Honour For Kit’S Family

Kit’s family were recently contacted by Major Bruce Atherton with regards to the naming of the new Operations Support Building at Royal Air Force Barkston Heath in memory of Eugene Esmonde VC who was Kit’s great great uncle and a distinguished WW2 pilot.

Esmonde earned this award while in command of a British Fleet Air Arm torpedo bomber squadron in the Second World War.

Esmonde is 2nd from the left

Eugene was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross during the Second World War, (link) following on from a greater uncle of Kit’s mum Thomas Esmonde who was previously awarded the Victoria Cross in the Crimean War. (link)

Kit and his family were asked if they would like to represent the family at the opening of the building which they were honoured to so, especially as Kit is named after these uncles (Kit Alexander Esmonde Freeman). His story is a fascinating one and we are delighted that Kit and his family could be part of this special occasion.