Memorial Details
Memorial
Bench Stirling crew 1944 Sports Field
Reference
S122.12
Place
SHILDON
Map ref
230268
Original Location
Shildon Cricket Field. British Rail Sports and Social Club. Hackworth Road. On the boundary of the field.
Present Location
The plaque is in safe hands at the premises.
Which war
1939-45
Memorial Description
Bench with plaque. Lettering is in sans serif capitals throughout.
Materials used
Wood bench, plastic plaque.
Inscription
Here dead lie we because we did not choose to live
And shame the land from which we sprung
Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose.
But young men think it is, and we were young.
(Housman)
In memory of all who served in Bomber Command 1939-45
But especially of seven aircrew
Killed when Stirling Bomber LK517 crashed into Store Fields
Shildon 31st May 1944.
And shame the land from which we sprung
Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose.
But young men think it is, and we were young.
(Housman)
But especially of seven aircrew
Killed when Stirling Bomber LK517 crashed into Store Fields
Shildon 31st May 1944.
Names
None.
Who commissioned
Sports and Social Club.
Present condition
Seat has rotted.
Ownership and maintenance
Shildon Sports and Social Club.
Notes
1. The memorial was placed here mainly through the efforts of local man, Keith Robson.
2. The aircraft belonged to No.1654 HCU at RAF Wigsley in Nottinghamshire. It was on a cross country training course flight and broke up in cloud due to structural failure.
3. There appears to have been only 1 accident on 31st May 1944 from Heavy Conversion Unit 1654. This means that the names of the men who died were:
1622071 Sgt. Fred Bates
151987 F/O John McCallum Brooks
1545675 Sgt. Nathaniel Hugh Crawford.
1295055 Sgt. Donald Wilfred Curtis
2209661 Sgt. Walter Joseph Lawton
2212825 Sgt. Thomas Parr
173804 P/O Stanley Raymond Wilson.
2. The aircraft belonged to No.1654 HCU at RAF Wigsley in Nottinghamshire. It was on a cross country training course flight and broke up in cloud due to structural failure.
3. There appears to have been only 1 accident on 31st May 1944 from Heavy Conversion Unit 1654. This means that the names of the men who died were:
1622071 Sgt. Fred Bates
151987 F/O John McCallum Brooks
1545675 Sgt. Nathaniel Hugh Crawford.
1295055 Sgt. Donald Wilfred Curtis
2209661 Sgt. Walter Joseph Lawton
2212825 Sgt. Thomas Parr
173804 P/O Stanley Raymond Wilson.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photo of plaque: John & Mavis Dixon
Britain’s Aviation Memorials and Mementoes (1992) David J.Smith, Patrick Stephens Ltd.; ISBN 1 85260 395 X
R.A.F. Bomber Command Losses Vol. 9 Roll of Honour 1939-1947, W.R. Chorley. ISBN 978 85780 195 8
Northern Echo 24/06/2004 reports story.
Britain’s Aviation Memorials and Mementoes (1992) David J.Smith, Patrick Stephens Ltd.; ISBN 1 85260 395 X
R.A.F. Bomber Command Losses Vol. 9 Roll of Honour 1939-1947, W.R. Chorley. ISBN 978 85780 195 8
Northern Echo 24/06/2004 reports story.
External web link
Research acknowledgements
J. Brown; Mr Peter Dargue and staff of the Club; John and Mavis Dixon
Research In Progress
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Bench Stirling crew 1944 Sports Field (S122.12)
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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