Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- John Basil Shipman -

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, October 25, 1940 Page 2

MARRIAGE
SHIPMAN-SPENCER. - On Sunday, 20th October, at St. Paul's Church, Hooton, Cheshire, Eileen Beryl, eldest daughter of Laurie Spencer, Ventnor, to Leading Aircraftsman John Basil Shipman, of North Finchley.

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Ventnor
CONGRATULATIONS to Miss Beryl Spencer, eldest daughter of Mr. Laurie Spencer, of Ventnor, upon her marriage, which took place at St. Paul's Church, Hooton, Cheshire, on Sunday. The bridegroom was leading Aircraftsman J.B. Shipman, of North Finchley. The bride has been in the W.A.A.F's. since the outbreak of war, prior to which she was for several years on the household staff of the late Miss Feilden, of Bonchurch.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, September 26, 1941 Page 1

Another tragedy having a local association is also referred to on another page. Mr. Laurie Spencer is so well-known and respected in Ventnor that he is bound to be inundated with messages of sympathy upon the feared loss of his son-in-law under the distressing circumstances which it is our painful duty to record to-day. That his daughter will make good progress after so bravely bearing the shock of the bad news broken to her on Wednesday will be the earnest wish of all who know the family.
* *
Although Flying Officer Shipman was, as it were, "a stranger within our gates," the sympathetic thoughts of many will go to his parents who are mourning the loss of their only son, to whom they were devotedly attached. The circumstances described in our news columns reveal a cruel stroke of fate which the finite mind finds difficult to understand.

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A Sad Story
Young Flying Officer Believed to have Lost his Life in 'Plane Accident.
Poignant Circumstances.
Peculiarly sad are the circumstances surrounding a message received at Ventnor on Sunday afternoon by Mr. Laurie Spencer, of 1 Wolverton, South Street. It was actually addressed to his eldest daughter, Mrs. J.B. Shipman, and was to the effect that the officer Commanding the R.A.F. at a station in North Wales regretted to inform her that her husband, Flying Officer John Basil Shipman, was missing and believed to have lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident on Saturday last.
On the Wednesday previously Mrs. Shipman had given birth to a daughter at her father's home at Ventnor. When the proud father informed his Commanding Officer of the happy event he was very considerately informed that he could have 48 hours leave in order to visit his wife and baby. Flying Officer Shipman accordingly arrived at Ventnor on Thursday evening, having made the greater part of the journey by air. Here he spent a very happy time and left Ventnor on the 6.35 a.m. train on Saturday, but on reaching Ryde Pier Head found that no boat was available. He had intended making the return journey on the mainland by rail. Acting on instructions obtained over the 'phone from his base, he proceeded to the mainland via Cowes and Southampton to Winchester, where arrangements had been made to take him as a passenger by a Service 'plane which was making the journey to his aerodrome. The 'plane left with a compliment of five, and all seemed well until the destination was practically reached. What happened then can only be conjectured, but it was gathered that the machine crashed into the sea off the Welsh coast, and despite an all-night search by life-boats no trace of it or its occupants could be found.
Flying Officer Shipman, who was only 25 years of age, married Miss Beryl Spencer twelve months ago and they were a singularly devoted young couple. He is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Shipman, of Finchley, London, and had every promise of a successful career.
Owing to his wife's condition it was impossible to break the sad news to her upon its receipt, but this melancholy task was undertaken on Wednesday by her father.
We are sure that members of both families will have the sincere condolences of their many friends at this time of grave anxiety, an assurance which, it is hoped will relieve in some measure the severity of the blow.
On enquiry (Thursday) we were pleased to hear that Mrs. Shipman had had no serious setback on her hearing of her tragic loss, and under the circumstances was progressing as well as could be expected. Her little daughter is a bonny baby and is doing well.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, October 3, 1941 Page 2

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mrs. J.B. Shipman desires to express her very grateful thanks for the numerous expressions of sympathy and the great kindness shown her during her time of sorrow.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, October 24, 1941 Page 3

The Late Flying Officer J.B. Shipman
A month ago we recorded the fact that Flying Officer John Basil Shipman, R.A.F., son-in-law of Mr. Laurie Spencer, was missing whilst travelling as a passenger in a Service 'plane. He had been on a visit to Ventnor to see his wife who had just given birth to a daughter. There was a happy reunion and the Flying Officer left Ventnor on September 20th to return to his base in North Wales. He had intended making the journey by rail. On reaching Ryde Pier, however, it was found that the boat service had been interrupted, so Flying Officer Shipman reached the mainland via Southampton and on arrival at Winchester boarded a Service 'plane which was returning to his base. The machine never reached its destination and it was reported that it had crashed into the sea off the Welsh coast.
No further news of the 'plane's disappearance was heard until Sunday when news reached Ventnor that the body of Flying Officer Shipman had been recovered from the sea on the previous day - October 8th.
The deceased officer was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil F. Shipman, of East Finchley, and the funeral took place there yesterday (Thursday). He was only 25 years of age.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, August 6, 1943 Page 2

THE MARRIAGE took place at the Congregational Church, Cowes, on Saturday last, of Mrs. Eileen Beryl Shipman, eldest daughter of Mr. Laurie Spencer, of Ventnor, and Mr. Dennis Stanley Cooke, eldest son of the late Mr. Bertram Cooke, of 73 Beckford Road, Cowes. The Rev. E.J. Wallis officiated.