Page 28 • The HERALD • 7th December 2023 v BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS TO YOU SINCE 1994 v SOLENT SKIP HIRE LTD FOR ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE MINI ~ MIDI ~ MAXI SKIPS ALSO CUBIC YARD BAGS OWN BAG COLLECTION AVAILABLE 023 8066 0123 01590 619700 • 01962 588288 Email: office@solentskiphire.co.uk WILLIS DECORATING & JOINERY SERVICES Est Since 1986 Interior & Exterior Painting & Decorating Wallpaper Hanging Hand-painted Kitchens & Spray Finishes Wardrobes, Bookcases, Radiator Covers Call David on 023 8084 9800 or 07946 048261 E: david.willis24@btinternet.com Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH Remembering the Worst Ever Local Wartime Air Crash by Marc Heighway, mheighway@hotmail.com Marc hosts monthly local history talks, visit: nfhwa.org/events for details Across the open heathlands, treecovered enclosures, and ancient woodlands of the New Forest, the winds carry whispers of a bygone era that was marked by sacri ce and heroism. It was these winds that cradled men in their last moments before the air crashes that took their lives. If you are a regular reader of my column over the last couple of years, you will have read about some of these tragic incidents that occurred during the Second World War. It’s still possible to nd scars on the landscape where some of these aircra came down. ey were own by men of all nationalities including British, American, Canadian, Czechoslovak, Polish, and German. Air crashes over the New Forest were extremely common during the war. Some were a result of dog ghts where one aircra got the better of another. But most local incidents were due to accidents such as malfunctions and pilot error. ere were over a hundred events, ranging from a slight prang on air elds such as Stoney Cross, to a catastrophic air accident where multiple lives were lost. A few months ago, it was the anniversary of the worst local air accident of the Second World War, at least in terms of fatalities recorded. On Friday the 13th of August 1943 a Vickers Wellington le RAF Chivenor in Devon on an anti-submarine patrol. Upon returning to the English coastline, bad weather including fog meant she was diverted to land at Beaulieu Air eld. A er a few hours rest, the tired crew decided it was time to y back to their Devon base. Taking o from Beaulieu, the Wellington bomber was soon ying just below the clouds over the village of Sway to the west of RAF Beaulieu. Unbeknown to the crew, they were now in the ight path of a Halifax bomber that had taken o from the nearby Holmsley South air eld on a test ight. Tragically the two aircra collided, and both then came down on separate sites in the village of Sway. All six Canadian crew of the Wellington died, as did all six British crew of the Halifax. If this wasn’t tragic enough, when the Halifax crashed, it landed on the home of Peter Jenvey. He was living in a railway coach converted into a caravan. He was 68 and had moved out to the New Forest from Southampton as he thought it would be a safer place to live, away from German bombing. He was also killed, bringing the overall death toll to thirteen. e death toll was more than any other air accident in the New Forest during wartime. As you walk the paths of the New Forest heathland and woods, you might encounter the winds that continue to carry the echoes of fateful days such Wooden cross placed by Marc, his son and Richard Continued on page 29 Early Bird haircuts before 10.30am are just £12.90 and Senior Citizens are £10.90 at any time. Full details are on our website: www.crewbarbers.co.uk Crew Barbers, Southampton. CREW BARBERS WELCOME VICKY AND SADIE TO THEIR HYTHE SHOP Crew Barbers is open 6 days a week
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