Remembering on this day 1942

[muckaroon1960]

I have posted these details before on the old forum but thought I would update this year.
After seeing children in the news adopting service men's graves, I have done the same in remembering on this day the crew of Wellington Bomber DV425 of 21OTU RAF Moreton in Marsh. Crashed at Tidmington, Nr Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire the night of 7th/8th December whilst undertaking night time flight training.
All 3 crew perished in the crash.
412070 Sjt L A McGuire. RAAF.
1219728 Sjt V T Drew RAVR.
1332125 Sjt C E Raggett RAVR.

I visited the cemetery at Moreton in Marsh and put flowers on Sjt McGuires grave. Also went to the crash site Sunday to place a memorial cross near to the crash site.

Lest We Forget.

[Andyb]

A fitting tribute , RIP and thanks for reposting it :thumbsup:

[muckaroon1960]

Made my annual pilgrimage to Moreton in Marsh cemetery today and also put a memorial cross near to where Wellington Bomber DV425 crashed. While there I noticed someone had placed 3 poppies on a tree..1 for each of the air crew. Nice to know they're not forgotten.

[The Devil's Bank]

Nice tribute Mucka, the fact that you actually go and place a cross at this lonely spot, shows people do/will remember these "forgotten" Airmen.

Top man :thumbsup:

[85ronnies]

very thoughtfull thing to do Mucca :thumbsup:

[Christopher Ailsby]

Mucka : a great thanks for your reverence. I think this forum, and I have said it before, is like a club of very like people. We should cherris this, unfortunately I have only had the pleasure of meeting one member in the flesh. This was a great pleasure. So again well done young man.

Christopher

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Mucka : a great thanks for your reverence. I think this forum, and I have said it before, is like a club of very like people. We should cherris this, unfortunately I have only had the pleasure of meeting one member in the flesh. This was a great pleasure. So again well done young man.

Christopher

Well said Chris X2 for me as well :thumbsup:

Regards Mark.

[muckaroon1960]

Did my annual pilgrimage to the crash site today. My cross from last year was still there although well weathered. Placed a fresh one on the tree. 3 new poppies also been placed there recently.

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Outstanding work Paul, it really is :thumbsup:

Regards Mark.

[Christopher Ailsby]

Great work Paul

Christopher

[Andyb]

Hats off to you paul ^:)^

[muckaroon1960]

Remembered 77 years on....I see some more Poppies have been placed on the tree this year also. :thumbsup:

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Remembering indeed. Thank you Paul. Regards Mark

[The Devil's Bank]

Well done Paul :ymapplause:

Maybe next year, the members of Broadsword could contribute some dosh and get a proper wreath for the tree. :-??

[muckaroon1960]

Well done Paul :ymapplause:

Maybe next year, the members of Broadsword could contribute some dosh and get a proper wreath for the tree. :-??

No wreath this year i'm afraid but still managed to add a new cross and removed the old one's which i planted in the ground. Then onto Moreton in Marsh Cemetery to visit Sgt McGuire's grave. Sad to see so many young brave men buried in this cemetery and from different commonwealth countries. :sad:

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Thank you for the update Paul. Great work.

Regards Mark

[muckaroon1960]

One year on and my annual pilgrimage to Tidmington and the Wellington crash site. No new poppies on the tree as yet. My cross from last year was still there and i placed a new one on the tree. Went to the cemetery at Moreton in Marsh to put flowers on Sgt McGuire's grave. Noticed that following the remembrance service held there that all the (45) graves had wooden crosses and the RCAF graves all had small Canadian flags.

Lest We Forget.

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

And again I say great work Paul.

Regards Mark.

[The Devil's Bank]

Great stuff Paul, may they Rest In Peace.

[muckaroon1960]

As this was the 80th Anniversary since the Wellington Crash I took the liberty of putting a wreath near the crash site today (8th December 2022) with a dedication from the forum. Would have been nice to leave it there for others to see but unfortunately as the wreath is mainly plastic and with a field full of sheep I decided to remove the wreath (after going on a brief shopping trip with her indoors) and to lay the wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice at Moreton in Marsh Cemetery. Also put some flowers on Sgt McGuires grave. :thumbsup:

[muckaroon1960]

The Cross of Sacrifice at Moreton in Marsh Cemetery and Sgt McGuires grave.

[The Devil's Bank]

Well done Paul, and thanks on behalf of the Broadsword community :ymapplause:

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Paul I too would like to offer my appreciation as a member of the forum and recognise your continued dedication to remembering this wartime tragedy. If the family of Sgt McGuire were aware of this I’m sure they would be forever grateful.
Well done.

Regards Mark.

