Cecil Henry Hight was born in Stratford, Taranaki, New Zealand in 1917.

He was educated at the local technical college. On leaving school he became a car salesman. Using his hard earned wages he took flying lessons at the Stratford Aero Club, gaining his wings to fly solo.

His desire was to join the RAF, so in early 1938 he worked his passage to the UK.

His application to join the RAF was turned down due to his lack of educational qualifications.

Not deterred, he took a cramming course in maths and on reapplication he was accepted for a short service commission.

He  began his training in early 1939, made Acting Pilot Officer in the April, followed up by becoming Pilot Officer on 6th November 1939.

Cecil joined 234 Squadron at RAF Leconfield which was reforming with Blenheims, but was re-equipped with Spitfires.

With the Battle of Britain in full swing, 234 was moved to Middle Wallop

On 15 August 1940, a large formation of nearly 300 Luftwaffe bombers was detected over Portland. 234 was scrambled and Cecil was in the thick of it.

Pilot Officer Hight was seriously wounded in a dog fight above the south coast. He managed to get out of the cockpit of his stricken plane but was unable to pull the rip-cord of his parachute; it was assumed he may have blacked out.

His body plummeted and he crashed into the garden of "Hambledon" in Leven Avenue, Boscombe, the home of Alfred and Edith Hoare.

Pilot Officer Cecil Hight has a road named after him near the scene of his death and is buried in Bournemouth East Cemetery

 [CWGC Supporters of the South East of England/ facebook. Retrieved 11/12/2021]