Peter Arthur Kynaston Snell came to Chelmsford from Hampshire and was educated at the town's grammar school. After leaving school in 1940 he worked for a bank before joing the R.A.F. in April 1942. He was killed in October 1944 when his Mosquito aircraft crashed in Austria. He was engaged to marry. His parents had left Chelmsford earlier in the war to return to Southampton.

Peter Arthur Kynaston SNELL, Flying Officer (Observer), 60 Squadron,

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Killed in Austria. Aged 21

On 13th October 1944 Peter was navigator on board a Mosquito which failed to return from a mission into central Czechoslovakia. At the time the squadron was based in San Severo in Italy and flew long range long-range photographic reconnaissance missions. The aircraft was piloted by 21 year-old Lieutenant (Pilot) 206489V Daniel Victor Sheldon of the South African Air Force.

The bodies of Peter and Daniel were subsequently recovered and today lie in Klagenfurt War Cemetery in the Austrian province of Carinthia (graves 4. A. 5. and 4. A. 6. respectively) which was established from June 1945.

Peter, who was 21 years old when killed, is commemorated by the King Edward VI's Grammar School war memorial. At the time of his death he was engaged to marry Gwendoline Mitchell of Horley, Surrey. He left an estate valued at £334 5s 6d.

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Peter was born in Southampton, Hampshire on 12th March 1923, the elder son of Arthur George Snell (1898-1982) and Ethel Mary Snell (nee Shillington) (1901-1960). His parents had married in Southampton in 1922, and produced a younger brother for Peter in 1926.

Peter was educated at King Edward VI's Grammar School in Chelmsford from 1935 to 1940 and later worked at the Chelmsford branch of the National Provincial Bank. In 1940 his parents were living at 176 Galleywood Road, Chelmsford (since renumbered) and later moved to Southampton.

Peter joined the R.A.F. in April 1942, and the award of his wings was announced on 19th October 1943 in the Supplement to the London Gazette. He served with 60 Squadron, South African Air Force as Flying Officer (Observer) 15295.