The British & Commonwealth Remembrance Project: Remembrance, Sacrifice and Our Common History

On the international stage, the partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States has had both high and low points, but over the last 250 years we have seen these two nations become the closest of allies. 

The common bond of language and shared history serves as a prominent reminder of how much we have achieved together. Our history is littered with moments that remind us of these shared values. In October, The British & Commonwealth Remembrance Project was privileged to visit Saint Joseph's University and share the story of two Pennsylvania heroes who were at risk of being forgotten. Thanks to Saint Joseph's University, ROTC Detachment 750 and the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, pilots Alexander Zatonski and De Pyster Brown will be remembered in the state they called home. 

A Nationwide Project: The 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain

In 1940, during World War 2, 10 US citizens volunteered to fly with the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain, a time immortalized by Winston Churchill as "Britain's Darkest Hour". The threat of invasion was at its height for Britain, and the Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe fought for dominance over the British skies. Pilots were vitally needed, but a neutral United States passed harsh laws to prevent its citizens from fighting in Europe. These 10 men came from across the USA—from industrial cities, the mountains of New England, the Midwestern prairie, and the Pacific coast—driven by an innate call to preserve our common humanity. 

For the last 12 months, in partnership with Group Captain Simon Nevin OBE MA RAF, U.K. Assistant Air and Space Attaché to the United States, the British & Commonwealth Remembrance Project has been unveiling plaques in each home state of these 10 US pilots. We have been telling the story of these men, their service, and their sacrifice. Only two of the eight men came home, and of those who died, three have no known grave. 

But let us consider our Pennsylvania pilots. Alexander Zatonski was born on 1 November 1915 and was baptized at St Hedwig's Parish, South Philadelphia, two weeks later. On his 11th birthday, his family moved to Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Following the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, Alexander crossed the Atlantic with an objective to join the Polish Armed Forces. By the time he arrived in Europe, Poland had fallen. Rather than return, he joined the Royal Air Force on 25 September 1939. He completed pilot training in July 1940 and joined 79 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill. He flew daily sorties in Hurricanes and, on 28 July 1940, was shot down. He bailed out and suffered burns to his hand and arm. He was admitted to the hospital and released on 4 December 1940, after which he rejoined 79 Squadron. In 1941, he was transferred to North Africa. On 6 December 1941, he was in action with Messerschmitt 109s over the desert and failed to return to base. He was posted as "Missing in Action", and neither his body nor his aircraft were ever recovered. 

De Pyster Brown, the other Pennsylvania-based pilot, was born overseas while his parents were in the foreign service. He lived in Pennsylvania and married in Allegheny County in 1937. With his wife, Bessie, they established their home in Pittsburgh. On 9 September 1939, he travelled to Canada and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Claiming to be Canadian, like many of these pilots did, he completed pilot training in May 1940 and then transferred to the Royal Air Force. He arrived in theatre on 2 September 1940 and shot down several enemy fighters and a bomber. After Pearl Harbor, he was transferred to the USAAF. He survived the war, lived a long life, and died in California in 1991 at the age of 75.

The British & Commonwealth Remembrance Project Inc.: Our Work, Purpose & Volunteers

As the Founder of the British & Commonwealth Remembrance Project Inc., work like this lies at the core of what we do, and what we have done since the beginning. We recount the deeds of these brave men and women, create lasting memorials to amplify their stories, and arrange for volunteers to visit and maintain their graves. As a 501(c)(3), we seek to educate the present generation about the lives and service of British and Commonwealth servicemen and women buried in the USA. Our volunteers and audiences range from elementary school age to seniors; our oldest grave volunteer is 92—and she visits with her daughter and grandchildren. 

An integral part of this work involves researching the lives of the thousands of US citizens who served in the forces of the British Crown during the two World Wars. There are so many stories of heroism and devotion—not because they had to, but because they wanted to. For example, our work uncovered the history of Norman Travers Simpkin, a Virginian who fought with the Australian Light Horse at Gallipoli and was gravely wounded. Discharged as unfit for further active service with the Australian forces, he sailed to England, joined the British Army, and fought in the trenches of Flanders. We located his grave and have arranged for one of our volunteers to visit him several times each year. He has no surviving heirs, so our BCRPUSA volunteer is the only regular visitor to Norman's grave. 

There are over 1,200 graves of men like Norman Travers Simpkin across the USA, with a significant number in Greater Philadelphia. My first visit to Philadelphia was in November 2023 to visit the Commonwealth War Graves and the British & Commonwealth War Memorial at Northwood Cemetery. The cemetery's British plot holds almost 400 graves. If you take a walk amongst them, you will find British sailors buried far from home, alongside native Pennsylvanians who served with the British and Canadian armies during the First and Second World Wars. Highlighting their presence and their stories is a significant part of what we do.

You can find out more information about our work at www.BCRPUSA.org or on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

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Written by: James Normington, Founder, British & Commonwealth Remembrance Project