Royal Air Force Martlesham Heath

16th January 1917 - 10th April 1963

Roll of Honour

If I climb up into Heaven, Thou art there;
If I go to Hell, Thou art there also.
If I take the wings of the morning
And remain in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there also shall Thy hand lead me;
And Thy right hand shall hold me.

                                                                  139^th Psalm

   Visitors to the present day Martlesham Heath will find a pleasant well established, lively and modern village uniquely combining the practicality of the new with the tranquillity and attraction of the old. The prominent British Telecom complex has towered over its surroundings for almost forty years now and has become an established landmark for a second generation. Another important, and long established building complex was highlighted recently when the tragic murders in Ipswich brought the worlds media and associated attention to the sizable Suffolk police Headquarters located in a forested, and previously peaceful, corner of the hamlet. The highly successful and ever regenerating Industrial estate and the myriad of social facilities are ever evolving and improving. One could easily be forgiven for wondering quite what Martlesham Heath would have been like had the extensive development and expansion not taken place on this apparently remote part of Suffolk heath land during the last three decades of the last millennium.

   Remote heath land it may well have once been…. but before one vital incarnation between 1917 and 1963! The story of the former Royal Air Force establishment is complex and detailed and a subject of its own. The history of what was once arguably the country’s most important and prominent war and peacetime Royal Air Force Station is comprehensively detailed in the book “Martlesham Heath” by the local author Gordon Kinsey and published by Terence Dalton Limited. This highly recommended read explains in comprehensive and fascinating detail the transition from desolate Gorse land through its illustrious history to the basis of what now occupies the area. I would wholeheartedly encourage any visitor to this site to read a copy, it is both an excellent read and will provide the reader with a significantly enhanced understanding of the context of this site.

   Experimental and developmental work has always been a hazardous business without which we would not enjoy some of the systems and equipment that make life in the 21^st century a safer and more enjoyable place. Many of the technological advances in the field of aviation began life at Martlesham Heath but often they came at a huge human cost. The work of the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), and the subsequent post war incarnations, resulted in huge technological advances but sadly the secretive nature ensured that many of the brave pioneers who sacrificed their own lives were seldom recognized.

   As with the remainder of the country the dark clouds of war consumed the Suffolk countryside in the Autumn of 1939. The shadows cast equally ominously across the gorse and bracken of the heath and the prudent, and timely, relocation of the A&AEE to Boscome Down saw the temporary cessation of the dangerous experimental work on the heath. Unfortunately the lives saved in that field were once again sadly lost many times over during the next six atrocious years of war by the brave men of many nations who flew from Martlesham Heath.

So why set up this site?

   As a keen amateur historian and someone who spent his most formative childhood years at Martlesham Heath the significant events that happened here are in no way lost on me. My long standing interest has never really ever been with the materialistic side of history but rather the human effect. Mans spirit is a complex and diverse thing and the way we have all evolved and developed as a direct result of the major feats and traumatic experiences our forefathers underwent I find fascinating.

   Martlesham Heath has since developed into a very successful place both residentially and commercially but how much of what happened here is known by those who live and work in and around the village? What of all the young lives tragically cut short. What of all those predecessors whose last steps were taken on this very heath. Time heals many wounds but it also often weakens the memory. Whilst we should always look to the future it is important to take the odd look over our shoulder.

   As a serving regular soldier I have witnessed at first hand the misrepresentation of several comrades killed both on operations and at home. They, like their predecessors at Martlesham Heath, left behind parents, wives and children and other family and friends. They were all individuals with personalities in exactly the same way all those who died at, or from, Martlesham Heath all those years ago did.

   I also know how rewarding it is to see the names of those no longer with us acknowledged and published. I found it quite incomprehensible that nobody before had taken on the task of investigating those names and putting them into some type of format. Although many of those killed at Martlesham Heath are commemorated in their home towns and other memorials I feel it is right they they also be listed in the very place their lives were so tragically cut short. It has been a huge undertaking and will continue to be so but in the context of their loss and sacrifice I consider it a huge honour to be the person to finally address this emotive issue.

