Memorial details

Memorial type
Garden
District
Broadland
Town
Coltishall
County
Norfolk
Country
England
Commemoration
Regimental Memorials, Non-Combat Deaths
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 22 November 2010
    Attended by: Local Clergy/Dignitaries
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
65081

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Current location

Former RAF Station Coltishall
Filby Road
Coltishall
Broadland
Norfolk
NR12 7JU
England

OS Grid Ref: TG 25684 23090
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Memorial garden with black marble stone of remembrance in the shape of a Hurricane windscreen. There is an RAF badge at the top with the dedication on a sloping stone at the foot. On a flat stone at the foot is also an engraving of the map of the airfield. There are four benches now dedicated to: 6 Sqn, 41(F) Sqn, 202 Sqn SAR and 54 (R) Sqn, additionally two more small plates have been installed to the right hand benches. The garden has six cherry trees planted in memory of the personnel of number 41 Squadron who perished during a coach accident in Germany in 1983. The trees were replacements for the original trees planted in front of the old Airmen's Mess, now in the grounds of HMP Bure. There is now an additional plaque to the Polish Air Force, installed in 2015 in front of one of the right hand cherry trees. A Memorial board has been erected (May 2014) to the left hand side of the garden by the road.
Inscription
Memorial Board inscription: ROYAL AIR FORCE COLTISHALL/ (BADGE)/ MEMORIAL GARDEN/ This Memorial Garden was created by the Ministry of Justice/ in order to preserve the memory of a famous RAF station/ and of those who served here during war and peace./ Please respect the memory by not allowing/ animals to foul or damage the trees, plaques and plants/ and take any litter away with you/ when you leave this garden ‐ thank you./ This Notice Board has been donated by:/ The Spirit of Coltishall Association/ May 2014 Memorial Stone inscription: PER ARDUA AD ASTRA/ ROYAL AIR FORCE COLTISHALL/ 1940 ‐ 2006/ Commemorating the only Battle of Britain Station to have remained/ a fighter station throughout it's 66 year history and the personnel/ who served here, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Six Cherry Trees memorial plaque inscription: (Squadron Badges) These six cherry trees are dedicated/ to the memory of/ (Names)/ who lost their lives in a coach accident/ at Sasbachwalden in West Germany on 21st May 1983/ whilst serving with 41(F) Squadron RAF/ on exchange with 421 Squadron CAF/ "LEST WE FORGET" Polish Air Force Memorial Plaque inscription: ROYAL AIR FORCE/ COLTISHALL/ (POLISH)/ This plaque is dedicated to the/ Polish Air Force/ whose airmen supported Great Britain and the/ Royal Air Force during World War Two/ RAF Coltishall was home to several Polish Squadrons/ during the war, operating against the Luftwaffe./ Between 1945 and 1948 the station was a/ Polish Air Force base and was handed back to the RAF/ in a ceremony at which Air Marshall Sir James Robb/ took the salute./ Donated in Memory of the late Tony Brent/ installed 28 April 2015 Front left hand bench plaque inscription: 6 Sqn/ The eyes of the Army/ Since 1914/ Dedicated 21 May 2012 Rear left hand bench plaque inscription: 41 (F) Sqn/ Seek and Destroy/ Since 1916/ Dedicated 41 (R) TES Rear right hand bench plaque 1 Inscription: 202 Sqn SAR/ Be Always Vigilant/ Dedicated by 202 Sqn Assn Rear right hand bench plaque 2 inscription: This Bench has been Sponsored by/ The Whirlwind Preservation/ Society/ In Memory of those who Gave their Lives/ for Others Front right hand bench plaque 1 inscription: 54 (R) Sqn/ Boldness to Endure/ Anything/ Dedicated in 2014 Front right hand bench plaque 2 inscription: In Memory of/ BASIL TODD/ Honorary President/ Spirit of Coltishall Association/ 2007‐2015
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Armstrong, Paul
Fox, Peter
Messenger, Michael
Roe, Brian
Swash, Derrick
Winship, Stuart
See details for all 6 names
Commemorations
  • Regimental Memorials
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: no
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Non-Combat Deaths
    Total names on memorial: 6
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 6
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname, forename, rank, squadron, date of death, place of death
    Order of information: Rank, surname
Components
  • Seat
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Wood
  • Stone of remembrance
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble - Black
  • Plaques
    Measurements: depth c15mm, height c310mm, width c400mm
    Materials: Slate
  • Garden
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Undefined
  • Tree
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Undefined
Listing information
Condition
History
A Memorial board has been erected (May 2014) to the left hand side of the garden by the road. There is now an additional plaque to the Polish Air Force, installed in 2015 in front of one of the right hand cherry trees.
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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© WMR-65081

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