Herbert Charles Fane 1924-2021
Lifelong Resident of Caterham
Herbert Charles Fane, known as Bert, was a resident of Caterham throughout his life, with the exception of a period serving in the RAF.
Bert’s Parents were both employed at Stone Hall Oxted. His Mother Mary Elizabeth (née Waters) as Cook to the Metcalfe family. His Father, Horace Herbert was a Gardener by trade and a Veteran of the Queens Regiment during WW1.
Bert was born in 1924 with local midwife Nurse Potter in attendance. Initially the family lived in Homefield Road. Then at the age of around 6 months they moved into a newly completed house in Wood Lane.
From Bert’s memoirs…“I recall being taken to the Infants school opposite the Golden Lion public house in Chaldon Road. I sat next to a girl named Mary Jackson. I was given a tray of sand to write with my finger the letters and numbers written on the blackboard.
From there I progressed to the Boys school and remember some of the teachers names such as Miss Whiteman, Miss Gibbons, Miss Sandiford, and Captain Connolly. The Headmaster was Mr Lay.
My next school was Caterham Hill Central School which I enjoyed very much. My better subjects were English and Maths.”
At 14 yrs of age Bert left school and started work. He wanted to be in the woodwork trade and was offered an apprenticeship at JB Edwards in Whyteleafe, a Public Works Contractor. He started as tea and general errand boy and then progressed to working on the bench doing various joinery work.
In 1939 war with Germany was declared. The nearby RAF Kenley Airfield was targeted by the German Luftwaffe. The flight control centre on the airfield was destroyed so was relocated to The Grange, Old Coulsdon. The building required some adaptation for this new role and J B Edwards were contracted to carry out the works. This was Bert’s early introduction to the RAF.
A stray incendiary bomb intended for Kenley Airfield fell on the JB Edwards site in Whyteleafe. This burnt the workshop to the ground completely and temporarily put them out of business. The tradesmen lost their tools and machinery.
Perhaps motivated by the destruction of the workshops at J B Edwards and the ending of his apprenticeship it was not long before Bert decided to volunteer for the RAF.
From Bert’s memoirs…
“By then the essential works order came in to being and I was sent to work as a Porter on Caterham station which I hated. By badgering the employment office I was transferred to Camco in South Croydon where instead of making furniture they were producing ammunition boxes (essential works) and I had to stay there until I decided to volunteer for the RAF.
At the age of 17 years and 3 months I ventured into the RAF recruitment centre at Poplar Walk in Croydon, to volunteer as Air Crew but was politely told to go back to my mother, and apply when I reached 17 and a half, in the meantime to join the Air Training Corp (ATC) and prepare for Service life.
I recall watching Croydon airport which had been commandeered as an RAF airfield being bombed and not long after Kenley aerodrome being bombarded almost out of existence by German JU88 bombers. On a Sunday in August 1942 during a low level attack, I looked up as the aircraft passed over and saw the air gunners in their turrets”.
At last, on 30th November 1942 I received my call-up papers and reported to London Zoo. This had been commandeered as an Air crew receiving centre. The animals had been sent to Whipsnade zoo, as a precaution in case London Zoo was bombed.”
Following almost 12 months of basic training to learn all the essentials for RAF Service life Bert was posted to a Wireless Training unit at Yatesbury. Exactly one year to the day from joining the RAF he experienced his first flight. After passing out of Signals school he was posted to El Bala, Egypt. A makeshift camp in the desert, miles from anywhere and with a runway made from a salt bed and sand mixture, built by the Royal Engineers. Here he learnt to maintain and operate the guns on board the aircraft he was to crew.
With all necessary training completed Bert passed out as Flight Sergeant Wireless Operator and Air Gunner (WOPAG) flying in various aircraft including Wellington and Lancaster. After a period in Bomber Command squadron he was transferred to Coastal Command to provide escort for the supply ships crossing the Atlantic, bringing essential supplies for the war effort.
The conveys suffered heavy losses from German U-boats so something had to be done. The Lancaster aircraft was adapted to search for submarines and also to carry a lifeboat that could be deployed in to the sea close to the stricken ship. This provided refuge until a patrol boat directed by the crew of the aircraft could arrive to provide rescue. Bert was transferred to Air Sea Rescue squadron to operate this newly adapted Lancaster. This included an early version of Radar that Bert was trained to operate. With this new technology it was possible to detect ships and aircraft at up to 20 miles distant.
Bert joined the RAF on the 30th November 1942 and was demobilised on 15th February 1947. Demob was from 101 Dispersal Centre, Kirkham Lancs. Here he was provided with demob suit, shirt and tie and granted 56 days leave on full pay.
Like many demobilised servicemen Bert experienced difficulty settling back into civilian life. But eventually he returned to building work and was again employed by J B Edwards of Whyteleafe.
The Winter of 1947 was particularly harsh and building work was suspended for a time. So Bert joined the maintenance department of St. Lawrences Hospital, Caterham for a one month trial.
Bert remained with St. Lawrences Hospital until his retirement in 1990. His long service was recognised when HRH Princess Michael of Kent visited St Lawrences Hospital to open a new school. Bert was presented to the princess, though we will never know of the conversation that took place on that day.
It was at St. Lawrences Hospital that Bert met Rosie Hannigan, a Nurse from Ireland. They married in 1954 and lived in rented rooms in Burntwood Lane. Eventually they bought a newly built house in Banstead Road. It was here their two children Kevin and Patricia were born. As the family grew up and needed more space they moved to Burntwood Lane in 1976 and remained there until 2014.
As a civilian Bert joined the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA). The first meetings were held at the Whyteleafe Tavern public house. They moved to the Harrow Inn, Chaldon and The Blacksmiths PH in Caterham High Street. Eventually the RAFA were offered the family room on Kenley airfield, now known as the Portcullis Club. The RAFA settled there and have remained now for over 30 years.
Bert was a very active member of the RAFA Kenley branch and took on a number of different roles, initially as a Branch Committee member then Membership Secretary, Branch Chairman and for a time Chairman of the Portcullis Club.
Bert enjoyed many and varied interests and hobbies, in particular the natural world. He had extensive knowledge of wild birds and plants. He bred aviary birds and was a member of the Caterham & District Cage Bird Society. He grew fruit and vegetables for his family on an allotment in Westway. He was an active member of the Caterham & District Horticultural Society and collected numerous awards for fruit, flowers and vegetable exhibits. He also enjoyed photography, fishing and kept fish in his garden pond and an aquarium.
Bert’s last years were spent at Tupwood Gate Nursing Home where he received outstanding care from a devoted team. He was popular with staff and residents and was described as a ‘lovely man, a true gentleman’.
During his stay at the Nursing Home Bert was introduced to the son of another resident who was also ex-RAF. After learning of Bert's experience in the RAF a conversation with the commander of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight ensued and a flypast of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) was scheduled to honour Bert. On the day, the residents gathered in the garden and waved tea towels and pillow cases to guide the aircraft. The flypast comprised a Spitfire, Hurricane and of course Lancaster aircraft. Following the flypast, grateful thanks were sent to the Commanding Officer of the BBMF and the response came back ‘that it was an honour … the only other residence to have a flypast of the BBMF is at the end of The Mall.’
Bert passed away on 25th April 2021. A service commemorating his life was held on 17th May 2021 under restrictions imposed during the Coronavirus pandemic. The RAFA Standard Bearer was in attendance along with members of RAFA Kenley branch and of course his family too.
Herbert Charles Fane 1924-2021
