Brookwood Military Cemetery/Lytchett Minster Churchyard/Glasgow Western Necropolis/ LANCASTER CRASH

OK, so a few weeks ago when we went to press, as expected people sat up and took notice. Most people have been complementary.

With the various contacts we had coming in one person commented that as far as he was aware the Lancaster had been attacked over Colchester. So we dug a little deeper and eventually did find a reference to this in a RAF report. The details in this are brief but none the less the report exists.

Having spoken to a great many people about this and checked our sources of where the initial information came from, we have concluded the information we were given about the aircraft being attacked over Norfolk is still valid. There is a great deal of information in this (German) report clearly identifying 626 Squadron Lancaster DV 177, with a time, date, location, map grid reference, the name of the German pilot who made the claim and his Squadron number.

We're further in formed by a variety of people that the Bomber stream would not have come this far down to Essex on the return leg back to Wickenby in Lincolnshire, the aircrafts base. A journey from Karlsruhe back to Wickenby would have taken the aircraft close to Diss.

We're informed that only two British aircraft were shot down over the U.K. on 25.04.44 the second being over Cambridge.

Our interpretation of what happened is that the Lancaster was attacked over Diss in Norfolk then limped towards Colchester. Somewhere on that journey, probably over Colchester, the port wing ignited. This was interpreted by those on the ground as the aircraft having been attacked over this area.

We could of course be wrong and the aircraft could have been attacked over Colchester. Maybe in the fullness of time we will have a definitive answer. But at the moment we now have two reports of the attack location.

I should point out that there is no questionmark of where the crash site was. Where the memorial now stands this was fairly close to where the tail plane ended up, the main crash site being further over. This is now a large Business Park.

Meanwhile, we continue with work on the memorial to complete the build. Thankfully the weather has improved slightly giving us a chance to do the necessary tasks.

We have quite few relatives now confirmed as attending the unveiling ceremony which is gradually drawing nearer. More on that as we get closer.

 

Hi all
Sunshine, fantastic, the stone around the plinth has been done today, keeps us on target for completion, we did it and are very pleased with it,
Just the joints to grout, leaving us us with some screwing and gluing for the panels and the top.

regards lofty

 

Just to ensure everyone is aware that the memorial will be unveiled on Thursday 25th April in two weeks time at Space Makers Safestore 572 Ipswich Road Colchester Essex CO4 9HB. This is quite close to the A12 Ardleigh interchange.

The ceremony will commence at 11.00am. The memorial is situated on the left hand side of the main gate on a small area of grass, close to the main Ipswich Road. We will have to contend with traffic noise on the day - nothing we can do about that.

Space Makers Safestore will be operating as a normal working day and we therefore must bear this in mind and keep disruption to a minimum.

At 11.00am Sir Bob Russell will welcome those in attendance. He will be followed by speaker Colonel Paul Keddy, the Air Attache' from the Canadian High Commission in London U.K. Following him, David Mackie Smith, a researcher from London Ontario, and a member of the Canadian Royal Air Force Association, will also speak for a few minutes.

After the three speakers Padre Michael Hall (Flt Lt) from RAF Marham will commence the religious part of the ceremony.

At the completetion of his first part of the ceremony the hymn 'Abide With Me' will be sung. The Harwich Royal British Legion Brass Band led by Brian Harmer will provide accompaniment for this.

Following this, we will have two pieces of verse read out by local people.

There then follows various other parts of the ceremony that we hope will make the day a bit special for the relatives attending. These now number at least 30 and includes some from Canada and Australia. Most will be travelling considerable distances to be there on the day.

At the end of the ceremony there will be three National Anthems sung. The United States of America, The Canadian and the National Anthem.

For those who have not read the thread from the beginning, the relevance of the American National Anthem is that the aircraft was trying to land at an American airfield (Boxted) and they did their best to help the stricken crew.

There will be a professional P/A system on site, so hopefully everyone should hear, and it will also be filmed by a local club.

Once again we must thank those who have made this memorial possible:

David Davies & Phil Clarke of Space Makers.
Susan Ho of Seven Seas Worktops Kelvedon who donated the marble.
Jim Moran of JSM Essex Ltd, the stonemason who carried out the work.
Jims' wife Sue who works for Seven Seas above.
Brian Harmer, and members of the Royal British Legion Brass Band.
Chris King of Collier & Catchpole Builders Merchants Stanway Colchester.
DB concrete of Colchester.
Darren Pye of Alphaprint Colchester.
Annette and Carl Jackson of Signs For You Ipswich.
Adrian Roast of B&Q Colchester.
Graham Jones of the Balkerne Gate Colchester.

