Pilot Officer G L Edmunds (1917-1940)

On Saturday Mrs G and I visited nearby Netherthorpe Airfield which is just outside the village of Thorpe Salvin.  Currently the home of Sheffield Aero Club, the airfield opened as a civil field in 1935 before being 'occupied' by the RAF in 1940.  And it is this which led to my visit - for the unveiling of a new memorial to Pilot Officer Grosvenor Louis Edmunds who was the 613 Squadron's first officer fatality of WW2.  

On 6 September 1940 his Lysander (P1692) hit an RAF lorry while landing.  The subsequent inquiry allotted part of the blame to the lorry driver's mate for failing to alert the driver to the presence of the aircraft.  P/O Edmunds was 23 years old at the time of his death.

The new sundial memorial.  After the dedication by a local vicar, two trumpeters played the Last Post.  The beginning and end of their playing was marked by very low level passes by one of the club's light aircraft.  Very atmospheric.

The original memorial plaque.

 As well as the usual flock of Cessnas, this pair of oldies was tucked away on a corner of the field.

See the appropriate page of the rather good Rotherham War Memorials' website.

You may recall a previous mention of 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron in the post on my 1/72 Lysander .  In November 1940, 613 Sqn moved to Firbeck (again only a few miles away from me)