A minute or so after midnight on the last day of July 1941, the peace of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex was shattered as Wellington Mk II W5364 QT-H, returning from a bombing raid on Cologne, ended its homeward journey in fire and destruction here on these rolling slopes.
Whether the plane ever made its intended target, or developed engine trouble over Europe, as I have seen suggested, and had to turn for home, I am unsure. Whatever the details, the six man crew were still a long way from their base at Binbrook in Lincolnshire when their war ended here.
For some reason I now forget I only had my phone camera on me…
…as you can see…
…but these shots will do.
None of the crew of six survived the crash.
| NAME | SERVICE | AGE | WHERE BURIED/CREMATED |
|---|---|---|---|
| HENRY ALEXANDER VINCENT VIDLER | R.A.F. | 27 | HULL CREMATORIUM |
| VICTOR RONALD SUTTON | R.A.F. | 24 | BROCKLEY CEMETERY, LEWISHAM |
| WILFRED STANLEY BROOKS* | R.A.F. | 25 | RAMSGATE & ST. LAWRENCE CEMETERY |
| ARTHUR ERNEST CAVE | R.A.F. | 21 | WALLASEY (RAKE LANE) CEMETERY |
| THOMAS STANLEY HATHAWAY | R.A.F. V.R. | 24 | PRESTON-ON-TEES CEMETERY |
| LEONARD SAUNDERS | R.A.F. V.R. | 21 | WHITSTABLE CEMETERY |
*His brother John also died on active service.
Flying Officer Nick Bradgate, 149 Squadron, Bomber Command. “The horrors of war never left you and your health never recovered.”
It has long been known as the ‘Airmen’s Grave’ (you will find it annotated as such on the Ordnance Survey map of the forest) even though no one is buried here. I hope it remains here forever.
Thanks to Peter and Cate, without whom etc etc. They know what I mean.
I hope it remains there forever, too.
You nearly got a name check in this post. After the recent Yeovil post I thought you’d find this of interest.
Susan,
I have a report of the raid that night in bomber command war diaries.
If you want to email me, i can send you a picture of the text.
But…..62 wellingtons took part. 1 lost, 6 crashed back in UK. (This one) it carried out the raid, otherwise would hve mentioned she turned back ( Indeed, 12 whitleys turned back due to weather and they were only bombing boulogne.) but in awful conditions CB, cold and warm fronts creating tbunder and lightning. Hardly good today, but back then..almost fatal. Possible structural damage and engine trouble due to weather, especially as they lost 6 back here.Raid not a success as reported only 3 HE bombs, 300 incendaries land 6 buildings damaged in the city. This was very much the case during the war. Not even a quarter of bombs found the right target due to being night, basic navigation and pilot error naturally…at _40 degrees im astoinded they even made it there. Right or wrong, these boys gave everything for their country. Never forget them.
As a matter of interest, go to Brookëands museum and go inside the wellington there. How they did what they did will always amaze me. Not disimilar to a piper cherokee cockpit space wise i can fly today. RIP heroes all.
I was born on Ashdown Forest not far from this spot during WW2. “The forest” was an unrestricted play ground for us local children. We also knew this spot as “The Airmans Grave” but at that time there was no enclosure, only (if memory serves) a wooden marker. My late mother would tell us children how a plane flew low over the house during the nigh and in the morning there was “A burning cross up on the forest.” I had hoped to find old photographs taken there but without success
Hello Cyril. Thanks for commenting. Sounds like a brilliant playground!! Have you tried the Sussex archives for possible photos – and would there have been an inquest, I wonder?
Dear Cyril,
AIRMEN’S GRAVE- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
I am a member of the Ashdown Forest Research Group https://www.ashdownforest.org/…/AshdownResearchGroup.php
and we have been requested to research information about the Airman’s Grave on the Forest with a view to publishing our findings this November, the 80th Anniversary of the crash. We particularly want to focus on people who may have witnessed the crash or its immediate aftermath. We are aware that many people who may have experiences to relate may no longer with us but would appreciate any insights or contacts. I was interested in your post above. All information and suggestions welcome. We will publish our findings on our website and attribute accordingly.
