They gave their all

[John King]

A corner of a small churchyard in the village of Kirknewton in north Northumberland are the last resting places of aircrew who I believe were all killed in crashes when on night time training flights from RAF Millfield when over the range of Cheviot hills. 3 are Canadian Officers/NCO's, the remainder are RAF. The youngest was 19 the eldest 23 years old. I was told they were flying in Wellington Bombers relegated to a training roll towards the end of the war in 1943/45. They were flying over hills around 1500 feet high often in cloud or fog and at wartime there were no lights to navigate by and altimeters were sometime inaccurate.
It is nice to think the War Graves plot is carefully tended, while the remainder of the Churchyard is just rough mown grass.

 

[Roboticspro]

John,

Thank you for helping all of us to remember those who selflessly served to defend democracy, which never goes out of style...

Regards,

Edd

 

[John King]

The churchyard in Kirknewton is in a village with possibly less than 200 souls and apart from the area outside the church itself is superbly kept. A place of pure tranquillity.

 

[Roboticspro]

I cherish places like that; good for the soul and helps to put everything in perspective in these very troubling times (at least to me).

 

[Flack]

Its good to remember them, we Have our own mass grave here in Freckleton,
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/a...r-the-story-behind-the-tragedy-in-lancashire/

 

[Oldbones]

Very well said John, yes for my generation, I had parents and in laws who lived, fought and died through that very very hard times.
And while I was young did see men and women on a daily basis who were the remnants of that terrible time.
That generation, I have no idea how they coped after it all came to an end, but I do know it never came to an end for for them, they lived it every day of the remainder of their lives.
I think knowing someone who was involved in that struggle brings a reality to every thing we do today.

 

[John King]

I think I was fortunate that non of my male relatives had to fight. My father was 28 when war was declared but due to his age and that he was a policeman at the time the RAF declined to take him as aircrew, and that he was in a reserved occupation, he remained at home working some horrendous hours. The only other male in the family alive at the time, was my grandfather who was a coal miner so he wasn't allowed to enlist. My other grandfather was in the 1st War in the Royal Navy and served in submarines, but he was lost at sea in 1932, So yes in a way I was lucky.