Sir John William Maxwell Aitken, 2nd Baron Beaverbrook

1910 - 1985  (75 years)

• Name	John William Maxwell Aitken
  Prefix	Sir
  Suffix	2nd Baron Beaverbrook
  Born	15 Feb 1910	Montreal, Quebec, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	2 Apr 1911	23 Parkside, Knightsbridge, London, England   [2]
  Immigration	Aug 1924	Quebec, Canada   [3]
  	Departed on the Empress of France from Southampton
  Occupation	2 Aug 1924  [3]
  	student
  Immigration	31 Aug 1926	Southampton, Hampshire, England   [3]
  	Departed on board the Aquitania from New York
  Residence	1932-1933	13 Cleveland Road, St James London, England   [4]
  Emigration	Dec 1935	Cherbourg, France   [3]
  	Departed onboard the Bremen for New York
  Military Award	Czechoslovak War Cross  [1]
  Military Award	DFC  [1]
  Military Award	DSO  [1]
  Immigration	21 Dec 1935	New York, New York, USA   [3]
  	Departed Cherbourg,France onboard the Bremen
  Occupation	21 Dec 1935  [3]
  	director
  Residence	1937	15 Portman Square, Westminster, London, England   [4]
  Occupation	29 Sep 1939  [4]
  	Flying Officer, 601 Sqdn
  Residence	29 Sep 1939	Tower House, Orpington, Kent, England   [4]
  Occupation	1945-1950  [1]
  	Tory Member of Parliament for Holborn
  Residence	1955	Wellbottom Cottage, Givons Grove, Epsom, Surrey, England   [4]
  Immigration	24 Apr 1959	Hamilton, Bermuda   [3]
  	Arrived on Flight Eagle 1010 from New York
  Residence	24 Apr 1959	12 Fleet Street, London, England   [3]
  Immigration	9 Jun 1962	New York, New York, USA   [3]
  	Arrived on flight BOAC BA 501/687 from London
  Residence	9 Jun 1962	12 Fleet Street, London, England   [3]
  Cremated	1985
  	Ashes scattered at sea, Specifically: off Cowes on the Isle of Wight
  Residence	30 Apr 1985	33 Crown Reach, Grosvenor Road, London, England   [5]
  _UID	F111829CC6A64937902BDEC91A843A6EB4EE
  Died	30 Apr 1985	Westminster, London, England   [1, 5]
  Person ID	I8896	My Big Tree
  Last Modified	27 Jul 2022

  
  

  Father	Baron William Maxwell Aitken, 1st Lord Beaverbrook,   b. 26 May 1879, Maple, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 9 Jun 1964, Cherkley Court, Leatherhead, Surrey, England  (Age 85 years)
  Mother	Lady Gladys Henderson Drury,   b. 15 Feb 1885, Canada ,   d. 1 Dec 1927, London, England  (Age 42 years)
  Married	29 Jan 1906	Garrison Chapel, Halifax, Canada   [1]
  Family ID	F2942	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Cynthia Helen Glencairn Monteith,   b. 1916,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	26 Aug 1939	Portman Square, London, England   [1, 6]
  Last Modified	27 Jul 2022
  Family ID	F3483	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Ursula Jane Kenyon-Slaney
  Children	1. Hon. Kirsty Jane Aitken   2. Hon. Lynda Mary Kathleen Aitken
  Last Modified	27 Jul 2022
  Family ID	F3485	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 3	Violet De Trafford
  Children	1. Maxwell William Humphrey Aitken, 3rd Baron Beaverbrook   2. The Honourable Laura Aitken
  Last Modified	27 Jul 2022
  Family ID	F3487	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Educated at Westminster then Pembroke College Cambridge. And joined the RAF, Auxillary, in 1935 In 1939 "Max was off flying passenger planes in America, and delivering war planes to the Republicans in Spain."According to Michael Foot in Gourlays "The Beaverbrook I Knew" Max had aquired "the exceptional experience which made him the best equipped pilot in the world when the catastrophe finally came. He was as handsome as Apollo, as swiftly moving as Mercury, but newspapers would have to wait for his attention until after he had helped win the Second World War." When WWII started he became a Pilot Officer in the RAF. During the Battle of Britain he was a day fighter pilot. On 28 Nov 1939 Max was recommended for a "Mention in Despatches" in connection with the low flying aatack on Borkum. This recognition was not approved. On 18 May 1940, whilst leading a section of aircraft on patrol over Brussels, this officer attacked one of 12 Heinkel 111s which was finally seen to be losing height with one of its wings on fire with black smoke pouring from the other. The next day, 19 May 1940, when leading a section of the Composite Squadron 601 and 145 on patrol in Cambrai-Douai sector, a large number of Heinkel 111 and Junkers 87 aircraft, escorted by Messerschmitt 110s, were sighted. Squadron Leader Aitken attacked and succeeded in destroying a Heinkel. After following the aircraft down he sighted a Junkers 87 flying at 100 feet which he attacked. He was put forward for an immediate DFC, on 27 Jun 1940, by Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, Air Officer Commanding 11 Group. This was approved on 29 June 1940 During the Battle of Britain he was a day fighter pilot in No. 601 Squadron. In 1941he became Wing Commander and assumed charge of No.68 Squadron flying Blenheims, converting to Beaufighters, in a night fighter squadron In 1941-2 he commanded a night fighter squadron. He became a Group Captain, commanding a Strike Mosquito Wing in Norwegian waters, in 1943. On 5/6 March 1944, piloting Beaufighter LZ330 F, he destroyed two JU.52s. Returning to the UK he then commanded the Banff Strike Wing (Coastal Command Mosquitos) in Norwegian waters, in 1943 He was mentioned in despatches and won a DSO, a DFC and the Czechoslovak War Cross, which he was presented with by Dr Benes then President of Czechoslovakia. He survived the war but his marriage did not and Max and Cynthia were divorced in 1944. In 1945 he was elected Tory Member of Parliament for Holborn, holding the seat until 1950 On the death of his father, the 1st Baron Beaverbrook, on Jun 9th 1964, John became the 2nd Baron. This title he disclaimed, for life, on 12th June 1964. He held directorships in the Express (Beaverbrook) group of newspapers, Trafalgar House Publishers and Associared TV. Elected Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick in Canada.

  
  

• Sources

  [S77] Terry Stewart (Reliability: 3). [S215] 1911 Census, England., (n.d.), citing RG 78, RG 14 (Reliability: 3). [S62] Passenger Manifest (Reliability: 4). [S228] Electoral Roll (Reliability: 4). [S225] Probate Record (Reliability: 4). [S282] Marriage Index (Reliability: 4).