Arthur Scarf

Arthur Stewart King Scarf
Arthur Scarf in RAF uniform
Born	(1913-06-14)14 June 1913 Wimbledon, London
Died	Alor Star, British Malaya
Buried	Taiping War Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1936–1941
Rank	Squadron Leader
Unit	No. 62 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Victoria Cross

Squadron Leader Arthur Stewart King Scarf VC (14 June 1913 – 9 December 1941) was a Royal Air Force pilot and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Background

Scarf attended King's College School in Wimbledon, and was a RAF Cranwell trained regular. Scarf joined the RAF in 1936, and was accepted for pilot training. On gaining his wings he was posted to No.9 Squadron, operating the Handley Page Heyford. In 1937 he transferred to No.62 Squadron, a light bomber unit which received the Bristol Blenheim in February 1938. Just prior to the outbreak of war in September 1939, the Squadron was detached to bases in northern Malaya. From July 1941 No.62 was based at Alor Star near the Thailand border and at the outbreak of hostilities in December 1941 the squadron came under heavy air attack. On 9 December it was withdrawn to RAF Butterworth in order to regroup.

Raid on Singora

Scarf was 28 years old, and a squadron leader in 62 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 9 December 1941 in Malaya, near the Siam border, all available aircraft had been ordered to make a daylight raid on Singora (where the Japanese Army was invading), in Siam. Squadron Leader Scarf, as leader of the raid, had just taken off from the base at Butterworth when enemy aircraft swept in destroying or disabling all the rest of the machines. Scarf decided nevertheless to fly alone to Singora. Despite attacks from roving fighters he completed his bombing run and was on his way back when his aircraft became riddled with bullets and he was severely wounded, his left arm had been shattered, he had a large hole in his back and was drifting in and out of consciousness. He managed to crash-land the Blenheim at Alor Star, without causing any injury to his crew, and was rushed to hospital where he died two hours later.

Scarf's VC was not gazetted until June 1946. Because of the chaotic nature of the Malayan campaign, the facts concerning Scarf's actions were not known until after the war. At the time of his death he was about to become a father for the first time. His pregnant wife was a nurse based at the Alor Star hospital, but had just been evacuated south. The two other crewmen from Scarf's Blenheim were also given awards after the war for their courage during this action; Sergeant Paddy Calder (later Squadron Leader) was awarded a Distinguished Flying Medal and Sergeant Cyril Rich (KIA in 1943) received a posthumous Mentioned in Despatches.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum London, England.

• 

  A Bristol Blenheim Mk I fighter believed to be from No. 27 Squadron at RAF Sembawang, Singapore, June 1941. Scarf's aircraft is now believed to be L1134 FX-F of No. 62 Squadron

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  Scarf's headstone at Taiping War Cemetery

References

• CWGC entry
• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Smith, Colin, Singapore Burning: Heroism and Surrender in World War II (p158-159)Penguin books 2005, ISBN 0-670-91341-3

External links

• Arthur Scarf dedication, Far Eastern Heroes Site
• Entry in Crusader's Union Book of Remembrance, Westbrook House, Seaview, Isle of Wight
• Arthur Stewart King Scarf at Find a Grave