Memorial Dedication (RAAF) N Ireland

handtohand22 · 11-07-2008, 06:17 PM

On 20th July 1942 a Wellington Bomber on a low flying exercise, based at Limavady Airfield, crashed near The Giants Causeway in County Antrim. On board were Pilot Officer Wilson Twentyman aged 26 from Hukanui, Wellington NZ and Sergeant Pilot Vernon Pither from Shepparton Victoria Australia, aged 28.

Both men lost their lives and are buried in Drumachose Parish Church, Limavady, County Londonderry, N Ireland

A Granite Memorial will be unveiled and dedicated on Sunday July 20 2008 at 3.30pm at The Giants Causeway, N Ireland

spidge · 12-07-2008, 12:25 PM

A really great tribute to the lads.

They should be congratulated for keeping their memory alive.

Thanks H to H.

Geoff

Gotthard Heinrici · 20-07-2008, 11:46 AM

H2H Good thread. Was just at their graves this week taking pics for Spidge. They flew out of this airbase as far as I know:
The old Limavady airfield in Aghanloo

Here's some photos I took whilst there of whats left of the airbase:

handtohand22 · 20-07-2008, 12:07 PM

Thats it, nothing left of the origional buildings, except a mile or so away there may be some accommodation buildings.

Going to the dedication of the Twentyman/Pither memorial today at 3pm. Will post the pics later.

Trincomalee · 20-07-2008, 08:33 PM

Just past the Giants Causeway , at Dunseverick , local people told me that German submarines used to surface to collect fresh water , where streams fall over the rocks into the bay . When I asked German friends about it , they thought that the submarines would carry sufficient fresh water .

Anyone else heard these stories ?

spidge · 21-07-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handtohand22

Thats it, nothing left of the origional buildings, except a mile or so away there may be some accommodation buildings.

Going to the dedication of the Twentyman/Pither memorial today at 3pm. Will post the pics later.

Look forward to the photos H to H. Hope you had a great day.

By coincidence, on August 10th in Nova Scotia, Canada a historical group are placing a memorial to an Australian Pilot and his Canadian crew who crashed into a mountain in fog. This was August 10th 1942, just three week after the Ireland crash.

Two commemorations to crews, 66 years hence.

handtohand22 · 21-07-2008, 05:47 PM

Four pics from the memorial dedication.

Pic 1 Memorial Stones

Pic 2 Glenda Rodgers who planned and organized the financing of the project

Pic 3 The approach to the crash site. It was a foggy day, too foggy for the low flying exercise they were on

Pic 4 Looking out on line of approach

Pic 5 Memorial Stones

Owen · 21-07-2008, 11:49 PM

Ronnie,
Lovely photos, thanks for that.
Were the Aussie & NZ Governments represented?
Or was this just locals only?
Any family members there?

spidge · 22-07-2008, 03:57 AM

Hi H to H,

Thank you for the photos. What was the atmosphere of the occasion?

Owen has asked the questions that was of interest to me.

Can I use the photos on my memorial website when I eventually (years) get it finished?

If okay, send me a PM if you want your real name as the donor.

Cheers

Geoff

handtohand22 · 22-07-2008, 05:05 PM

I will get some more pictures as soon as..
There was over 150 people there for the unveiling and dedication by Rev Dr Victor Dobbin.
The Royal British Legion standard was lowered during the ceremony. Different army units and associations were represented as well.
The families were represented by nephews. A small function with tea and buns and prayers and speeches was held in the Parish Hall in Bushmills after the ceremony.

Glenda Rodgers and some friends from Bushmills Royal British Legion raised the money last year during a WWII exhibition by raffling a painting of the Bushmills War Memorial.

It was a solemn occasion in parts but everyone involved were justifiably proud of themselves for organising the occasion and having the opportunity to honour the sacrifice made by these two gentlemen over 66 years ago.

More details to follow.
I will make the photos so far domain free.
Ronnie Gamble

12-07-2008, 12:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
spidge Legendary Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,047	A really great tribute to the lads. They should be congratulated for keeping their memory alive. Thanks H to H. Geoff __________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm

22-07-2008, 03:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
spidge Legendary Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,047	Hi H to H, Thank you for the photos. What was the atmosphere of the occasion? Owen has asked the questions that was of interest to me. Can I use the photos on my memorial website when I eventually (years) get it finished? If okay, send me a PM if you want your real name as the donor. Cheers Geoff __________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm

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20-07-2008, 12:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
handtohand22 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Coleraine Co. Londonderry NI Posts: 306	Thats it, nothing left of the origional buildings, except a mile or so away there may be some accommodation buildings. Going to the dedication of the Twentyman/Pither memorial today at 3pm. Will post the pics later.

20-07-2008, 08:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trincomalee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 166	Just past the Giants Causeway , at Dunseverick , local people told me that German submarines used to surface to collect fresh water , where streams fall over the rocks into the bay . When I asked German friends about it , they thought that the submarines would carry sufficient fresh water . Anyone else heard these stories ?

21-07-2008, 11:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,995	Ronnie, Lovely photos, thanks for that. Were the Aussie & NZ Governments represented? Or was this just locals only? Any family members there?

22-07-2008, 05:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
handtohand22 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Coleraine Co. Londonderry NI Posts: 306	I will get some more pictures as soon as.. There was over 150 people there for the unveiling and dedication by Rev Dr Victor Dobbin. The Royal British Legion standard was lowered during the ceremony. Different army units and associations were represented as well. The families were represented by nephews. A small function with tea and buns and prayers and speeches was held in the Parish Hall in Bushmills after the ceremony. Glenda Rodgers and some friends from Bushmills Royal British Legion raised the money last year during a WWII exhibition by raffling a painting of the Bushmills War Memorial. It was a solemn occasion in parts but everyone involved were justifiably proud of themselves for organising the occasion and having the opportunity to honour the sacrifice made by these two gentlemen over 66 years ago. More details to follow. I will make the photos so far domain free. Ronnie Gamble

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