Ian Kenneth Sefton JOLL 
 
This picture, 'Ian', sourced from Daily Mirror.
|
Death Notes
Sqn Ldr Ian Joll's mum had received the devastating telegram telling her he was dead just 10 minutes before he arrived on her doorstep
The incredible story of an RAF pilot who turned up at his mum’s home 10 minutes after she got a telegram saying he had been killed has come to light after 75 years. Mabel Joll promptly fainted as she answered the door, thinking she was looking at a ghost. Sqn Ldr Ian Joll was thought to have died when he crashed on a Dutch beach on May 10, 1940.
But he got on a ship to Harwich with the help of the Dutch resistance. And once there went to see his parents in Gravesend.
Oliver Pepys, of Spinks auctioneers which is selling Sqn Ldr Joll’s medals, said: “She must have thought that she was looking at his ghost". Not 10 minutes before she had received a telegram from the Air Ministry saying he was missing, believed killed.”
Sqn Ldr Joll cheated death again later when his Blenheim iced up and went into a spin and once more after his Beaufighter was shot up by a Heinkel.
He went on to become a fighter ace with “five kills” and won the Distinguished Flying Cross. He died aged 57 in 1977 and his widow last year. His medals will be sold in London on April 23.
-
Occupation Details
Occupation Notes
JOLL Ian Kenneth Sefton Squadron Leader RAF NO.90951
Ian Joll was born in East Grinstead, Sussex, on 3 February 1920. He joined 604 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force before the war and was mobilized in August 1939. He completed his training and returned to the unit in April 1940. On 10 May he took part in a strafing attack on ]u52/3ms which had landed on a Dutch beach during the invasion of that country, but as he went in low, he was either hit by return fire or struck the ground, crash-landing his Blenheim. He was assisted by the Dutch to get to a port, returning to his unit on the 13th. During his first night interception on 1 May 1941, his Beaufighter was struck by return fire and his radar operator, M. O' Leary was hit and seriously wounded. He was subsequently able to claim several victories during the summer nights, but later in the year was posted to 153 Squadron as a Flight Lieutenant to assist this unit in conversion from Defiant to Beaufighters. He returned to 604 in October 1942 where he was subsequently promoted Squadron Leader and commanded a flight. Early in 1943 he was posted to FIU, but again returned to 604 later in the year, where he claimed a fourth victory in September, receiving a DFC the following month, the citation recording four victories. No further information is available.
From 1939 Ian's occupation was RAF.1
This picture, 'Battle of Britain Monument', sourced from Family Photo.This picture, 'Battle of Britain Monument', sourced from Family Photo.
-
Ancestor Pedigree Chart
-
*There are earlier generations for the ancestor(s) indicated. See their page(s) for details (click name)
- b.1719 in Egloskerry, Cornwall, England d.May 1806 in Callington, Cornwall, England
- b.29 Dec 1770 in Callington, Cornwall, England d.05 Feb 1850 in Waddington, Lincolnshire, England
- d.1809
- b.21 Feb 1806 in Thetford, Norfolk, England d.15 Feb 1866 in Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, England
- b.1740 d.16 Jun 1782 in Haxey, Lincolnshire, England
- b.1773 d.02 Mar 1824 in Lusby, Lincolnshire, England
- b.1743 d.27 Sep 1818 in Haxey, Lincolnshire, England
- b.1839 in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, England d.30 Oct 1918 in Manchester, Lancashire, England
- b.20 Jan 1808 in Flintham, Nottinghamshire, England d.30 Jun 1843 in Newark, Nottinghamshire, England
- b.1879 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England d.29 Jul 1949 in Newton Abbot, Devon, England
- b.16 Nov 1851 in Tetford, Lincolnshire, England d.10 Dec 1900 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England
- b.03 Feb 1920 in East Grinstead, Sussex, England d.1977
- b.31 Jul 1888 in Lambeth, Greater London, England d.1980 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
-
Family Pictures
This picture, 'Wedding Photo', was taken in 1942 and sourced from WWW.
- Picture Notes
- Flying-Officer Ian K.S. Joll, A.A.F., and Rachel Holland were married at St. Mary Abbots, Kensington. He is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Joll, of Elm Cottage, Galmton, Devon. She is the oinly daughter of the late Captain S.H. Holland, and Mrs. Holland, of 1a, princes house, Kensington Park Road, W.11
Ian and <Unknown> were married in 1941 in Kensington, Greater London, England.2 Their marriage was annulled.
Wife's Pictures
This picture, 'Eileen', sourced from The Telegraph Newspaper - 11/2/2014.
Ian and Eileen were married in 1947 in Westminster, Greater London, England.3 They had a biological son. They also had an adopted daughter.
<Unknown>