Haydn Spencer Hancox – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 5015 Airfield Construction Squadron

Corporal Haydn Spencer Hancox – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 5015 Airfield Construction Squadron

Haydn Spencer Hancox was born in 1907 in Swansea, the son of William Theodore Hancox and Henrietta Huxtable, who had married in Swansea in 1906. His early childhood was marked by both family stability and later, profound loss.

His Father’s Service and Sacrifice

Haydn’s father, William Theodore Hancox, served during the First World War as a Private with the Manchester Regiment, 2nd/8th Battalion. He was killed in action on 28 April 1917, and is buried at Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas‑de‑Calais, France. His death left Henrietta widowed with several young children, shaping the household in which Haydn grew up.

1921 Census – Written as a Paragraph

1921 Census

The first census in which Haydn appears is the 1921 Census, which records the family living at 34 Cambridge Street, Swansea. The names of the household members were entered only by initials, but the details remain clear: Henrietta, aged 40 and born in Devon, is listed as the Householder, managing the home alone following her husband’s death. Her children present were Hubert, 14, working as an Apprentice Boot Maker; F., a daughter aged 12; Bertha, 11; Haydn, 8; and Ernest, 6. The census captures a household held together by a widowed mother and her growing children, each contributing in their own way to the family’s survival.

Marriage and Early Adulthood

1939 Register

In 1938, Haydn married Edna Louvain Thomas in Swansea. By the 1939 Register, the couple were living at 6 Rhyddings Park Road, Swansea, where Haydn was employed as a Gardener (Public Parks) and Edna undertook household duties. Their home life reflected the quiet steadiness of pre‑war Swansea.

Wartime Service – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Haydn served as a Corporal with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, attached to 5015 Airfield Construction Squadron. These specialist units were responsible for building, repairing, and maintaining airfields across the operational theatre—work that was physically demanding and often carried out under dangerous conditions. As a Ground Staff Officer, Haydn played a vital role in ensuring that RAF aircraft could operate safely and effectively.

Avro Lancaster III

The RAF Syerston Tragedy – 22 April 1945

Haydn was killed on 22 April 1945 in a tragic accident at RAF Syerston. An Avro Lancaster III, flying low around the circuit, suddenly went into a dive and crashed into nearby buildings at 09:57, striking a parade of personnel from 5015 Airfield Construction Unit. Ten men were killed instantly, and five more later succumbed to their injuries. Haydn was among those who lost their lives in this devastating incident, occurring just weeks before the end of the war in Europe.

Haydn Spencer Hancox
Oystermouth Cemetery, Mumbles
credit - findagrave

Burial at Oystermouth Cemetery

Haydn’s body was brought home to Swansea, where he was laid to rest at Oystermouth Cemetery. His grave stands among those of other Swansea servicemen whose lives were claimed during the war—each a reminder of the city’s sacrifice and the families forever changed.