Ceredigion WWII plane crash victims remembered with memorial

A touching tribute to four men killed in Ceredigion in World War II has brought some closure to a woman whose dad died before she was born.

Flying Officer David Campbell Anderson from the Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant Gordon Duncan from the Royal Canadian Air Force and Sergeant John Harker and Sergeant Ronald Hodgson from the Royal Air Force, died on 10 February, 1942, when their Lockheed Hudson V9127 plane crashed opposite the entrance to Bwlch Nant yr Arian on the A44 near Aberystwyth.

Diane Burton, 84, proud daughter of Sgt Hodgson, was born after the crash and never got to meet her father, but she has honoured him throughout her life and is delighted that a memorial has been placed to remember him and the other men who died alongside him.

The memorial was unveiled in May thanks to Ceredigion-based military history enthusiast Adrian Hollis who wanted to honour the crew of the RAF’s Hudson V9127, two of whom are buried in Aberystwyth Cemetery.

He set about finding out who the land owners were where the plane crashed, and corresponded with the air forces involved to gather as much information as possible.

Adrian also set up the Facebook page ‘Mid Wales Memorial Project’, outlining his aim and gathering support, and he achieved his ambition to put a memorial stone opposite the entrance to Nany yr Arian in May.

Touched by Adrian’s efforts, Diane said: “I was born a month after my father’s plane went down in Aberystwyth and apparently was the blue eyed, blonde haired little girl he had prayed for.

“We lived in Yorkshire.

“My mother was helped greatly by the RAF Benevolent Fund, especially as a teenager when they paid for my private education.

“I went to college and became a teacher/lecturer in biology and geology.

“I married, had two children, and as part of my husband’s job, moved to Aberystwyth for seven years.

“My husband was a local preacher at Queen’s Road Methodist and I was a Sunday School teacher, just like my father had been in Yorkshire.

“As well as being aware of God’s guidance in my life, my inspiration has always been my father’s motive, to do my best especially for my family, which he did by being part of his beloved RAF family, to make the world a better place.”

Despite living in Aberystwyth for a time, Diane did not know where the crash site was, but found out about the memorial through Janet Stockdale, daughter of Sergeant John Harker. Janet was able to attend the memorial unveiling and has been in touch with Diane to tell her all about it. Reflecting on its installation at the side of the A44, Diane said: “It has given us some closure I think.

“I have lovely memories of Aberystwyth and now I have more reasons to treasure the place.

“This memorial makes the death of my father very real.

“He was an ordinary man, a churchgoer, Sunday school teacher, and piano player who went to war to protect his family, his child, and it brought it all home to me, what he gave up that day.

“I would like to thank Adrian for this memorial and for all of his hard work.

“I hope the memorial makes people think about war and how it destroys lives.”

Janet would also like to thank Adrian for marking the spot where her father Sergeant John Harker died. Speaking to the ‘Cambrian News’, she said: “I live in the Yorkshire Dales and I am 85 years old. I was just 10 months old when my father lost his life.

“I was very surprised that somebody wanted to place a memorial after all these years.

“On the day, my family and I were overwhelmed and emotional by the number of people who attended; the kindness of everyone was amazing. It gave us all a better understanding of the circumstances of the crash, and l felt closer to my father than ever before, all due to Adrian Hollis.”

Adrian is passionate about his Mid Wales Memorial Project, and said his goal in setting it up “is to gather like-minded individuals to work on getting air crashes that caused a loss of life (particularly from World War Two) and military sites around the area commemorated with plaques”.

“I would also like to create a database of existing memorial plaques, and have a team of volunteers to monitor them, polish them, or repair any damage, etc.,” he added.

“I feel it is important that the memories of those who sacrificed so much throughout history are never forgotten.”

His first major project, now complete, was to mark the area where the Lockheed Hudson V9127 crashed, killing the crew of four.

“I already have a couple more locations lined up, now this memorial is in place,” said Adrian.

Since setting up this project last May, Adrian has given talks and presentations to local groups to raise awareness of it, and funds, to help get the first memorial dedicated.

Explaining more about the dedication to the crew of Lockheed Hudson V9127 and the plane crash that ended four young lives, Adrian said: “On 10 February 1942 it was on a test flight from RAF Honeybourne in Gloucestershire. As it came back inland over Aberystwyth, it flew up the Rheidol valley, where the weather got worse. Some reports say it was struck by lightning. The aircraft crashed on the farm, opposite the entrance to Bwlch Nant yr Arian.

“Following the crash, Harker and Hodgson were returned home to Yorkshire, however Anderson and Duncan were laid to rest in Plascrug cemetery, Aberystwyth.”

Adrian managed to track down the family of three of the men - Gordon Duncan has no surviving family - and, on 16 May at 11am, a service and memorial unveiling to the air crash took place.

“The turn out was incredible, with 561 (Ardwyn, Aberystwyth & District) Squadron Air Cadets, the Air Officer for Wales - Air Commodore Rob Woods, MP Ben Lake, and many others in attendance,” said Adrian.

“Most incredibly, we were joined by Janet Stockdale, the daughter of Sergeant John Harker. It was an honour to have her there.

“Following the service, we went for refreshments at the Red Kite Cafe where I had a display about the aircraft, the men, and the Mid Wales Memorial Project.

“We then went to Plascrug cemetery for a short service at the graveside of F/O David Anderson and F/Sgt Gordon Duncan.”

Adrian would like to thank James Memorials Ltd, Epic Militaria Ltd, 561 Squadron Air Cadets, the Red Kite Cafe, the Rotary Club Aberystwyth, the farmer, Dai, who owns the land the memorial is on, Ponterwyd BP garage, Reverend Nia Williams who led the service and came from 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and everyone else who has supported him throughout the last year.

Adrian’s next project will be to mark the crash site of a Hawker Hunter XJ635, which came down at Moriah, taking the life of Flying Officer Winton Irvine in May 1976.

People can follow Adrian’s progress on his Facebook page - Mid Wales Memorial Project. If anyone would like to contact him with information or to request a presentation to a group, can also reach out to him.