Grave of Australian jockey Robert Everett, Llanddona
In St Dona’s Churchyard is the grave of Australian jockey Robert Everett, who won the 1929 Grand National. He died in 1942 when his fighter plane crashed onto Llanddona beach.
Robert William Hanmer Everett was born in 1901 in Tenterfield, New South Wales. His parents were Lieutenant-Colonel William Frank Everett and Charlotte Everett.
In 1929 he won the Grand National at Aintree on Gregalach. Five years later, he won the Irish Grand National on Poolgowran. Also in 1934, with Jimmy Melrose, he finished the MacRobertson Air Race from Mildenhall in England to Melbourne, Australia.
He was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and served in the Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War. He was the first pilot to hit an enemy aeroplane from a fighter plane launched with rocket technology from the deck of a ship. It wasn’t possible for him to land the plane on the ship, and he had to ditch in the sea. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
By January 1942, Lieutenant Robert Everett was based at RAF Llandwrog, now Caernarfon airfield. He died on 26 January when his Hurricane fighter crashed on Llanddona beach. He was 40 years old. His grave in the churchyard is marked with a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. Hs is commemorated on the Roll of Honour at St Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton, the Fleet Air Arm’s memorial church.
With thanks to Bridget Geoghegan
Postcode: LL58 8UT View Location Map