A walk in the woods
By bjs
12 comments
As i walk through the woods i am often aware of the peacefulness surrounding me regardless of the weather
Today the sun was shining but about three months ago i was given a sudden jolt as we went down a narrow track a Cross had been positioned a couple of yards to the left of me, my first thought some one had lost there pet and buried it there,on closer inspection i was able to read the inscription on a brass plate in the centre of the Cross.
It read in memory of Sergeant Frank Samuel Martin who died on this spot August 26th 1944 age 28.
With a small amount of enquires I found out that a young boy playing there had found the airman and had run home to his father saying that an airman was asleep in the woods.
I now know that a Wellington Bomber that night had been in bad trouble engines on fire flying very low trying to make it back to its base,probably following the river Avon a 100 yards to our left.
In desperation two of the crew had jumped out of the plane but were to low for there parachutes to open and they died where they fell,the plane crashed into a field a few miles further on and all were lost.
The boy now in his seventies has been responsible for the cross as a lasting memorial to that airman he found there 65 years ago.
His name is Malcolm Williams, he allowed me to take this picture of him with his dog a few days ago.
Why am i telling this,it became very real and i wonder if it had not been for him and thousands more like him would i be walking peacefully through the woods taking in the scent of the Bluebells watching the wind rustling the leaves catching a glimpse of a deer leaping between the trees or playing ball with Jamie, Now when i pass that way I place a flower there in respect and say thank you.
The irony of this story is that it is now thought very likely that the plane was one safely back across the channel only to be hit by friendly fire as it crossed the south coast of England. it was happening even then.
God Bless
12 May, 2010
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Comments
sadly friendly fire is not a new event, they just admit to it more readily now. It is a fitting tribute non the less.
12 May, 2010
a most interesting blog...
12 May, 2010
How very sad for those airmen. I shall show this to an 86 yr. old man I know who flew Liberator aircraft in WW2. He will be most interested. Thankyou so much for sharing this thought provoking blog.
12 May, 2010
in a way it's a sad story, but a lovely one knowing that he is still remembered after all these years.
13 May, 2010
Sad, but stories like this make me feel very grateful for what I have. Thank you to Malcolm aswell for telling someone about it and arranging for the cross to be placed there. Others might have just not bothered.
13 May, 2010
What a wonderful story, that you unfolded regarding this cross, you sighted
on your walk in the woods.....Lovely Blog bjs lovely pics, especially of
Malcolm, the man, who will keep this, young airman`s bravery, alive and remembered by this soley cross in the woods...
13 May, 2010
That is just the most incredible story, thank you for sharing it with us, how lovely you lay a flower there when you pass.
13 May, 2010
Its important we dont forget - my grandad used to tell me stories when he was a POW but now hes gone it is up to us to keep stories like this in our memories so thank you for your blog - it was very touching.
13 May, 2010
So moving. There is a memorial in Princes Risborough - quite near to me - dedicated to LT. CLYDE "SPARKY" COSPER 'who died steering his stricken aircraft away from Princes Risborough to save the town'. There are more details about this brave man at http://www.texasescapes.com/WorldWarII/LtClydeSparkyCosper/LtClydeSparkyCosper.htm
We should never miss an opportunity to refresh people's memories about they to whome we owe so much.
13 May, 2010
Thank you so much bjs for pointing me to this most sad and wonderful story,it has in fact brought a tear to my eye.My passion for this era,is quite strange in that I feel so much for all who lived through it,be it on land or air,tho tbh more in the air.I was fortunate enough to see some ww2 pilots,signing photo's at Duxford,another place I find I feel at home,and all I could say was Thank you.
29 May, 2010
Dee a little story comes to mind a few years back while on holiday i found myself sitting opposite a quite elderly gentleman with typical RAF moustache and we started talking and we somehow got round to the war ,he went on to tell me he had flown pretty well every thing we put in the air doing more sorties over Europe than he could remember ending up as Group Captain and medals he was not keen to talk about,At the end of the war he wanted to continue flying so applied to several airlines only to be told he was not wanted because In his words 'You RAF chaps take to many chances'.so he went to university and became an accountant.
He also said the nearest he came to death was being flown by an American pilot back to the UK after being shot down .lol
29 May, 2010
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Thanks for sharing that sad story
12 May, 2010