London – Kensington and Chelsea (Borough of) – Brompton Cemetery (Richard William Shimes)

This grave in Brompton Cemetery commemorates the life of Richard William Shimes, the son of William and Edith Elizabeth Shimes (nee Green), who lived in Chelsea, London. Richard was born in the final quarter of 1918. The 1921 census won’t be released until the beginning of 1922 and Richard doesn’t appear on the 1939 register, perhaps because he was already in the military. Edith appears as a housewife, living at 297 Guinness Buildings in Chelsea with her son Charles who was a gas-fitter and another person whose details have been redacted.

Richard joined the RAF as an aircraftman and his service number was 534975. He died on 20 March 1941 at the age of 22 and was buried on 28 March 1941.

And there’s little more story I can find to tell on this one, he’s even listed on one site as one of the few airmen that further information isn’t available on. Until his military records are released, this grave feels just that bit anonymous. Unless I’ve missed something obvious (which is always highly likely).