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Name: GARLAND, Thomas Benjamin 'Mickey'
Nee: son of Benjamin Cooke Garland
Birth Date: 23 Jan 1914 Naivasha
Death Date: 22.3.1941 Malta, RAF killed in action
Profession: Farmer, Nakuru
Book Reference: Sitrep 2, Aero, Bob Simpson, KR, Barnes
War Service: RAF
General Information:
Aero - Roll of Honour for World War Two, 1939-45 - P/O T.B. Garland
Bob Simpson - Ben Garland] also had a younger son 'Mickey' born much later. Mickey also went to England, came back and went into the RAF flying hurricanes and lost his life over Malta.
Kenya Regiment - Pilot Officer Thomas Benjamin Garland died 22/3/1941 aged 26 - RAFVR - Malta Memorial, Malta. No full birthdate in KR records
Nakuru North cemetery - Nick, Pilot Officer Thomas Benjamin Garland, killed in action at Malta 22/3/1941 aged 28
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Rift Valley Voters List
One of the original '500' men in the Kenya Regt. in 1937. (KR 165).
Tom Lawrence: In a diary by FO Whittingham of 261 Squadron, for the 18th March 1941 whilst based in Malta, he mentions: Shifts of two flights of 8 working together are organised. My squadron took off in the afternoon. I leading the first flight, and Terry Foxton the second. I climbed to almost 10,000 feet and saw three bombers and about 6 fighters above me. I realised it was useless to attack them so climbed to 12,000 feet, stooging about for any other formations that might come in. But not Terry. He climbed up with his flight, and chased the bombers with the sun behind him towards Sicily. Whether he knew that there were fighters about or not, I do not know. But it was a suicidal thing to do, for the 109’s took their time, and shot down five of the flight, including Terry, who should not have been leading in any case. He had far too little experience in Hurricanes and fighter tactics. Young Southwell who had just joined the squadron, two days previously, was another. Poor old Spyer who had just been recalled from leave for the occasion lost his life, as did Knight who had just joined the squadron, and was his first taste of action. Another of the new ones, Garland, went as well.
Tom Lawrence: In a diary by FO Whittingham of 261 Squadron, for the 18th March 1941 whilst based in Malta, he mentions: Shifts of two flights of 8 working together are organised. My squadron took off in the afternoon. I leading the first flight, and Terry Foxton the second. I climbed to almost 10,000 feet and saw three bombers and about 6 fighters above me. I realised it was useless to attack them so climbed to 12,000 feet, stooging about for any other formations that might come in. But not Terry. He climbed up with his flight, and chased the bombers with the sun behind him towards Sicily. Whether he knew that there were fighters about or not, I do not know. But it was a suicidal thing to do, for the 109’s took their time, and shot down five of the flight, including Terry, who should not have been leading in any case. He had far too little experience in Hurricanes and fighter tactics. Young Southwell who had just joined the squadron, two days previously, was another. Poor old Spyer who had just been recalled from leave for the occasion lost his life, as did Knight who had just joined the squadron, and was his first taste of action. Another of the new ones, Garland, went as well.