Hello-
Have just found this page on, what looks like to me, a fascinating website to be explored. I’d just finished reading Canadian author Helen Humphries novel, “The Evening Chorus”; the circumstances of her story take place in a German POW Camp, as well as in England. The crash of an RAF Vickers Wellington aircraft in Ashdown Forest is part of Ms. Humphries fictional tale; in her story, the six aircrew also perished, one of them being a main character in what I consider to be a powerful and beautiful story about the Second World War. I was deeply moved and heart-broken when I saw your fine photographs of this site and this memorial to the ‘real’ six young airmen. Thank you.
Hello Shirley. That is really interesting, and I can imagine that, having read the book, finding these photos was, as you say, most moving. Thanks for taking the trouble to comment, and I hope you have a good explore of this site – there’s a lot to explore, and anything or everything gets updated as and when. I do hope you enjoy it. The Interactive Tour Maps tab near the top of the page is an easy way into the various tours featured, but there are a lot of stand-alone posts too.
I just borrowed the above mentioned book from the library. I have read several of Ms. Humphreys and have enjoyed them. Looking forward to reading this one though I have a feeling it is going to be a rather sad tale.
Well, Anita, I await your recommendation, or otherwise, once you have finished reading it!
just been their today walking the dogs with my family and came across this site
in all the years i have never seen this before so i stopped paid my respect to the crew
saluted with a tear in my eye and may god still looking after them
we owe these crewmen so much to so many thanks
mark ashdown
And so say all of us. Than you for commenting Mark.
There is a memorial held at that spot every year on remembrance Sunday. It is so well attended that you have to arrive at one of the forest car parks in very good time. Most people arrive on foot or horseback but the year I went, I could see people watching from a hillside that I think was near a road. I’m glad there is some sort of access for people who can’t walk to the spot.
There are huge crowds but the two minute silence is observed and is quite an experience with just the rustling of the trees and the shifting of dogs and horses around you.
I don’t know if it always happens but the year I was there, a local pilot flew a light aircraft over and dropped red paper petals. The memorial is not religious, no hymns, very simple and with opportunity for people to lay wreaths and plant crosses. It is incredibly moving though and I hope the tradition continues for a very long time yet.
Hello Verity. You paint the picture well. And I thank you very much for so doing. It is very good to hear.
Thank you for this. I am going to walk to it with a friend 6’ away as part of my self isolation.
Sounds like a good idea to me! I cannot believe that this little post has had more than 2000 views since I first published it! Amazing.
Visited today. Stirs the inner emotions and clearly a fitting artefact to the memory of these six, brave young men. Locally, it is a very well known and significant landmark. The views on the walk to the memorial are fabulous, Ashdown Forest is a wonderful place of natural beauty and I feel so lucky to live close by.
Cheers Stephen. If I didn’t live in a pretty nice place myself, I would currently be turning green…..and I am just a little, anyway. You are indeed a lucky man. I have visited just the once.
my son would like to metal detect,would he be allowed?we promise that we will fill the holes back in as if nothing happened.
kind regards Caroline McClure
Metal detecting is not my area of expertise Caroline, but I do know there are legal issues about where, and how, you can go about doing it. And you must get permission first, because all land, pretty much, is owned by someone, even if it’s the local council. This will give you some background info: https://finds.org.uk/getinvolved/guides/codeofpractice
Metal detecting is expressly forbidden on Ashdown Forest, see the Ashdown Forest website – there is to be no ‘opening of the earth’.
Apart from that, the area was used extensively for military training in WW1 and WW2, so you never know what may be lying underground.
You can still see all sorts of remnants of trenches, excavations and tracks made by the military, coming from camps in Forest Row, Maresfield and Crowborough.
