Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Ivan Woodcroft Grew was the son of Mr and Mrs E. T. Grew. The submitted photograph of Ivan was taken in 1943, before he went missing in action, and was sent in by his niece, S. Luck in 2019

Ivan (pronounced Eevan) was born in Denmark. He had a British father (businessman, resident of that country) and Australian mother. He had attended school in Denmark for a short time before becoming a boarder at Framlingham College in Suffolk.

Ivan was a pilot with No. 153 Squadron, based at Maison Blanche, near Algiers, Algeria. Records show that F/Sgt I W Grew on 5.6.43 took off 20.30 to provide escort for convoy 'Forfar' and on the 17.6.43 took off from Bone to intercept enemy aircraft located by coastal radar station. Destroyed two Junkers Ju 88 twin-engine bombers.

On 27 June 1943, Ivan took off at 22.45 on night patrol, with Sgt L M Parkin as navigator, off Pantellaria providing protection for shipping. Aircraft failed to return. An exhaustive search was carried out when daylight came but only the aircraft dinghy was found.

No. 153 Squadron was equipped with Bristol Beaufighter VI night fighters and supplied detachments at various airfields along the Algerian coast.
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S. Luck 2019