 

A couple of recent pics:

Colchester Film Club have kindly agreed to film the ceremony for us now. Here is a picture of them interviewing Michael Heath on site last Thursday.

Also, Lofty presenting up the history panel which will go on the rear of the memorial pillar.

 

Recent local press article:

 

Today we had the pleasure of meeting at last David Smith of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association from London Ontario. David was a great help in research to trace family of the three Canadian airmen of Lancaster UM-K2. He spent a great deal of time on this, and even contributed his own money to help us by obtaining the three mens service records.

Also today we had a trial run with our photo presentation that will be on display at the unveiling ceremony on Thursday. All went well.

 

We're pleased to announce that the son of the pilots' sister will be attending the ceremony on Thursday. Six of the crew will now be represented.

 

Hi Lofty & All

Well done all involved with this, shame I can't make it Thursday....

Regards
Tom

 

Preparations are under way. Not long to go now.

Group picture shows some of our Sunday club with David Mackie Smith, Royal Canadian Air Force historian who has come over to the U.K. this week to be with us and take part in the unveiling ceremony on Thursday. David is seated centre in the light blue shirt.

Standing at the back 2nd in from the left is 'Lofty' who has been 'hands on' with the project.
Sitting at the front on the left is David Seaborn who inspired us to make this memorial happen when he spoke about the morning he saw a Lancaster go over his house on fire moments before it crashed. His words: 'Those poor devils' were maybe the catalyst.

Yours truly is crouching on the far right hand side. Behind me is Sean who quietly works hard behind the scenes and is very dedicated.

All of the people in the photo have contributed in one way or another towards the project. It has been a joint effort and we are pleased with what we have achieved.

 

Allan, one of the Sunday group found this rather appropiate piece of verse and will be reciting it tomorrow.

 

Job Done. Seven men remembered.

 

We met some very grateful relatives yesterday. All had travelled considerably to come to Colchester.

Blessed with wonderful sunshine the ceremony went well.

At 10.55 a.m. precisely nearby RAF Wattisham sent over an Apache helicopter as a mark of respect.
The ceremony then commenced at 11.00 a.m.

The three speakers Sir Bob Russell, M.P. for Colchester, Air Attache' from The Canadian High Commission Colonel Paul Keddy and historian from the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, David Smith made thier speeches.

Padre Micheal Hall from RAF Marham, with Warrant Officer David Carruthers in attendance also from RAF Marham then commenced the ceremony.

The hymn 'Abide With Me' was then sung, with five verses.

Two pieces of verse were read out by local peope, Simon Gallup and Allan Ruzbridge, 'High Flight' and 'Ode To A Dark Lady.'

Janet Shell, who is related to John Shell on the Lancaster, then sang as a solo 'Remembrance.' This piece of music was written by a local man, Nigel Everrett.

Michael Heath & David Seaborn then came forward with a little help from 'Lofty' to unveil the memorial.

Peter Potter then came forward. Peter is not in the best of health but very eloquently he recited:

'They shall grow not old as we who are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them.'

(Peter was a tail gunner with the same Squadron as the lost Lancaster crew and lives locally).

The USAF Honor Guard then carried out a three shot rifle salute.

Flowers and wreaths were then laid.

Last Post, a minutes silence and Reveille then followed.

To conclude the ceremony three National anthems were sung: Canadian, American, and The National Anthem.


Quite some time ago we knew that we'd won out bid for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster to Fly Over. It was however pencilled in for noon or just after. Due to windy conditons the aircraft could not take off and be over the memorial site until 12.45.

Eventually though we were treated to the sight (and sound) of the historic aircraft flying over the memorial site and this was well recieved by all.

There have been some very kind local businesses help with this project. A local Public House agreed to lay on a buffet for the relatives after the ceremony. The Balkerne Gate, part of the Whitbread group provided much more than we expected, in the way of quality and quantity.

Also, a while back I approached a local flying club, the Suffolk Coastal Strut to see if any members would take a few of relatives up from the old airfield and show them the memorial site form the air. As we couldn't gain permission to cut the grass to land fixed wing aircraft one member suggested using his helicopter.

