Memorial Details
Memorial
Memorial Allied Airmen 1939-45 College Valley
Reference
C28.02
Place
CHEVIOT
Map ref
NT 888252
Original Location
In College Valley, outside Cuddystone Hall.
Which war
1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Unveiled 19th May 1995 by His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. Dedicated by Rev. S. Iredale, Padre at R.A.F. Boulmer.
Memorial Description
Monument approx. 4 feet (1.21 m) high, with sloping top inside a drystone circular wall, designed to look like a sheep stell (enclosure). The dedication is on the front of the plinth, the lettering in gilded Roman capitals, and accompanied by the RAF wings. On the back is the RAF badge and motto. On the sloping top is incised a map showing the area and the locations of the various aeroplane crashes. On a stone at the entrance to the stell is a stainless steel plate naming the various sponsors and bodies involved in the erection of the monument.
Materials used
Polished slate
Inscription
Memory
of
the Allied
Airmen
who lost their
lives on the
Cheviots
1939-1945
(Wings)
Per Ardua Ad Astra.
Names
None
Who commissioned
R.A.F. Boulmer
Cost
Various firms contributed.
How money was raised
Site given by College Valley Estates.
Present condition
Demolished 2018
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Alan Hodgson, a young student with SERCo Operations Ltd.
Notes
1. The erection of this memorial was said to have been inspired by the heroism of local shepherds John Dagg and Frank Moscrop who went to the rescue of crewmen of a US Flying Fortress in December 1944. See C28.01
2. Journal 18/05/1995:
“The Cheviot memorial is fully restored, thanks to a team of RAF Boulmer personnel. The memorial at Hethpool in the College Valley is dedicated to all the airmen who lost their lives on the Cheviots between 1939 and 1945. An RAF training day, navigating in the Cheviot mountains, was combined with a comprehensive restoration programme that included the repair and replacement of the stone wall and laying down of a membrane under five tones of Biddlestone red gravel to prevent weeds and reduce overall upkeep. Local builders merchants MKM donated the membrane; cost of gravel was met by SERCO Aerospace at RAF Boulmer. A short service of remembrance was carried out by Sqdn.Ldr. Graham Collingwood to celebrate the memorial’s tenth anniversary and completion of restoration work. Northumberland Gazette 25th November 2005
3. On the printed programme sheet, the name of one man is given as "Ayes". In the book on R.A.F. Bomber Command Losses the name is given as "Ayres". The name of Fg.Off Ayres, together with that of LAC Wallace, is recorded on the R.A.F. Memorial at Runnymede.
4. The same source says that the registration of the Hampden which crashed on 18th March 1940 was L 4063 VN3
5. The same source tells that although Wellington 1C Z1078 crashed on 15th January 1942, when Sgt. Irving was killed, the other two members of the crew who also died (Sgt. Hunt and Sgt. Maple) died from wounds the following day.
6 A plaque nearby reads:
This Cheviot Memorial / was constructed during May 1995 by / Serco Ltd. RAF Boulmer / with donations from the following / Companies.
Tilbury Douglas / Bart Endean
Kenley Developments (N.E.) Ltd. / S.W. Fender & Sons
Dougal & Railton / J.E. Nixon & Son
Alnwick Timber / J.T. Doves of Ashington
Lloyd Worrall / Milburn & Storey
Brace / Senate Electrical
N. & F. Young / Drummonds Industrial Cleaners
Meadows Road Construction / Tower Construction
Northumberland Contracting / Lord Warkworth Lodge No. 1878
Allan's of Amble / J.J. Nugent
College Valley Estates Ltd / Allenheads Quarry
7. The memorial was demolished in 2018 because of erosion. It was replaced. See C28.03.
2. Journal 18/05/1995:
“The Cheviot memorial is fully restored, thanks to a team of RAF Boulmer personnel. The memorial at Hethpool in the College Valley is dedicated to all the airmen who lost their lives on the Cheviots between 1939 and 1945. An RAF training day, navigating in the Cheviot mountains, was combined with a comprehensive restoration programme that included the repair and replacement of the stone wall and laying down of a membrane under five tones of Biddlestone red gravel to prevent weeds and reduce overall upkeep. Local builders merchants MKM donated the membrane; cost of gravel was met by SERCO Aerospace at RAF Boulmer. A short service of remembrance was carried out by Sqdn.Ldr. Graham Collingwood to celebrate the memorial’s tenth anniversary and completion of restoration work. Northumberland Gazette 25th November 2005
3. On the printed programme sheet, the name of one man is given as "Ayes". In the book on R.A.F. Bomber Command Losses the name is given as "Ayres". The name of Fg.Off Ayres, together with that of LAC Wallace, is recorded on the R.A.F. Memorial at Runnymede.
