11:10am Friday 3rd September 2010
By Simon Moss
A WORLD War II hero who took to the skies to defend his country has died aged 87.
Alfred Westbrook, who lived in Lehar Close, Brighton Hill, spent his whole life in the town in between service with the RAF.
The grandfather of six died on Wednesday, August 25 at Basingstoke hospital after suffering a blood infection.
A welder by trade, Alfred became qualified as a rear gunner in October 1943 and flew in Halifax bombers on missions to Dusseldorf, Bochum, and the Ruhr.
He was awarded three war medals for his bravery.
Born in March 1923, Alfred attended St John’s Primary School in Cranbourne, Basingstoke and on leaving found work at Forrest Stores, in Church Street, delivering groceries on a push bike.
He then trained to become a welder and was employed by Wallis and Steevens, whose vehicles can still be seen today at Milestones Museum.
He left the company when he was enlisted to the RAF as the war broke out.
Having trained in Yorkshire, Alfred took part in many assaults on German soil in Halifax bombers as a member of 51 st Squadron.
During one mission, Alfred was forced to eject from his stricken aircraft and as a result earned a place in the Caterpillar Club – an informal group for people who have successfully bailed out of a disabled aircraft.
In 1944, Alfred’s first wife Mabel gave birth to their son – also called Alfred.
Mr Westbrook survived the war unscathed and returned to Basingstoke to work as a welder again, this time at fork-lift truck company Lansing Bagnall.
In 1957 he married his second wife Gladys Beer at Basingstoke Registry Office and a year later their daughter Janice was born.
Gladys worked in the laboratories at the Atomic Weapons Establishment and Alfred continued to work for Lansing Bagnall until he retired in 1988.
Gladys died two years later and Alfred went to Cumbria to stay with his brother John.
He was devastated when his pin badge from the Caterpillar Club was stolen and his daughter wrote to ITV programme ‘Surprise Surprise’ – hosted by Cilla Black to ask for help.
The pair appeared on the show in April 1995 and Alfred was given a new pin as well as his original documents from the club not seen since the war.
Alfred enjoyed watching cricket and horse racing, and was a keen member of the Wessex Christian Fellowship’s Rest a While Club.
He died with his family by his side.
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