He was born in 1916 and baptised at St Clement’s Church, Ilford on 14th May 1916. His parents were Horace and Elizabeth Lilian nee Smith.
Colin married Gladys Marguerite Bowman at St Martin’s Church, Exning in Suffolk in 1940 when Colin was listed in the press report as a sergeant-gunner instructor and it would appear that his parents were, by then, living apart.
In February 1943 Colin was gazetted as a flying officer. On 13th December of that year he was piloting Boulton Paul Defiant 1 DR 297 out of RAF Roborough, Devon (now Plymouth Airport) accompanied by radio operator/air gunner LAC Thomas Bartle towing a target when he lost control of the plane and crashed at 11.15 near at Crafthole, Torpoint near Blarrick Anthony, Cornwall killing him. Bartle died a few days later.
The Defiant’s performance by this time was regarded as inadequate as a fighter and alternative uses were found for them including target towing. 691 Squadron was formed on 1st December 1943 at Roborough and most of its work was to fly towing training targets for Royal Navy ships gunners.
The Chelmsford Chronicle of 17th December recorded his death and gave his address as Oakleigh in Hullbridge Road, South Woodham Ferrers where presumably he had been living with his wife, Gladys. However the Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives her address as Newmarket and by the time she took out letters of administration she gave their address as her parents home and it is evident that she had moved back with them.
Colin was buried in Exning Cemetery, Newmarket close to where he and Gladys had married just three years earlier.