Battle of Britain pilot memorials

Peter WALLEY (615 Sqn) 18/08/1940

A plaque commemorating his death hung in Merton Technical College, near the crash site, from 1972 but was relocated nearby in 1990.

(source Wimbledon & Merton Informer August 31st 1990)

Never have managed to find out where ‘nearby’ was!

Flying Officer Franek Surma’s memorial, erected in 1987 at Jennet Tree Lane, Madresfield, near Malvern, Worcestershire. Although he wasn’t killed in the nearby crash of Spitfire R6644, occurring on May 11th 1941, he was reported missing in action over the Channel on November 8th 1941. This memorial was unveiled by Polish Battle of Britain pilots Squadron Leaders Gandy Drobinski and Ludwik Martel. A memorial plaque honouring Surma’s memory was also erected at Malvern Youth Centre, Albert Road North, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, in 1998 – unveiled by Barbara Sykes, neice of the Polish Flying Officer Franek Guszka, reported missing on August 18th 1940. Wasn’t Martin Bowman collating similar data a few years ago, I seem to recall sending him a pile of photos…

I know he did not die that day, but we unveiled a memorial to JB Nicolson VC on the site of 249’s dispersal at Boscombe Down 50years to the day on 16th August 1990.

This year, I am hoping to raise funds to get Peter Vacher’s Hurricane to fly over on the 70th Anniversary (need to raise an extra £600 if anyone wants to help out!!)

There is alot of info on the AiX forum regarding memorials, with hundreds of photos on there, perhaps a question on there may throw up a few phtoos from people.

Some I have on my website are;

Flying Officer Nathaniel Barry
Fg Off Peter Guerin Crofts
Sergeant John Ellis
Sergeant Stanley Fenemore
Pilot Officer W H Hodgson
Flight Lieutenant Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC
Sergeant Trevor Oldfield
Flight Lieutenant Jimmy Paterson
Pilot Officer William Blair Pattullo
Flt Lt R. F. Rimmer
Flight Lieutenant L H Schwind

Hope this helps

Tangmere, I think your list would be much easier to look through if you arranged the names according to the alphabet.
Is(was)n’t there a field memorial where Boleslaw Wlasnowolski (213 Sqn) was killed on 1 November 1940?

And of course there’s my namesake Billy Fiske, not many pilots have a memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral.. 🙂

And of course there’s my namesake Billy Fiske, not many pilots have a memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral.. 🙂

Indeed so…even although the details on the plaque are wrong!

Here is an unusual one…

Tangmere, I think your list would be much easier to look through if you arranged the names according to the alphabet.
Is(was)n’t there a field memorial where Boleslaw Wlasnowolski (213 Sqn) was killed on 1 November 1940?

VoyTech

You are quite right, alphabetical would make it easier somewhat! In my defence, this was just a list that I quickly assembled from memory….and I am afraid my memory didn’t act alpabetically. When I find time I will reorganise into a proper list, in alphabetic order. Meanwhile, my apologies.

Yes, I had forgotten Wlasnowolski although was at the dedication!!!

do we have locations for the other memorials???

Here is an unusual one…

Where is this one Tangmere?

I think Richard Hillary is missing memorial near Charterhall some info at the links below.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/195438
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/showpost.php?p=273012&postcount=1

Thanks to all for the replies and additions.

Back in the 1970’s there was a plaque in the old Mullard factory at Southampton to James Nicolson VC at the spot he landed by parachute. I gather it has now gone. Does anyone know where it is now?

Squadron Leader Ernest Derek ‘Dave’ Glaser passed away in 2001, aged 80. I believe He is buried somewhere in a Church in the New Forrest would love to know the location as i would like to pay my respects so if anyone knows please post the location.

I suspect Richard Smith at the Purfleet Heritage Centre would know.

Richard is a keen researcher/writer on Hornchurch related matters and I know that Dave Glaser’s widow gave his artefacts etc to that museum. He is your best bet for an answer.

Here:

http://www.purfleet-heritage.com/

Here is an unusual one…

Where is this one Tangmere?

Where is this one Tangmere?

Sorry…I should have said!

It is St Stephen’s Churchyard, Lympne, Kent.

Sorry…I should have said!

It is St Stephen’s Churchyard, Lympne, Kent.

Thanks for that! I’ll make a point of visiting when I next head down.

This memorial stone was put up by Allan White and members of the Severnside Aviation Society back in the mid 80’s. to Sgt Pilot Bruce Hancock at Windrush church. Sgt Hancock is not listed as having flown in the Battle of Britain as he was still in training.
G.

I suspect Richard Smith at the Purfleet Heritage Centre would know.

Richard is a keen researcher/writer on Hornchurch related matters and I know that Dave Glaser’s widow gave his artefacts etc to that museum. He is your best bet for an answer.

Here:

http://www.purfleet-heritage.com/

Thanks Andy

I’ll try that