Thank you for clarifying. I must say metal-detecting doesn’t sit that well with me, but then again there’s a time and a place (Time Team for example) I suppose.
My late father was the first on the scene when this plane crashed. As we all know this is not actually a grave but a memorial, something my father was really insistent about. At the age of 16 he saw the stricken Wellington bomber coming over on fire from his house in Fairwarp. He ran across the forest to where the plane had crashed on its back. He managed to pull the rear gunner out Len Saunders but unfortunately the poor guy had already perished. Ammunition was going off in all directions and my dads mate who was with him had to pull him away. My father attended the Remembrance Sunday service almost every year.
Wow. Thank you for your comment Michele. Over time it will probably be read by many people, as this post is still regularly viewed. What a traumatic night for a sixteen year old – he should have got a medal, surely!? Thanks again – very much appreciated.
Dear Michele,
AIRMEN’S GRAVE- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
I am a member of the Ashdown Forest Research Group https://www.ashdownforest.org/…/AshdownResearchGroup.php
and we have been requested to research information about the Airman’s Grave on the Forest with a view to publishing our findings this November, the 80th Anniversary of the crash. We particularly want to focus on people who may have witnessed the crash or its immediate aftermath. We are aware that many people who may have experiences to relate may no longer with us but would appreciate any insights or contacts. I was interested in your post above. All information and suggestions welcome. We will publish our findings on our website and attribute accordingly.
We visited on the 80 th anniversary,31st July 2021, simply by chance. It was incredibly moving especially standing with my 30 year old son by my side. The sacrifice that these young men made was incredible. May they rest in peace but never be forgotten.
Well said indeed Forest Mum!
I am a member of the Ashdown Forest Research Group https://www.ashdownforest.org/enjoy/history/AshdownResearchGroup.php
and we have been requested to research more information about the Airman’s Grave, with a view to publishing our findings this November. We particularly want to focus on people who may have witnessed the crash or its immediate aftermath. We are aware that many people who may have experiences to relate may no longer with us but would appreciate any insights or contacts. I notice that Michele Walter’s father saw the crash and wondered if Michele had any further information. All information welcome.
How very interesting. I will assume that you are monitoring this page and thus, on your reponse to this: shall I try and get hold of Michele for you? I shall see what I can do.
Hello, I tried to contact Michele and have tried again. If you can help that would be great. I have also tried to contact Cyril. Sorry for delayed reply, I was on holiday.
thanks
Carol
I have emailed Michele. Fingers crossed.
Hi Carole. Sorry I was away when I first heard that you wanted to get in touch. I will contact you without fail within the week.
Do I presume you ladies are now in touch? If so, excellent.
My Great Uncle,Ernest Cave, is one of the men commemorated.
I was able to visit in 2011. Sadly no one in the family had been aware of the memorial, to my knowledge.
It’s incredibly moving to know the reverence this place holds for so many.
Thank you.
This is ostensibly a Great War website, yet I promise you that in the five years since I posted these pictures, this post has had, and continues to get, big viewing figures. I am really glad you found my site – this page is for your Great Uncle and his colleagues – and thank you for commenting. Much appreciated.
Hello Everyone
I am working on some regional tv and radio coverage to tell the story of the Wellington and her crew. Does anyone have a connection to any of the Kent airmen?
Also if Michele is still posting would it be possible to contact her?
Thank you for any help – it is much appreciated.
Hello Beverley – if no one comes back to you, remind me in a couple of days and I will try to contact Michele for you.
I have walked in Ashdown Forest past this memorial on several occasions. It always makes me stop and think about all the young and not so young people dead before their time. Our armed forces that served in battles no wanted are hero`s. The Airman`s Grave has always made me stop and reflect on all the lives lost. I am an after the war baby who was lucky her dad made it home.
Me too. It is quite a special place, isn’t it? Thanks for commenting Theresa.