Ursula Mary (Preston) Metcalfe (1904 - 1975)

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Biography

Ursula was born in Paddington, London in 1904. ^[1]

She was the daughter of James Rudge Preston and Elizabeth Mary Preston.^[2]

In 1911, she was living in Ealing, West London with her parents and baby brother.^[2]

"On 23rd June 1940, Ursula Mary Preston joined the ATA. Born in London on 23rd February 1904 she had 168 hours flying experience when she was cleared for flying duties following a spell with the ATA Training Pool. Posted initially to the female only 15 Ferry Pilots Pool at Hamble, she moved to 6 Ferry Pilots Pool at Radcliffe Hall in Leicestershire in November 1941 where she would be required to ferry larger more powerful aircraft.

On the 11th April 1942 Ursula was tasked to ferry a Blackburn Botha to the recently formed 4 Air Gunners School at RAF Morpeth. As the aircraft flew over Corbridge, on the final leg of the flight, Ursula was unable to maintain height and whilst attempting to make a forced landing in a field, the aircraft crashed in trees at South Clarewood Farm at Halton Shields and Ursula was seriously injured.

Following a refresher, commonplace following an accident, Ursula returned to flying on 15th June 1942 with a glowing report from her commanding officer, Peter Mursell, who recorded:

“Her accident does not seem to have affected her confidence or ability at all. Is wisely going slow on fresh types. An excellent officer.”

Ursula would continue to serve with the ATA until October 1943, when following her marriage to a fellow ATA Officer, she resigned her commission."^[3]

She married William G Metcalfe in Jun 1943.^[4]

She passed away in 1975.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2F6L-SL5 : 1 October 2014), Ursula Mary Preston, 1904; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Paddington, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWWY-CVD : 5 July 2019), Ursula Mary Preston in household of James Rudge Preston, Ealing, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ https://northeastatwar.co.uk/2019/02/02/botha-w5134-corbridge/
4. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV8T-SHXQ : 8 October 2014), Ursula M Preston and null, 1943; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1943, quarter 2, vol. 1A, p. 775, Westminster St. Margaret, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCB-2LPY : 4 September 2014), Ursula Mary Metcalfe, 1975; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, North Cotswold, Gloucestershire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

1911 Census

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace James Rudge Preston Head Male 37 St Austell, Cornwall Elizabeth Mary Preston Wife Female 36 Chatham, Kent Ursula Mary Preston Daughter Female 7 London Paddington, London Rudge Preston Son Male 1 Ealing, Middlesex Norah Eliza Burgess Servant Female 16 Wouldham, Kent Edith Alice Anders. Servant Female 18 Upnor, Kent