham, have been informed that their eldest son, A/Lt.-Com. Richard John Cork, D.S.O., D.S.C, R.N., of the Fleet Air Arm, has been killed in a flying accident abroad.
A/Lt.-Com. Cork, who was 27, was awarded the D.S.C. for his courageous flying in the defence of London during the Battle of Britain, when he piloted a fighter in the squadron led by Wing-Commander Bader, the legless airman, and in November 1942 he won the D.S.O. for conspicuous gallantry in repelling air attacks during the passage through the Mediterranean of a Malta convoy.
He was an old boy of the Slough Grammar School and a well-known member of the Windsor Rugby Club and the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club.
Images
Curator's Notes
On 18 Oct 1940, Sub-Lieutenant (A) Richard John Cork, Royal Navy, was awarded the DSC “for exemplary courage and coolness in successful action against enemy bombers“. [source: The London Gazette]
On 10 Nov 1942, Lieutenant (A) Richard John Cork, DSC, Royal Navy, was “to be Companion of the Distinguished Service Order“. [source: The London Gazette]
Richard John Cork was born in London on 4th April 1917, the son of Harold James Cork (1888-1954) and Ethel Mary Cork (nee Wood, 1892-1981) of Burnham, Buckinghamshire. [source: Battle of Britain London Monument website]
Richard John “Dickie” Cork attended the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and earned his pilot’s license on January 20, 1940, after which he enlisted in the Fleet Air Arm (FAA).
[src: Traces of War website]
He was one of eight members of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club killed in action during the Second World War. The EERC Scrapbook Digitisation Project is dedicated to them. [source: WLHG website]
He died 14 Apr 1944 and is buried in the Trincomalee War Cemetery (2.C.9) in Sri Lanka. [source: CWGC website]
See also EE01-0033 “Malta Convoy DSO” and EE02-0032 “Burnham Hero Awarded DFC“.
Curator's References
Second supplement to The London Gazette of 18 Oct 1940, supplement 34974, page 6111 [accessed 30 Jul 2026].
Fifth supplement to The London Gazette of 6 Nov 1942, supplement 35780, page 4879 [accessed 23 Aug 2026].
“The Airmen’s Stories – Sub/Lt (FAA) R J Cork” on the Battle of Britain London Monument website [accessed 30 Jul 2026].
“Cork, Richard John” on the Traces of War website [accessed 30 Jul 2026].
“Lieut-Commander (A) RICHARD JOHN CORK” on the CWGC website [accessed 30 Jul 2026].
“Ace of the Month – Lt Cdr RJ “Dickie” Cork” by Mike Barber, on the War Thunder website [accessed 30 Jul 2026].