A member of the congregation at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue Holland Park killed serving in WW2.
Robert Sidney Cohen was born on 17 May 1915 in Shepherds Bush, London, the eldest child of Jack Cohen (1888-1981) and Maria Cohen née Darsa (1890-1953). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1915 in the Fulham Registration District, London.
When his father completed his census return form on 19 June 1921 he was shown as aged 6 years, 3 months and in whole time education. He was living in one room at 19 Camden Gardens, London, W12 (later renamed as Shepherd's Gardens), with his parents and two siblings: Tova Beatrice Cohen (1917-1988) and Samuel Victor Cohen (1920-2008). Whilst all the three children were born British, their parents were recorded as Turkish, having been born in Constantinople. His father described himself as a carpet dealer's assistant, employed by J. Souharme & Co. at 37 Newman Street, London, W1.
Electoral registers in 1938 show him listed at 7 Chiswick Lane, Chiswick, Middlesex (now Greater London)
When the England and Wales Register was compiled on 29 September 1939 his entry confirmed his date of birth as 17 May 1915, that he was a single male and an omnibus conductor, road transport. He was still residing at 7 Chiswick Lane, Chiswick, with his parents and his two siblings: Tova Beatrice Cohen - a shop assistant and Samuel Victor Cohen - a clerk at a repairs department of a property owner, together with his maternal aunt Rebecca V. Darsa (1896-1968) - a book keeper. His father was listed as a carpet salesman and an ARP stretcher bearer.
He was a Corporal in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 655638 and was stationed at No. 5 Air Observers School, Jurby, Isle of Man.
According to the , on 21 December 1941, aged 26 years, he was an Observer under training aboard a Bristol Blenheim Mk IV, a high-speed fighter bomber aeroplane, serial number Z6350, on its way to Tiree, Scotland, on a training exercise when it ran short of fuel and tried to make a cloud break to land at Machrihanish, Scotland. It flew into high ground on the Mull of Kintyre, Argyllshire, killing all four crew. The actual place of the crash is a 1,079ft hill, 3 miles southeast of Tayinloan on the Kintyre Peninsula. It hit the hill and travelled up and along a ridge before stopping. The engines were removed by the RAF shortly after the crash. Small pieces are still visible on the hill.
His body was , in the Golders Green Jewish Cemetery, Hoop Lane, London, NW11 7NL.
Probate records confirm his address was 7 Chiswick Lane, Chiswick and that he died on war service on 21 December 1941. Administration of his estate was granted on 21 February 1942 to his father who was described as a commercial clerk. His effects totalled £179-16s-3d.
He is shown as 'ROBERT SIDNEY COHEN' on both the Bevis Marks war memorial attached to the Bevis Marks Synagogue, Bevis Marks, London, EC3 and on the Lauderdale Road, Synagogue, Ashworth Road, London, W9 and as 'Cpl ROBERT SIDNEY COHEN' on the Holland Park Synagogue WW2 memorial attached to the Holland Park Sephardi Synagogue, 8 St James's Gardens, London, W11.
He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the and on the .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them