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This story has been written onto the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War site by CSV Storygatherer Louise on behalf of Mr W T Baily. The story has been added to the site with his permission and Mr W T Baily fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

One late summer evening in 1942, an enemy plane was heard losing height, obviously in trouble, falling into the valley. There was no sign of a parachute, but local Farway people heard shouting and went to investigate.

W C William Bailey and Gordon Snell, both in the Home Guard, put on their hats and tunics and motored in a truck to the field of Chilcombe Farm, where they heard shouting coming from the gate in a corner of the field. The cows had gathered around curiously sniffing at an unseen object.

Messrs Bailey and Snell climbed the gate to confront the dangerous object and found themselves staring at a young enemy airman who was terrified at the assembled cows, who were backing him towards the gate.

It became quite apparent the only danger in this particular enemy incident was what the cows might do to the airman, not what the airman might do to the two rescuers! In fact, he was a very frightened 20 year old who was shouting to be rescued. Consequently, he was only too willing to be arrested and bundled into the truck to be taken to Newleigh Police House, where the policeman’s wife made them all a good cup of tea.

Later, the local school children sifted through the wreckage in curiosity. Somebody found a piece of glass and turned it into a ring, but less happily, they were also said to have found a helmet with a man’s head.

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