Halifax Crew crash near Colchester 25th February 1943

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by STAN50, Feb 13, 2018.

  1. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    YouTube presentation of the unveiling in the link below. Please read about the history of the music I've used for this.



    Link:
     
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  2. Little Friend

    Little Friend Senior Member

    Excellent video Stan. I hope to get over there to see this superb memorial very soon. Many thanks indeed. A wonderful job well done.
     
  3. John Bray

    John Bray Junior Member

    I can confirm Charles Henry Bray, 516576, RAF 102 Squadron, Pilot of DT800, Halifax. His brother, Frank William was my father, (Royal West Kents) and Alex was indeed also in the RAF. I also have a copy of the photograph of Charles shown elsewhere on this site. My wife and I visited the crash site, churchyard and church, ST Catherines in Ringshall. I believe the pond at Badliss Hall Farm is where the Halifax came down. Icing up problems were quoted by my father. Charles was married with two girls and his widow moved to Tasmania, New Zealand.
     
  4. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    John, I know Simon has been in touch with you but if you want more information let either of us know. We do have some letters Alex / Alec wrote in the 1990's to the land owners after a visit he did back then. Either ask Simon or PM me on here.
     
  5. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Newspaper report about the unveiling here:
     

    Attached Files:

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  6. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

  7. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Seems Henry's mothers maiden name was also Batson, nearest relative was his aunt, Mollie Jones and the Notary was Mary BATSON - pretty influential family it would seem.
     
  8. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    There is a brief write up in the Birdingbury (Warwickshire) December edition newsletter about relatives of Thomas Barfoots visit to the unveiling.

    Thomas Barfoot was just a 19 year old when he died in the crash in 1943.

    The link below takes you to the December edition and you need to obviously click on Dec 2018 in the menu. Then scroll down to page 7.

    Birdsong – Village Newsletter | Welcome to Birdingbury
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 10, 2018
  9. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    :poppy::poppy::poppy::poppy::poppy::poppy::poppy:

    As we approach the anniversary of 25th February, we note and remember seven men who lost their lives in Ardleigh on that date all those years back. One crew amongst many who never grew old.
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Having visited the Bellway Homes development in Colchester recently I found that four road signs have now been positioned on parts of the completed site. These are 'Dudley Road, Sanitsky Way, Herbert Way and Cheeseman Drive.'

    The relatives of those airmen have now been updated.

    So we have three signs up for some of the crew and one for a civilian. Ada Cheeseman was killed along with her two children (aged 8 and 18 months) in a V1 rocket attack about this time in 1944).

    The father was away fighting in the Forces when this happened.

    I'll put a few images on here soon of the road signs.


    (Phase 2 of the development where the Halifax crew are to be represented is called 'The Orchards.' To find your way to see these new signs use 'Lancaster Approach' from the Ipswich Road (A1232) and go to the bottom. Turn left into 'Murray McPherson Parade' and continue ahead. Then take the second left which is Dudley Road leading down to the he other three roads).
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2019
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  11. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    :poppy: We will remember them...……………..

    There are still several road signs to go up but the new housing development is nearly finished. There are about 20 more homes to be completed. I noticed that a lot of the new houses have their road name on their door numbers.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 26, 2020
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  12. diggerchris

    diggerchris New Member

    42-26413 Happy Warrior p-47 thunderbolt Assigen to 63fs 56fg 8af usaaf assigned to Major Hubert Zemke,re-assigned to 1st lt Harold E Comstock Fatally crashed by Lt Samuel K Batson after engine failure
     
  13. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    The last road sign for the crew on the development was established sometime in the last couple of weeks, this was Barfoot Drive.

    Images also attached for the other roads for the crew.

    As Thomas Barfoot's Road sign was the last to go up I've added the image of him as a young boy and his grave stone.

    The project for this crew is now completed.

    :poppy: 'We Will Remember Them.' :poppy:
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jul 8, 2021
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