大象传媒

THE MEMORIAL IN BEDLAM LANE

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Viv Foulds of Egerton Telecottage on behalf of Alan Palmer and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

In 1976 Andrew, my middle son, was serving an apprenticeship as an engineering fitter with Maidstone Corporation. During a conversation with an Inspector about airfields during the War, Andrew told him about Headcorn airfield built in Egerton in 1942.

He subsequently set up a group to remember the Canadian squadrons which flew from there; planning permission for a memorial was granted and the design of the Memorial was accepted. It was built in 1978 and the first service was held later that year on September 9th.

Since then, the Memorial has been visited by many people, including Canadians and Americans, some of whom had served here and others have come to see where their fathers and grandfathers served. A description of the fly pasts made over the years is attached.

In 1990 Flying Officer Thomas (Toddy) Todd and his wife Val, who stayed with my family during the war, came over from Canada to visit Val's family in Wales. While in the U.K. they came to visit my wife Sheila and 1 and to take part in the annual service held in September at the memorial in Bedlam Lane for Battle of Britain Sunday. There they were joined by the next generation of pilots of the same wing.

The young pilots had flown over from Germany for the ceremony (and did so for a few years afterwards). We shall never forget the sight of these youngsters cornering Toddy at nearby Elvey Farm, where we had gone for tea. They were so interested in his Spitfire flying experiences. We have remained close to Val and Toddy and have visited them three times at their home to the north of Toronto.

Early in 1992 our "wing" was invited as guests of the Canadian 421 Tactical Fighter Squadron at CFB Baden-Soellingen, West Germany for their Squadrons 50th anniversary and Close Down weekend on June 1st. We were to spend May 29th to June 2nd as special guests, accommodated within the camp. As Friday 29th May drew nearer it became obvious that I would not be able to accompany Sheila and the rest of the wing due to sheep shearing and silage making, but after discussing it with our Chairman, Sheila's friend Iris was allowed to accompany her instead.

She recorded the following:

"The 29th dawned and found our party flying to Frankfurt Airport where we were met and continued our journey to the camp in a rather uncomfortable, wooden seated camp bus. We were greeted by Lieutenant Colonel WM Stacey and other officers of the 421 Red Indian Squadron. We were joined by former squadron mates who were there to re-kindle old friendships. After refreshments and introductions we were shown to our billets among the pine trees.

The squadron has had a rich history spanning 50 years from its inception at Digby, Lincolnshire, England on the 9th April 1942 to its fourth disbandment on this weekend June 1st 1992. The CF18 era, although relatively short, saw 421 Squadron fly over 25,000 accident free hours, no easy task when training for war and maintaining a reputation as the best in NATO. For security we were distributed with name badges, which were to be worn always while within the camp.

The following day we were taken to the nearest town, a most picturesque place. In the evening we were guests at a dinner-dance held in the base Arena,- a wonderfully friendly evening with excellent food and music. It was very late when we made our way back to our billets, with much difficulty may I say!!

On Sunday morning, after a stroll around the many roads, all named after Canadian towns, Toronto, Winnipeg etc., we reported to the Ambassador Lounge for a champagne brunch. In the evening we were guests at the "Engel" in Schwarzach, another most enjoyable occasion with many speeches and exchanges of gifts. References were made to our "Wing" and its work, hostings and the memorial. Our Chairman, Dr. H Teeds gave a speech on our behalf and expressed our many thanks for our invitations and their hospitality.

Monday arrived, the most important day. Tiered seating provided us with wonderful viewing of the Centre Dispersal. Large hats and smart dress were the order of the day. The Fall In of parade was followed by the arrival of guests and the Squadron Standards marched on. We all stood for the arrival of the Receiving Officer, Lieutenant General D Huddleston, CMM CD, Commander Air Command, followed by the General Salute. The inspection followed. The presentation of streamers and the address by the Reviewing Officer were most emotional, as was the march past and fly past of the 421 Tactical Fighter Squadron. After the march past of 4 Fighter Wing, the Advance and General salute, the Reviewing Officer departed and we left our seats for the Reception. I did my best to video this wonderful occasion, thus I have some visual record. After a free afternoon, we had supper at the 421 Squadron.

On Tuesday June 2nd, after lunch at the Mess, we left for our flight home. We were exhausted having eaten and so much delicious food and drunk so much wine and champagne. I shall never forget the sight of so many proud men, be-medalled and ribboned, wearing so much gold braid and being able to chat with so many of them."

On June 3rd 1998, Sheila and I were invited to Wormingford in Suffolk to attend the opening of the Lucash hangar by Prince Philip. During 1943 Wormingford had become a Thunderbolt base, and it was from there in 1944 that 87 Thunderbolts were transferred down to Headcorn airfield.

Lucash had been a parachute rigger on thes airfield during 1944. Wormingford is now used for civil gliding. Prince Philip arrived by helicopter in the pouring rain, promptly at 10am, to perform his duty.

Whilst at Wormingford, we had the pleasure of talking to five pilots who flew from Egerton. One of them, Colonel Morton Magoffen, joined us a few days later at home for lunch and to visit the Memorial. Although in his 80s he excitedly related the following event he had experienced whilst flying from here.

He had led a group that had taken off at 4am on June 7th 1944, the day following "D-day". Their task was to act as escort for Dakotas towing gliders to land in Normandy. The day was memorable because one of the planes went down half a mile from the end of the runway, crashing into an Oast house at Southernden, Headcorn. There is a photograph of this event in my collection.

He remembered radioing the control tower at the time to notify them one of his planes had crashed, into what he believed to be a house. He requested that they keep him informed whilst he circled the area awaiting the formation of the squadron. Shortly he was notified that the pilot was ok. Upon hearing this the Colonel informed them that this could not possibly be the one he had witnessed go down, as there was little chance of the pilot surviving at all. However, the pilot, whose name was Hamlin, had survived, suffering only a few cuts and bruises. The Colonel showed a great deal of interest in the photograph as he had no idea that one existed!

LIST OF FLYPASTS AT THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL, EGERTON
10.09.1978
First flypast, a very good show given by a Spitfire and a Hurricane. Forty people attended the service.
09.09.1979
One Spitfire flew. Sixty people attended.
1980 No Record
06.09.1981
A Hurricane, a Spitfire and Canadians flying four F18 Starfighters
05.09.1982 Spitfire
04.09.1983
Johnnie Johnson unveiled the Memorial to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Spitfires being here. Weather too bad to fly
02.09.1984 Spitfire
01.09.1985
Spitfire and Hurricane. We moved to Goodwin House field to avoid Headcorn鈥檚 airspace during flypast
07.09.1986
Spitfire
13.09.1987
Canadians had service. Weather too bad to fly
04.09.1988 Spitfire
03.09.1989
Spitfire and two Canadian Starfighters
02.09.1990 Spitfire
01.09.1991 Spitfire and Hurricane
1992 Weather too bad to fly
05.09.1993
Spitfire flew past very low eight times
04.09.1994 Two Spitfires
03.09.1995 Two Spitfires
08.09.1996 Lancaster
07.09.1997 Spitfire
06.09.1998 Spitfire
05.09.1999 Lancaster and Spitfire
03.09.2000. Spitfire and Hurricane
02.09.2001 Spitfire and Hurricane
01.09.2002 Spitfire and Hurricane
7.09 2003 Spitfire and Hurricane

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