Roderick Alfred Sedgley

Roderick Sedgley was born in Kibworth on 8th March 1909, the son of Albert and Mabel Laura Sedgley. An Old Wyggestonian, he was captain of the school, 1925-6, he played rugby and cricket for Kibworth. After leaving school he gained employment at the Midland Bank in Market Harborough and later at New Street Birmingham.

At the outbreak of the Second World War he volunteered for the Royal Air Force, underwent his basic training at Cranwell, Lincolnshire, and gained his “wings” in Canada. On his return to England as a Pilot Officer, service number 135618, he was posted to an airfield in South Yorkshire, from where he flew Beaufighters for Coastal Command.

On 4th July 1943 whilst based at number 9 Operational Training Unit, Crosby-on-Eden, Cumbria, he was navigator on a training flight in Beaufighter JM223 code L with flying officer Herman ‘Joe’ Carver, an American from Kansas City, of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Returning to base, the aeroplane crashed at map reference NY606497 on Croglin Fell, Westmorland (now Cumbria), killing both officers, at approximately 18.00hours, whilst turning in turbulent weather. Because of the terrain, the crash site was not located until 20.25hours.

Small pieces of the wreckage could still be seen at the crash site in September 2004.

Roderick Sedgley is buried at Kibworth Cemetery, plot reference 1495.