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417215 Flight Sergeant Lancelot KELL
Widow: Mrs. G.F. Kell of Calgary, Canada
Mother: Mrs. B. Kell of Durham, England

Lancelot Kell was born in Birtley, Durham, England on the July 4th 1914 and came to New Zealand in August 1939. He attended primary school in England up to the age of 14. His sports interests were football and tennis and as hobbies he was interested in woodwork and ambulance work. At the time of applying for enlistment in the aircrew section of the Royal New Zealand Air Force on November 18th 1940 he was employed as a carpenter by Mr. L.G. Walker of Wanganui.

Flight Sergeant Kell was enlisted at Levin on December 28th 1941 as wireless-operator/air-gunner under training. He embarked for Canada on March 17th 1942 under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arriving in Canada he disembarked at No. 1 Manning Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia on April 14th 1942 and later in the month he was posted to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta. In December he proceeded to No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta where he was awarded his Air Gunner's Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on January 11th 1943. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on July 11th of the same year. Meanwhile in January 1943 he had been transferred to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

On his arrival in England Flight Sergeant Kell after a period at No. 11 Personnel Despatch Centre, Bournemouth, was posted to No. 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, Penhros, Wales, early in May. He proceeded in June to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott and three months later transferred to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach for conversion to Lancaster aircraft where he was remustered Wireless Operator/Air on November 9th. He was posted to No. 514 Squadron (redacted) on December 12th 1943.

Flight Sergeant Kell was a member of the crew of a Lancaster aircraft missing on air operations on the night of Jan.14/15th 1944 against the target of Brunswick, Germany - Subsequent enquiries showed that the aircraft had crashed at Lavenburg, all the crew.