Date of birth:

1913

Date of death:

May 8th, 1941

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Mark Somerville was either son or nephew to Admiral Sir James Somerville, commander of Force H.
Mark Somerville was with the Fleet Air Arm and was the regular navigator of Rupert Tillard, both serving on HMS Ark Royal which was equipped with Fairey Fulmars.
On May 6th, 1941 Ark Royal, together with other ships of the Mediterranean Fleet left Alexandria to meet a convoy of freighters south of Malta.
The convoy wasn't discovered until May 8th. In a dogfight with CR 42's, Tillard and Somerville were shot down and killed. The convoy managed to pass nevertheless with only one freighter sunk.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

H.M.S. Ark Royal

Awarded on:

April 1st, 1941

For courage and skill in engaging and shooting down enemy aircraft

- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35122 published on the 28 March 1941

• - Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  - Fleet Air Arm Archive
  - Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War
  - Roll of Honour