Memorial

Memorial R.A.F. Milfield 1939-45 Borders Gliding Club

Milfield

Memorial Name: Memorial R.A.F. Milfield 1939-45 Borders Gliding Club (M9.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: M9.01

Parish: Milfield

Original Location:

Borders Gliding Club.

In the clubhouse garden.

Which War:

1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled Friday 24th May 2002, by Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, Sir John Riddell.
Dedicated by Rev. Seaman.

Materials Used:

Breeze block and stone, with brass plaque.

Who Commissioned:

Borders Gliding Club

How Money was Raised:

Donations

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Peter Fairness, a member of the Borders Gliding Club.

Ownership and Maintenance: Borders Gliding Club

Inscription:

This memorial is dedicated to those airmen whose lives were lost
while on operational service from R.A.F. Milfield
(Names)

Memorial Description:

Propeller mounted on a cube of breezeblock faced with stone, with raked top.

In front of this is a plaque of brass surrounded by a copper rim.

The names are listed in two columns. The lettering is in blue Roman capitals throughout.

Names:

48 names, ranks, squadron and date of death.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The former airfield has almost disappeared through gravel extraction. The Gliding Club is 15 feet (4.5m) below the level of the former airfield.

2. The memorial has been placed in the garden of the Clubhouse, but is also almost directly underneath the position of the control tower.

3. It was possible to locate various people around the country who had served from the station. Some of them were able to attend the dedication service.

4. In 1944 R.A.F. Milfield obtained the highest marks in the competition for ‘best kept’ Sergeants’, Airmens’ and W.A.A.F.s’ mess out of all R.A.F. stations in the UK, and was presented with a silver challenge trophy.

5. Originally there were 46 names. In 2017 two further names were added to the plaque. The plaque was removed and sent away for the work to be done. There was no ceremony when it was replaced.

6. The name “Bouquen” should be “Bouguen”.

Sources:

Photos: J. Brown

Cambridge Evening News
 29/05/2002 reports unveiling with photo of Reuben Flack who was stationed at RAF Milfield in 1943.

Wooler at War 1939-1945.
 Glendale Local History Society, Wooler, 1996.

Fighting Hitler from a Border Airfield Graham White, Northumbrian, Issue 109, April / May 2009. Published by Powdene Publications, page 31

Action Stations: 7: Military Airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland. David J. Smith; 1983; Patrick Stephens; ISBN 0 85059 563 0

A Hawker Hurricane Mk.I V6989 flying from RAF Milfield crashed at Till bridge, Newtown Grange, Chillingham, on 4th February 1943. Almost Forgotten. The Search for Aviation Accidents in Northumberland. Chris. R. Davies; 2011; Amberley Publishing; ISBN 978 1 4456 0333 0

Northumberland Aviation Diary: Aviation Incidents from 1790-1999 ; Derek Walton; Norav Publications; 1999; ISBN 0 9536189 0 0

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

George and Janet Brown

Research In Progress:

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk

Provide Details

If you know more about this memorial, please send the details to NEWMP.

Names Documents:

This memorial is dedicated to those airmen whose lives were lost

while on operations from R.A.F. Milfield

—————————————————-  

Left hand column

  Rank    Name                                   Died        

 

  F/O     J. Methum               R.A.F.         04.09.42   

  Sgt.    Hartley                 R.A.F.         23.09.42   

  W/01    G.H. Neate              R.C.A.F.       06.11.42   

  F/Lt.   P.A. Mortimer           R.A.F.         06.11.42   

  F/Sgt.  McDermott               R.A.F.         15.11.42   

  LAC     Kyle                    R.A.F.         15.11.42   

  F/Sgt.  R. Davies Maynard       R.C.A.F.       14.01.43   

  Sgt.    J.H. Hobbs              R.A.F.         16.01.43   

  Sgt.    M.A. Dixon              R.C.A.F.       04.02.43   

  F/Lt.   Von Shalk               R.A.F.         20.02.43   

  Sgt.    Gledhill                R.A.F.         20.02.43   

  Sgt.    R.H.M. MacFadzean       R.A.F. U.S.A.  27.03.43   

  Sgt.    Cullener                R.A.F.         27.03.43   

  F/Sgt.  Davies                  R.A.F.         27.04.43   

  F/O     E.G.L. Thompson         R.A.F.         27.04.43   

  F/Sgt.  De Freitas              R.A.F.         05.05.43   

  F/Lt.   M.C. Knight             R.A.F.         20.05.43   

  Sgt.    G.R. Dawson             R.A.F. Brazil  02.06.43   

  Sgt.    A.V. Jones              R.A.F.         13.06.43   

  Sgt.    Kemp                    R.A.F.         14.06.43   

  W/011   D.M. Flack              R.C.A.F.       29.06.43   

  P/O     Ellis                   R.A.F.         05.07.43   

  F/Sgt.  C.I. Humphrey           R.N.Z.A.F.     14.07.43   

—————————————————-  

Right hand column

  Rank    Name                                    Died

  Sgt.    Taverner                R.A.F.          26.07.43

  F/Sgt.  O’Keefe                 R.A.F.          07.08.43

  F/Sgt.  Holden                  R.A.F.          06.10.43

  Sgt.    L. Jones                R.A.F.          29.11.43

  F/O.    Lookyan                 R.A.F.          14.01.44

  F/Lt.   M. Bouquen              R.A.F.          09.03.44

  Lt.Cdr. D.R.B.Cosh D.S.C.       R.C.N.V.R.      24.06.44

  F/O     A.B.E.Rutherford D.F.C. R.A.F. Aust.    10.11.44

  F/Lt.   R.W. Hall               R.A.F.          13.01.45

  P/O     N.L. Gordon             R.C.A.F.        01.02.45

  P/O     McGregor                R.A.F.          28.02.45

  F/O     R.N. Bernhart           R.C.A.F.        03.03.45

  F/O     R.F.D. Smith            R.C.A.F. U.S.A. 08.03.45

  F/O     G.A. Sullivan           R.C.A.F.        27.03.45

  P/O     R.S. Bellis             R.A.F.          27.03.45

  F/Lt.   I.W. Smith              R.C.A.F.        09.04.45

  F/O     G.W.R. Ford             R.A.F.          13.04.45

  F/Lt.   F.W. Mossing            R.C.A.F.        12.05.45

  W/O     B.S. Pollard            R.A.F.          18.05.45

  F/Sgt.  F.R. Neyes              R.A.F.          20.07.45

  Sgt.    A. Greenwood            R.A.F.          30.10.45

  F/Sgt.  Marshall                R.A.F.          27.11.45

  Flt/Lt. V. Parker               R.A.F.V.R. Aust.29.01.46

  F/Sgt.  C.W. Powell             R.A.F.          12.05 45

  F/O     E.A. Clough             R.A.F.          13.07.45

NamesM9.01   

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