Forename: Wilfred Albert
Surname: Speller
Rank: Sergeant Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner
Regiment: Royal Air Force
Institution: St Paul’s Practising School
Wilfred Albert Speller was born on 25 May 1922. He was the son of Albert and Elizabeth Speller and lived at Poplar Cottage, Elmstone Street, Cheltenham. He attended St Paul’s Practising School from April 1934 – February 1937. His father was a tailor. Wilfred left school to work at Bowd Builders.
He became a cadet in the No. 125 (Cheltenham) Squadron of the Royal Air Corps, joining the RAF at age 18. He was serving as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner on the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber BD681 which was assumed lost at sea in the Atlantic on 12 July 1943. Wilfred was 21 years old. He is commemorated on the RAF memorial at Runnymede and Cheltenham Borough war memorial.