Monday 9th January 2023
Memorial Service For An Old Stamfordian
Wednesday 25 November 1942 started off as any other for Old Stamfordian, Windsor Webb (OS 39), and his crewmates in 207 Squadron. The eight airmen, from Britain, Canada and USA woke up that morning at RAF Langar, 12 miles away from Nottingham and breakfasted, then received the news that would change their lives: they were to fly out on a mission later that day.
These men were, in alphabetical order:
- James McGregor Allan (Ontario, Canada)
- Eugene Edward Chouniere (New York, USA)
- John James Gallimore (Manchester, UK)
- James Louis Guichard (Michigan, USA)
- Alfred Joseph Parkyn (New Jersey, USA)
- Jack Slater (Cheshire, UK)
- William John Vandervoort (Vancouver, Canada)
- William Francis Richard Webb (Peterborough, UK)
This was the crew of 207 Squadron Lancaster Bomber R5695 EM-C, call sign 'C for Charlie'. They took off from RAF Langar at 15:04 on 25 November 1942 on a bombing raid to Haselünne, Germany. They never reached their target, disappearing on the way. For many years it was believed they were shot down over Germany, indeed a memorial for Windsor Webb here at the Schools says he was shot down near Bremen.
Windsor attended Stamford School between 1937 – 1939 after arriving from The King’s (The Cathedral) School, Peterborough. He then joined the Berkshire Constabulary, and representatives from all three of these organizations attended the memorial service. Windsor signed up to the RAF Volunteer Reserve as air gunner in February 1942, joining 207 Squadron later that year.
The disappearance of the bomber and the crew caused immense grief to Windsor’s family, as well as the families of the other airmen. Many relatives both in the UK and abroad searched for clues as to what happened to the plane, with one theory coming from Windsor’s family that the plane was actually returning from Germany when it was hit by friendly fire after being mistaken for a German plane.
Over recent years, the families of Windsor and his fellow crew members worked with an American research group, accessing RAF records in the UK National Archive along with Luftwaffe records from the Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archives), discovering the truth of what happened to the crew of ‘C for Charlie’.
After taking off at RAF Langar, the plane flew out across the North Sea, heading towards Germany when a German Luftwaffe fighter shot the plane down off the coast of the Netherlands.
Eighty years later to the day, a memorial service was held in their honour.
The service, held on Friday 25 November 2022, saw family members from the entire crew, travelling from all over the world, come together with representatives from the RAF, the Canadian RAF and the Thames Valley Police, amongst others, to pay their respects to the airmen.
To kick off proceedings there was a flypast by two F35 Lightnings from the current 207 Squadron, based at RAF Marham, whose appearance in the sky was a fitting tribute to the airmen who lost their lives.
The ceremony began in the original control tower of RAF Langar, still in use today as a skydiving club, where a presentation was given by a local historian about the history of the site. This was followed by the first section of the service, to remember and give thanks to the crew of C for Charlie 207 Squadron. The service was carefully scheduled to begin at exactly 15:04, precisely 80 years to the day when the Lancaster took to the skies on the ill-fated mission.
The ceremony moved to the war memorial on the airbase, where the Last Post rang out to begin a minute’s silence, followed by the laying of wreaths and tributes from family members and various organisations.
To conclude the ceremony, Bill Webb, Windsor's first cousin once removed, along with family members from the other crew, was presented with a Bomber Command Clasp. This is granted to aircrew of who served for at least sixty days, completed a tour of operations, or to those members of Bomber Command aircrew who did not meet the qualifying criteria due to service being brought to an end by death, wounds or other disability.
The Schools’ representative was Dale Harrison (OS 03), Digital Marketing & Development Officer here at Stamford, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Schools and the Old Stamfordian community. He said of the ceremony: "it is humbling to be part of this incredible event, and to witness the families of these eight crew members together in the same room, 80 years after the event, is extremely emotional. I am proud and honoured to have represented the School and to ensure the story of Windsor Webb and his fellow crew will not be forgotten."
A video of the day's events can be viewed here