Glenn Read did a fabulous job of taking people up one at a time in his two seater helicopter, showing them the memorial site in relation to what was the main runway at Boxted airfield, where the crew of the Lancaster were trying to land. Most importantly, Dan Anderson and his cousin Bruce, were able to go up on one of these trips. Dan Anderson is the son of Alma, (now 95), and her brother was Murray McPherson the pilot of UM-K2.
They had travelled from Mrytle Manitoba to be with us yesterday.

Also from Canada was Rob Cameron, related to the Mid Upper Gunner on the Lancaster of the same name.

He too was able to see the memorial & crash site in relation to the runway.

Mary Pryor and Diane Morrall, two ladies related to the British Tail Gunner also made the tremendous journey from Australia to be in attendance.

I think we can safely say that all those relatives who came along - thirty of them - were pleased they made the effort to be there yesterday.


Pics:
1) Janet Shell.
2) Sir Bob Russell M.P.
3) Padre Michael Hall (Flt Lt) RAF Marham.
4 David Mackie Smith - RCAF historian from London Ontario.
5) Upper pics: USAF Honor Guard - 100th Support Squadron Mildenhall.
6) Colonel Paul Keddy Air Attache The Canadian High Commission London U.K.

6) Lower pics: Harwich Royal British Legion Brass Band.
8) L-R Two members of 308 ATC Colchester, Sue Moran - wife of the stonemason, Myself, Robin Gooding - owner of one side of the old airfield since the 1960's, Janet Shell, Glenn Read - helicopter pilot and member of the Suffolk Coastal Strut.

 

A few more pictures from yesterday, L-R:

308 ATC
David Seaborn - witness who saw the aircraft fly over near his home (then aged 15).
John Harold Shell (age 90) approaches the memorial. John is an ex Fleet Air Arm Pilot. Beyond Harold and to his right is Diane Morrall from Australia, a relative of the Tail Gunner, Ernest Fancy.
David Seaborn.
David Mackie Smith, RCAF historian.
David, Lofty & Michael Heath (witness who saw the Lancaster just before it went down).
On the left hand side in the white shirt, Dan Anderson, son of Alma, UM-K2's pilots' sister.
David Seaborn & Bill Foster. (Bill donated towards the project and was quite moved with what went on yesterday).
Warrant Officer David Carruthers from RAF Marham - a man genuinely interested in what we've achieved.

 

Well, what can I say. I don't get to spend much time here these days, but after my early involvement I have been keeping a close watch on this thread and how the research & Memorial has been progressing.

Chris / Lofty, you are a credit.

Excellent work

Phil

 

Phil, your help finding relatives made a lot of difference. The sister in law of James Mayger passed away early March. Had you not located that family member for us when you did we wouldn't have made a link there, of that I am certain. So thank you for providing the leads for both Janet Mayger and the David Day, son of Dennis Randle.

 

Hi Chris, Lofty. Just popping in to say thanks for the BBC Iplayer link. Wonderful work, i'm so glad it's been completed successfully. Well done.

 

Local Press reports:

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/colchester_memorial_to_second_world_war_pilots_is_unveiled_1_2180240

 

This article was pubished in Canada in the area where Murray McPherson, pilot of DV 177 lived.

It takes a few seconds to load.

(Slight journalistic error on one of the witnesses names: 'David' has become 'Bill' for some unknown reason).




http://www.pembinatoday.ca/2013/05/09/second-world-war-memorial-goes-up-69-years-after-crash

In the photo below Dan is in the white shirt and stands next to his cousin Bruce.
(Photo credit: Fiona & Robbie George - James Mayger's (Flight Engr's relatives).

 

David Smith upon arriving back in London Ontario submitted a letter about his involvement in the memorial. They have published a shortened version of this. It is the 21st item down on the link.

The 'London Free Press' in Canada is a large and well known publication and was approached last year to carry our appeal for tracing relatives.
There were some very good responses from this and two people in particular came forward who were to prove invaluable to to the research. David Smith was one of these.



http://www.lfpress.com/2013/05/03/reader-to-reader-may-4

 

Colchester Film Makers Club kindly made a film of the unveiling ceremony for us and this is now being distributed to those who took part and to relatives. So if you are a relative you should have a DVD early next week or about a week from now if you live overseas.


We have member Paul Rickwood on here to thank for the film being made as he liaised with CFMC and persuaded them to help.

A couple more pictures from 25th April.