{"id":6008,"date":"2025-10-20T08:42:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T08:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/?page_id=6008"},"modified":"2026-02-08T15:33:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T15:33:59","slug":"john-aikten","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wwii\/creighton\/john-aikten\/","title":{"rendered":"John Aikten"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-6008\" data-postid=\"6008\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-6008 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_wjx8608 tb_first tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_qg5c608 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_y533608   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h2><strong>Key Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Name: <span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">John Aitken<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>DoB:<\/strong> 22\/08\/1920<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Regt:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span> 953705 RAF<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>DoD: <\/strong><\/span>21\/09\/1941 aged 21<\/p>\n<p>Buried\/Commemorated<strong> Remembered with honour<br>CARLISLE (DALSTON ROAD) CEMETERY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Academic Career<\/strong>: DCS 1932-37<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Other:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Biographical Information<\/strong><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_mfba608 last\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_8wnl861 image-top   tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken2-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-6632\" title=\"Aitken2\" alt=\"Aitken2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken2-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken2-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_976i152 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_un8p152 first\">\n                    <!-- module accordion -->\n<div  class=\"module module-accordion tb_4idb152 \" data-behavior=\"accordion\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    \n    <ul class=\"ui module-accordion   gray\">\n            <li class=\"builder-accordion-active\">\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-4idb152-0\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-4idb152-0-content\" aria-expanded=\"true\">\n                                                            Family Background                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-4idb152-0-content\" data-id=\"acc-4idb152-0\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"accordion-content tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_w16a152\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_k1os152 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_hp4d152   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>Family Background:&nbsp;<\/strong><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt;\">Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Aitken, of Carlisle.<br \/>\nThomas had been a railway clerk in Annan. His parents were James (Corn<br \/>\nMiller\/Labourer) from Annan and Annie Bell from Kirkcudbright. Mother Elizabeth<br \/>\nnee Martin. John was the oldest of 6 children.<\/span><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-4idb152-1\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-4idb152-1-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Academic Record                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-4idb152-1-content\" data-id=\"acc-4idb152-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_u5c0152\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_42jo152 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_pc0m152   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>Academic Record:&nbsp;<\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;\">Norman<br \/>\nStreet School.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-4idb152-2\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-4idb152-2-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            War Record                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-4idb152-2-content\" data-id=\"acc-4idb152-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_e045152\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_w0bl152 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_qfl5152   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>War Service<\/strong>:&nbsp;<b style=\"font-size: 1em;\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language:EN-GB\">Sergeant 953705, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force<br \/>\nVolunteer Reserve<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Wireless operator\/air gunner<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\u201cWellington Mark II W5452 BU-U aircraft, with six air crew<br \/>\nmembers from 214 Squadron on board, took off from RAF Stradishall , in Suffolk,<br \/>\non an operation over Berlin. The mission successful, the aircraft was on its<br \/>\nreturn flight when, low on fuel, it was diverted to RAF Manston, in Kent, due<br \/>\nto heavy fog in Stradishall. Attempting an emergency landing, the Wellington<br \/>\ncrashed into some trees; five of the airmen perished and one was badly injured<br \/>\nin the accident.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The five casualties were-<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">RAFVR Pilot Officer Cyril William Abrey<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">RAFVR Sergeant John Aitken<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">RAFVR Sergeant Ivan John Green<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">RAFVR Sergeant Laurence Douglas Kissack and <o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">RCAF pilot Officer John Benjamin Ruston.\u201d*<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA\">The airmen who survived was Pilot Officer<br \/>\nWhite**<\/span><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-4idb152-3\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-4idb152-3-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Other                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-4idb152-3-content\" data-id=\"acc-4idb152-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_lown152\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_m4g1152 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_j80b152   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>Other:&nbsp;<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Left school to work in an office in the Commercial Union. In<br \/>\n1939 John was an Insurance Clerk, living at 85, Oswald Street.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA\">Gravestone inscription: \u201cGreater love hath no<br \/>\nman than this. That a man lay down his life for his friends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-4idb152-4\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-4idb152-4-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Sources                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-4idb152-4-content\" data-id=\"acc-4idb152-4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_4qqj152\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_66h3152 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_usdp152   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>Sources:&nbsp;<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Rorcesr records: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;;\">They enlisted at Cardington. They joined between<br \/>\nSeptember 1939 and August 1940.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Creighton Register<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Find a grave*<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chorley and Mike Tallis **<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA\">Census returns&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n\n<\/div><!-- \/module accordion -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_wvlz760 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_kenu760 first\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_4guc255 image-top   tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken-scaled.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-6633\" title=\"Aitken\" alt=\"Aitken\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aitken-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Information Name: John Aitken DoB: 22\/08\/1920 Regt:\u00a0 953705 RAF DoD: 21\/09\/1941 aged 21 Buried\/Commemorated Remembered with honourCARLISLE (DALSTON ROAD) CEMETERY Academic Career: DCS 1932-37 Other:\u00a0 Biographical Information Family Background Family Background:&nbsp;Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Aitken, of Carlisle. Thomas had been a railway clerk in Annan. His parents were James (Corn Miller\/Labourer) from Annan [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":6001,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6008","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6008"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6635,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6008\/revisions\/6635"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}