   Since this site was established several people have asked one very good question. Why have the names of those who were not from Martlesham or even based at Martlesham Heath been included? Clearly it is a traditionally accepted concept that a war memorial commemorates only those from the place at which the monument stands regardless of where they actually lost their lives.

   This project is different, and purposely so. Many of the names are also inscribed on other Rolls of Honour and war memorials throughout this country and overseas and this is only right. With this traditional method they are remembered by those who knew them, those who grew up with them and had some personal connection. This project allows them to be remembered at, or from, the very place they actually carried out their fateful deeds by a section of people in whose name they were done.

Aim

   To establish a detailed Roll of Honour, complementing that already published for the 356th Fighter Group, listing the names of all British, Commonwealth, Dominion and allied servicemen killed (Within specified criteria) at, over or operating from Royal Air Force Martlesham Heath between the 16th January 1917 and the 10th April 1963.

Intent

1.   To produce an officially recognized book of remembrance to be presented to, and laid up in, St. Michael and all angels church, Martlesham Heath alongside the book already held for the 356^th Fighter Group.

2.   To present a formal Roll of Honour to the Martlesham Heath Aviation Society in order that it be archived, and freely available, for future generations.

3.   To maintain and continually update a web site dedicated to all servicemen and civilians who gave their lives whilst operating at, over or from RAF Martlesham Heath.

   In order to provide some clarity it has been necessary to establish firm criteria for inclusion in the Roll of Honour. These are laid down as follows.

I have included:

• All personnel killed operating at, over or in the immediate vicinity of RAF Martlesham Heath between the 16th of January 1917 and the 10th of April 1963 regardless of Service or unit.
• Crews of stricken aircraft making an emergency approach and crashing in the immediate vicinity of the airfield.
• Personnel held on the strength of either a formed permanent unit or temporary attachment based at RAF Martlesham Heath and killed elsewhere whilst on operations directly from RAF Martlesham Heath.
• All those, regardless of normal duty station, killed whilst on duty having left Martlesham Heath as their last ground station.
• All Air and Ground crew killed whilst employed on operational, experimental, testing, maintenance and/or other official or service related duties at RAF Martlesham Heath.
• Civilian personnel killed whilst employed on official government, war or experimental duties at, near or directly from RAF Martlesham Heath.

* 356th Personnel already listed on the memorial are commemorated on a separate page within this site.

I have not included:

• Crews of stricken aircraft attempting an emergency approach to RAF Martlesham Heath, and crashing outside of the local area.
• Incidences of death by natural causes.
• Road traffic and non service related accidents inside or outside the RAF Martlesham Heath boundary.
• Incidents or accidents not directly attributed to the aviation based work of the station.

   I would like to state quite clearly that despite the lengthy groundwork already undertaken this Roll of honour is very much a work in progress, with, regrettably, no guarantee it will ever be complete. All names and details included have been gathered from Operational records, official documents, reputable web sites, published books and other reliable sources. I have gone to great lengths to ensure accuracy of information and those included have been verified “beyond reasonable doubt”. This site has been published earlier than originally anticipated in the hope that information may be gathered from readers.

   At this stage there is still a lot of data to input and invariably more will follow with subsequent research. Many of the details appear scant but please rest assured that, in due course, this will be addressed. Capability limitations dictate that not all information will be published on this site. A full and comprehensive database has been established to record all data and is freely available to anybody who wishes to access any of the information.

   I have seen inaccurate entries of lost comrades on other web sites and am highly sensitive to the sheer gravity of “getting it right”. I would therefore wish to emphasise that any upset caused whatsoever by any omissions or inaccuracies is entirely unintentional and I apologise unreservedly in advance if any offence is taken. If any reader should, however, take exception or can provide clarity or information they are invited to contact me through the comments page on this site and I would be pleased to redress the situation.

  “ This site is dedicated to the memory of the One Hundred and Eighty Seven Airmen of all allied nations who made the ultimate sacrifice as the result of enemy action or accident whilst serving at, over or from Royal Air Force Martlesham Heath.”

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain.
 

Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943)

The Martlesham Heath Roll of Honour Project has been established, and is continually managed and maintained,

by Rob Drake August 2008

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