4. The same source says that the registration of the Hampden which crashed on 18th March 1940 was L 4063 VN3
5. The same source tells that although Wellington 1C Z1078 crashed on 15th January 1942, when Sgt. Irving was killed, the other two members of the crew who also died (Sgt. Hunt and Sgt. Maple) died from wounds the following day.
6 A plaque nearby reads:
This Cheviot Memorial / was constructed during May 1995 by / Serco Ltd. RAF Boulmer / with donations from the following / Companies.
Tilbury Douglas / Bart Endean
Kenley Developments (N.E.) Ltd. / S.W. Fender & Sons
Dougal & Railton / J.E. Nixon & Son
Alnwick Timber / J.T. Doves of Ashington
Lloyd Worrall / Milburn & Storey
Brace / Senate Electrical
N. & F. Young / Drummonds Industrial Cleaners
Meadows Road Construction / Tower Construction
Northumberland Contracting / Lord Warkworth Lodge No. 1878
Allan's of Amble / J.J. Nugent
College Valley Estates Ltd / Allenheads Quarry
7. The memorial was demolished in 2018 because of erosion. It was replaced. See C28.03.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Janet Brown
Programme of dedication ceremony.
Northumberland Gazette Weekender No.XI reports on a talk given to the Glendale Local History Society on the crashes in the Cheviot. (Photocopy on file)
Northumberland Gazette Weekender contains a two-page article on the crashes and the proposed memorial, including photographs of the Choirboys who set up the original memorial (See C28.01) and the crew of the American bomber they remembered.
The Journal 03/02/1995 reports proposal to unveil memorial in the summer; 18/05/1995 reports proposed unveiling; 20/05/1995 features a double page article with photographs of the unveiling and some of the people who took part.
The Times 20/05/1995 Court circular includes visit by Duke of Gloucester to the ceremony.
Daily Mail 20/05/1995 reports on the ceremony.
Northumberland Gazette 25/11/2005 reports restoration noted above, with photo of those involved.
Wooler at War 1939-1945. Glendale Local History Society, Wooler, 1996.
Where the Hills Meet the Sky: A Guide to Wartime Crashes on the Cheviot Hills Peter Clark; Glen Graphics; ISBN 1 9000038 10 2
Northumberland Aviation Diary: Aviation Incidents from 1790-1999; Dereak Walton; Norav Publications, 1999.
Programme of dedication ceremony.
Northumberland Gazette Weekender No.XI reports on a talk given to the Glendale Local History Society on the crashes in the Cheviot. (Photocopy on file)
Northumberland Gazette Weekender contains a two-page article on the crashes and the proposed memorial, including photographs of the Choirboys who set up the original memorial (See C28.01) and the crew of the American bomber they remembered.
The Journal 03/02/1995 reports proposal to unveil memorial in the summer; 18/05/1995 reports proposed unveiling; 20/05/1995 features a double page article with photographs of the unveiling and some of the people who took part.
The Times 20/05/1995 Court circular includes visit by Duke of Gloucester to the ceremony.
Daily Mail 20/05/1995 reports on the ceremony.
Northumberland Gazette 25/11/2005 reports restoration noted above, with photo of those involved.
Wooler at War 1939-1945. Glendale Local History Society, Wooler, 1996.
Where the Hills Meet the Sky: A Guide to Wartime Crashes on the Cheviot Hills Peter Clark; Glen Graphics; ISBN 1 9000038 10 2
Northumberland Aviation Diary: Aviation Incidents from 1790-1999; Dereak Walton; Norav Publications, 1999.
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
Nick Short; J. Brown; David Bradbrooke, Mildred Robson; Michael Rygol
Research In Progress
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Memorial Allied Airmen 1939-45 College Valley (C28.02)
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Parish Notes
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