[muckaroon1960]

When my wife and I were driving to put the wreath at the crash site we were reminiscing about the stories we had heard from locals who were there when the crash happened. The people living at the farm nearby, ran to the next farm because they thought German Paratroopers had landed. An old lady we knew very well was in the Land Army and could remember one of the air crew being stretchered on a five bar gate. The farm manager from the farm next door (where my wife lived) and his son were in the next field fixing a tractor in the early 70's and saw a figure dressed in RAF gear in the field who then proceeded to walk Northwards???? My father in law worked on this land for quite a few years and saw someone dressed in flying boots and a white jumper walking across the fields more than once? My then girlfriends brothers and myself went to the site back in 1977 and dug up a few bits and pieces including bullet heads, plexiglass and the remains of a watch. No idea what happened to these items?

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Perhaps someone could move this thread to the paranormal section.

[The Devil's Bank]

There does seem to be some thing "spooky" about ww2 air crash sites/airfields..

I went to Duxford and West Malling years ago and had some rather strange experiences there :-o

[Andyb]

:ymapplause: :ymapplause: again fantastic what you have done

[muckaroon1960]

Annual pilgrimage to the crash site and cemetery. A bit wetter than last year.

[fischer]

Well Done Paul.

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

:thumbsup:

[The Devil's Bank]

Hats off to you my friend, real nice thing you do :ymapplause:

It does seem a peaceful place.

[muckaroon1960]

Seems i'm not the only one going to the crash site as there were 3 new poppies on the tree.

[muckaroon1960]

Decided to go a day earlier due to impending bad weather, which as it happens caused Wellington DV425 to crash whilst on a training flight. I removed the cross from the tree which i had put there last year and added a new one. Someone else has added the three poppies? :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Well done Paul.

Regards Mark.

[fischer]

Very nice Paul!

[muckaroon1960]

I've recently started to read a lot about war poets and poetry especially WW1. The likes of Sassoon, Brooke and Thomas and thought I'd like to be able to write a poem of some sort but as to what, why or where I was undecided until i thought about the tragedy of the Wellington crash as covered in this post. So here we go my first attempt at war poetry and possibly my last.....

"The poppies hung upon the tree"

On that stormy winter night,
overshot the training flight.
From Moreton on-to Tidmington,
two Poms and an Australian.
Over the farmhouse into the field,
down to earth that would not yield.
That brave and oh so gallant crew,
of Sergeants Raggett, McGuire and Drew.
With their families far far away,
unaware of that fateful day.
And a local family sought help that night,
thoughts of German paratroopers gave them fright.
Alas this was not the case,
of a tragedy the people would face.
Land Army girls witnesses of their fate,
carried away on a five bar gate.
Decades gone and in a field nearby,
a tractor repair for some to try.
Staring at that sight in fear,
stood upright in his flying gear,
turned to head North so its said,
an apparition of one long dead.
We salute the brave lads of twenty one OTU,
who flew from that airfield in Forty Two,
By the two Oak trees standing proud,
within that field we pray aloud.
For these three souls that ceased to be,
with the Poppies hung upon the tree.

James Findon © 2025.

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Outstanding.
“ I’m no poet…certainly no poet in me so not to be critical of those who want to be”
First attempt you say? Well keep going with it Paul as you seem to have a real talent for it.
Great work.

Regards Mark.

[fischer]

I can only echo what Mark stated and I too, believe you have the talent for this.
I would encourage you to continue on with your writing...my opinion (for what it's worth) is this effort should be published. :thumbsup:

[muckaroon1960]

Apologies in advance.

Thanks Guys,
I appreciate the kind replies,
Perhaps it's to do with my age,
Said the wise old Sage,
As historically, Poetry I hated,
To me you see, it seemed quite dated,
And then to my surprise,
I opened up my eyes,
It only took a couple of hours to write,
And well, I'm pleased, it's not......Shyte! :lol:

James Findon © 2025

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[muckaroon1960]

I've composed a few more new poems and one of which I put on the Facebook page for the 447th bomb group and had a reply that the new poem will be read out at this years remembrance service at Rattlesden. Also had another I wrote about my holiday near Minehead at Dunster beach to be added to a Dunster book?
Update: I think this Dunster book may be a private scrap book? But I'll have to ask the question?

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Great news Paul can only imagine the pride felt in that level of recognition.

Regards Mark.

[fischer]

Congrats Paul, Thanks Awesome :thumbsup:

[muckaroon1960]

Made the annual pilgrimage to the crash site and the cemetery today. When i was in the field I thought about the date 8th December and imagining the scene 83 years ago on the morning after the accident on the same day 1942 and the recovery of the airmen carried down the field on a 5 bar gate. Took a few pictures and placed a new wooden cross on the tree and removed last years cross. 3 new poppies have been placed there this year.

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

How time flys. Yet another year has passed. Great work Paul.

:thumbsup:

Regards Mark

[fischer]

You said it Mark...I just blink and another year is gone.

Cheers Paul, great job! :thumbsup: