{Preface}

My name is Nicholas Charles Pearson Tarr. I was born on the 21st March 1965 and I am one of 11 Grandchildren to our Grandfather “Fredrick Bertram Pearson” or Fred, as he was known. I have always wanted to research the history behind my Grandfather, especially his heroics in rescuing two crew from the Short Stirling MG-V W7445 of No. 7 Squadron that crashed upon take o. I am proud to be able to record by way of the written word those who were involved, the photographs, the records of Squadron operations, the letters and historic facts that helped complete the story.

My mother, Valerie Irene Tarr, nee Pearson and known as Vicky was born on 29th August 1940. The surname “Pearson” was included in my name to allow her family name to continue through one more generation, as my Grandfather had four daughters and no sons. It’s a unique and special link back to my Grandfather.

I wish to thank both my mother, Vicky and my cousin Ashley Maylin for sharing photographs and photocopies of the original documentation that have enabled me to provide the details in this memoir. And also thank you to my partner Theresa Glover for her patience, time and assistance in getting that print type right!

I dedicate this memoir to my three adult children, Georgina Christie (née Tarr), Emily Tarr and Sebastian Tarr, so that they have preserved memories of their Great Grandfather and also to my Sister Elizabeth Tarr.

And finally I dedicate this memoir to all who flew in Short Stirlings during WWII and sacrificed their lives so that we can live the lives that we do today.

Table of contents

Preface............................................................................................................................................................................ 1

Table of contents........................................................................................................................................................2

Introduction................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Fredrick Bertram Pearson and why was he awarded the British Empire Medal?...................... 4

Pages 5 to 13 – A brief history of the Short Stirling S.29 and Short Stirling MG-V W7445, its crew, letters, records and the crash site.................................................................... 5

Local Geography – R.A.F. Oakington and Westwick relative to City of Cambridge............................................................................................................................14

Local Geography – R.A.F. Oakington, the runway layout and the site of the crash................................................................................................................................................15

Local Geography – Westwick Farm, the flight line and the site of the crash...................................................................................................................................... 16

Pages 17 to 26 details my Grandfather’s British Empire Medal, the Citation and letters of acknowledgement...........................................................................................17

Brief history of RAF Oakington and No. 7 Squadron............................................................................. 27

The Royal Observer Corp – Frederick Bertram Pearson B.E.M..........................................................28

Fenland Wildfowlers Association reference to my Grandfather’s B.E.M.......................................29

Paul Oakley article page 1 – Fenland Wildfowlers Association reference to Fredrick Bertram Pearson B.E.M...................................................................................................................... 31

Paul Oakley article page 2 – Fenland Wildfowlers Association reference to
Fredrick Bertram Pearson B.E.M...................................................................................................................... 32

Appendices................................................................................................................................................................. 33

Introduction

Ever wondered what happened to one of your relatives, what was that heroic act that they were involved in, who else was impacted, where in our history does the event have a place, what factual notes, letters, photographs, videos and modern day internet content is there that will add more detail to the story?

Well, that’s why I was so focused and keen to document Fredrick Bertram Pearsons actions that lead to him being awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil). My intention that I hope to have achieved, is to provide you the reader with an insight into my Grandfather, the crew of Short Stirling MG-V W7445, the crash and events that unfolded on that fateful night of Sunday 15th November 1941. Throughout this memoir I will refer to Fredrick Bertram Pearson as my Grandfather.

The memoir is about the Short Stirling MG-V W7445 that eventually came to rest after just missing my Grandfather’s farm house at Westwick Farm, Westwick, with the wing then clipping another house close by, leading to the Stirling crashing into the Orchard field on the opposite side of the road to the farm house. The two aircrew that my Grandfather rescued were Sgt A.J. Ansell R.A.F. and Sgt W.D. Topping and there is a wonderful library of letters from Sgt Ansell and his father to my Grandfather.

In researching the history that’s informed this memoir I was able to use the documents and photographs from my family’s archive, to investigate the history behind the Short Stirling Heavy Bomber and specifically Short Stirling MG-V W7445, that crashed upon take o
and also its brave crew.

This memoir uses records of letters, paper cuttings, photographs and references about both my Grandfather and other key events. There are details of my Grandfather’s involvement in the Fenland Wildfowlers Association, primarily because in one of their newsletters there is a reference to my Grandfather’s heroics and to his involvement with the Royal Observer Crew during World War II.

R.A.F. Oakington was the home to No. 7 Squadron that was the first Squadron to take delivery of the Short Stirling Heavy Bomber. In this memoir there is a brief history of R.A.F. Oakington, with maps detailing the original runways, the location of the crash site and key events from the date of the crash through to the awarding of the B.E.M.

Let me leave you to read and absorb as much detail as you wish too. And should you have an enquiring mind, there are a number of website references at the end of the memoir that may be of interest too.

{Why Awarded}

Fredrick Bertram Pearson and why was he awarded the British Empire Medal?

The paper cutting dated Saturday, March 28, 1942 opposite reads as follows:

Daring Rescue of Crashed Airmen B.E.M. FOR CAMBS. MAN “Bombed Up” Plane

The British Empire Medal (Civil Division) has been conferred on Mr Fredrick Bertram Pearson, farmer of Westwick Hall Farm, Oakington, for the courage and determination he showed in saving the lives of two airmen when their machine crashed and caught fire.

The plane which was “bombed up,” narrowly
missed Mr. Pearson’s house, crashed through his garden and landed in an adjoining field, where it burst into flames.

CARRIED CLEAR

Rushing to the spot, Mr. Pearson found one man trying to pull another more seriously injured from the burning wreckage. With great coolness Mr. Pearson cut o the harness of the badly injured man and carried him clear of the flames on his back, giving
a hand to the other man at the same time.

While he was doing this the heat was discharging bullets and the bombs were liable to explode – a fact of which he was well aware.

“I was first on the spot. There was a job to be done,” was all Mr. Pearson would say about his experience
to our representative.

Two horticultural workers from Oakington,
Wilfrid Josiah Brickwood and Edward Jabez Smith, have also received commendations for their share in the rescue.

{History Short Stirling}

 A brief history of the Short Stirling S.29 and Short Stirling MG-V W7445, its crew, letters, records and the crash site

The Short Stirling S.29 Heavy Bomber:

The Short Stirling S.29 was the outcome of a 1935 British Government Tender for a
Heavy Bomber that saw two companies eventually competing for the business, these being Supermarine and The Short Brothers. Supermarine were hampered by two events.
Firstly, their manufacturing and prototype bomber development plant was bombed by
the Germans taking out all of the development work and prototypes. Secondly, the manufacturing demands of the Spitfire took precedence. The Short Brothers Short Stirling S.29 then became the main option at that time and due to the urgency to have a
Heavy Bomber available in 1940 and 1941 an order of 200 was increased to 1,500.

In August 1940 the R.A.F. No. 7 Squadron was reformed and started to take delivery of the MK 1 Short Stirling and specifically the Short Stirling MG-V W7445 that was to crash upon take o on Sunday 15th November 1941 as part of a five plane attack on Kiel, Germany. This crash led to my Grandfather’s involvement in the rescue of two of the aircrew.

The Crew of Short Stirling MG-V, W7445:

I have endeavoured to research the details of the crew and have been successful with certain members and will continue to look for further details to add to this memoir. Here are their details to date.

● Sergeant Ian Hamish Hunter (Pilot) R.N.Z.A.F. Service Number NZ403549, son of Alexander Hunter and Vivia Hunter (nee-Dingle), of Hawera, Taranaki, New Zealand. Sergeant Hunter died on Monday 16th November 1941, from injuries sustained from the crash and he's buried at the Cambridge City Cemetery. See page 33 for more details on Sgt Hunter.

The crew continued

• ●  Sergeant Arthur Charles Bennett (Second Pilot) Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) Service Number 402217, son of William Hastings Bennett and Hilda Bennett,
  Husband of Gwendoline Robinna Bennet of Binda, New South Wales, Australia. Sergeant Bennett died on Sunday 15th November 1941 from injuries sustained from the crash, aged 28 and he’s buried at Cambridge City Cemetery. See page 33 for more details on Sgt Bennett.

• ●  Rescued by Fredrick Pearson Sergeant A.J. Ansell (Rear Gunner, see reference to “the end of Stirling V” in the last page of the letter from Sgt. Ansell on page 13).

• ●  Rescued by Fredrick Pearson Sergeant W.D. Topping

• ●  Sergeant W. Helliwell – Engineer

• ●  Sergeant T. Bentham

• ●  Sergeant W.P. Hudson

{Operations Record Book 2nd-30th November 1941}

The below records the sorties of No. 7 Squadron and specifically, the entry dated Sunday 15th November and the reference to Stirling MG-V.

Operations Record Book continued

{Letters}

Letter from Sgt Ansell’s Father

This is a letter of deep thanks and gratitude from Sgt Ansell’s Father to my Grandfather.
See the transcript of this original letter below on the opposite page to make for easier reading.

Transcript of the letter on page 9 dated 5th December 1941 from Sgt Ansell’s Father C.T. Ansell to my Grandfather that reads

Dear Mr. Pearson,

At last I am able to write to thank you for all you did for my son Sgt. A.J. Ansell on the night of the 15th November (1941) when his plane crashed. My wife and I went to see him in Ely Hospital on the 21st November and he told us a little about it and that you had been recommended for the George Medal (or Cross) he was not sure which; we sincerely hope that you will be awarded it. Perhaps you will be kind enough to let us know if the recommendation has been approved yet as I want to put a suitable piece in our local paper about it all. Perhaps you can give us details of what happened and what you did, please tell us all you can. We feel sure that you did a lot for him at your own risk and in a letter it is a job to express our gratitude. If it was not so far we would come and thank you in person but I am afraid that is out of the question, but when Tony is able to come and thank you himself I am sure he will do so.

We had a few lines from him on Tuesday and he says his leg is broken in four places and also a bone in his wrist and fingers of left hand. The Doctor told him he will be in bed for at least six months if everything goes on satisfactorily, so we trust that they will do so for his sake. He says he feels like a “Wild Bird in a Cage”.

He told us you are over 60 years of age, perhaps you would tell us your age! As I should like to mention in our paper.

It was a greater credit to you at such an age to do what you did. Once more thanking you to the bottom of my heart.
Yrs very truly,
C.T. Ansell.

P.T.O. (see below)

Second Letter from Sgt Ansell’s Father

This letter of deep thanks and gratitude is from Sgt Ansell’s Father to my Grandfather.

See the transcript of this original letter below on the opposite page to make for easier reading.

Transcript of the letter on page 11 dated 7th April 1942 from Sgt Ansell’s Father C.T. Ansell to my Grandfather that reads

Dear Mr & Ms Pearson,

We were ever so pleased to receive your letter of the 30th & cutting for which we thank you, it arrived on April 2nd & Tony went back to Ely on the 1st (hence the delay in me not replying before) as I wanted to let you know the latest news of him.

First, we are delighted to know that Mr Pearson has been awarded the B.E.M. & we congratulate him very much indeed. Very sorry we did not hear him broadcast, we switched o 3 minutes too soon. (Tony actually did). We soon had friends telling us & phoning up about it, as I had told the name F.B. Pearson. We were all very disappointed missing it. On hearing from Tony this morning I sent him the cutting by next post. We have had him home on sick leave twice, 2 days each time. The first time he went back he was very confident the leg had joined up & was doing well, but sorry to say he was wrong. When he got back they took o the plaster & to his amazement & disappointment the leg dropped down. The surgeon said that he rather expected it as had to take so much bone away when it was smashed & what was left had gone hard at the ends. Now they are going to have to graft from his other leg, it means two operations & we can only pray it will be successful as if not it means amputating below the knee.

I expect the reason the Padre did not know what had happened to him was, he went to Littleport Convalescent Hospital for a time before returning to Ely. If you are ever that way he will be delighted to see you again I am sure, he is No.2 ward now.

Once again thanking you for all your kindness to him & us. I am yours very truly
C.T. Ansell

Letter from Sgt. A.J. Ansell to my Grandfather

Letter from Sgt. A.J. Ansell to my Grandfather, dated 15th April 1942 and it reads as follows:

Page 1
Sgt Ansell, “Syringa” Ockley, Surrey. Dear Mr Pearson,

Your writing to me means something that must be delayed as long as possible.

Several times I’ve intended to write to you. But a card school or of snooker always.

Seems to .......... ........ Just as the working misinformation .......... . Now that I’m once again at home with work to do and pressing your address I’m making this masterful eort with the help of an almost completely clogged pen.

First I must oer (pg. 3) my congratulations to you well deserved of the O.B.E. (note from author it is the B.E.M. and not the O.B.E.) not forgetting that if you had been an ocer or airmen it would have been the G.C. (George Cross). May the good work continue but lets hope that crashing flames will in the future choose a spot a little further away from your house. Both Topping and I have several operations to go through shortly. It is a long job but have reason to believe that it will end in a good job. Come what may, but for you I should now be in a place warmer than the end of Stirling V- Victory.

Sincerely Yours, Anthony. G. Ansell

Local Geography – R.A.F. Oakington and Westwick relative to City of Cambridge

In order to assist readers with the whereabouts of both R.A.F. Oakington and the actual crash site that was very close to my Grandfather’s farm house, Westwick Farm.
Please reference the maps on this page and pages 15 and 16.

{Maps}

Map 1:

R.A.F. Oakington was based North East of the City of Cambridge, County of Cambridgeshire, England where both Sergeant Pilots Hunter and Bennett were laid to rest at Cambridge City Cemetery. See Map 1 below for the relative location of both R.A.F. Oakington and the crash site at Westwick to the City of Cambridge.

Local Geography – R.A.F. Oakington, the runway layout and the site of the crash

Map 2:

Details the orientation of the three runways and identifies the West to East runway
(red arrow) that Stirling MG-V attempted to take o from. And Westwick where the crash occurred (orange dot). You’ll see that the runaway configuration is that of a Triangle to allow take o into the wind to be achieved as often as possible. In November 1941 the West to East runway may not have been completed, therefore they were grass runways and that may have contributed to issues with take o. Early Stirlings also suered from under carriage failures, with a number failing upon take off.

Local Geography – Westwick Farm, the flight line and the site of the crash

Map 3:

This details the location of the crash site close to my Grandfather’s farm house at Westwick Farm, Westwick.

{Medals}

Details my Grandfather’s British Empire Medal, the Citation and letters of acknowledgement

British Empire Medal Defence Medal Home Secretary’s note (Civil) World War II regarding the Defence Medal

British Empire Medal, the Citation

Letter dated 29th November 1941 from the Group Captain, R.A.F. Station, Oakington

Letter dated 28th November 1941 from Will Spear of the Eastern Region Civil Defence recognising my Grandfather’s bravery

Letter dated 28th March 1942 from the Group Captain, R.A.F. Station, Oakington regarding the award of the B.E.M.

Letter dated a Monday in March 1942 from the Ocers’ Mess, R.A.F. Oakington

Letter dated 26th March 1942 from the Under Secretary of State

British Broadcasting Company (BBC) letter dated 28th March 1942, regarding recorded interview that was broadcast on National Radio

The London Gazette page 1, dated Tuesday the 24th March 1942, referring to appointments made on Friday 27th March 1942.

The London Gazette page 2, see highlighted reference to “Farmer, Frederick Bertram Pearson” and award of the B.E.M. (Civil).

{R.A.F. Oakington and No. 7 Squadron}

Brief history of R.A.F. Oakington and No. 7 Squadron

R.A.F. Oakington opened in 1940 and closed in 1975. The construction of R.A.F. Oakington took place from the summer of 1939 until October 1940 and it became operational on the
1st July 1940. This was one of a number of new airfields commissioned by the government in the late 1930s in the build-up to the Second World War as conflict with Germany became an increasing possibility. Being close to Oakington railway station, Oakington was chosen as the site for R.A.F. Oakington as it was easier for both personnel and supplies to be moved to and from there.

The first Squadron to arrive was No. 218 Squadron and although construction was far from finished at that point, No. 7 Squadron took delivery of the first two Short Stirlings on
29th October 1940. The grass runways were not suitable for Heavy Bombers such as the Stirling, as they became bogged down in the grass, this was problematic until concrete runways were completed. No. 7 Squadron flew Short Stirlings on bombing missions until the Stirlings were replaced by the Lancaster Bomber from late 1942 to 1943, with the Stirlings going on to become part of the Pathfinder Force, guiding bombers to their targets for the remainder of the war. For more details on the history of No.7 Squadron and R.A.F. Oakington please see the links on page 33.

Map - R.A.F. Oakington

The Royal Observer Corp – Frederick Bertram Pearson B.E.M.

Fenland Wildfowlers Association reference to my Grandfather’s B.E.M.

The article, written by Paul Oakley, on pages 31 and 32 are about my Grandfather and his B.E.M. and exploits regarding the possible shooting down of two German Junkers JU88 Fighter Bombers whilst a member of the Royal Observer Corp (as detailed on page 33). Whilst a Farmer and active member in the Royal Observer Corp, he would have seen many sights and sounds with the farm being positioned at the end of the West to East runway as detailed on page 15.

My Grandfather was the Chairman of the Fenland WildFowlers Association (FWA) from its inauguration in 1952 and a number of years after. This paragraph is taken from the FWA “About Us” web page. “Pre-eminent among the founders was the late Fred Pearson B.E.M., who for many years was the Chairman and later President, and who guided the Fenland Wildfowlers Association to become one of the best known and most professional clubs in the Country.” Please see the links on page 33 for further details.

Fenland Wildfowlers Association Badges – Current and originalï

The original FWA line up, my Grandfather second in from the right of the bottom row

An Association dinner, date unknown

Grandfather left row, 4th back. Granny centre front, 1967 Club Dinner

“Without their usual waders and guns, members and guests
of the Fenland Wildfowlers’ Association are enjoying themselves at the Association’s 14th Annual dinner held at the White Lion Hotel, Wisbeach, on Saturday”.

Paul Oakley article page 1 - Fenland Wildfowlers Association reference to Fredrick Bertram Pearson B.E.M.

Paul Oakley article page 2 - Fenland Wildfowlers Association reference to Fredrick Bertram Pearson B.E.M.

{Appendices}

Crew

• ●  Sergeant Ian Hamish Hunter (Pilot) Royal New Zealand Airforce (R.N.Z.A.F.) weblinks -

  • ○  www.findagrave.com/memorial/32378975/ian-hamish-hunter

  • ○  www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=83370

  • ○  www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C25804#about

  • ○  www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/ian-hamish-hunter

• ●  Sergeant Arthur Charles Bennett (Second Pilot) Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) weblinks -

  • ○  www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/

  • ○  www.aussietowns.com.au/town/binda-nsw

  • ○  www.findagrave.com/memorial/

• ●  Sergeant Anthony J. Ansell’s Nephew’s Building company weblink -

○ www.cansellandsons.co.uk/

Short Stirling reference sites

• ●  Short Stirling Aircraft Society weblink - stirlingaircraftsociety.org/forum/

• ●  Short Stirling Forum weblink - www.airvectors.net/avstrlg.html

• ●  Wikipedia Shorts Brothers History weblink - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Brothers

• ●  138 Images of Short Stirlings weblink - www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/uk/raf/short-sti

• ●  Pathfinder Operations 1944 – No. 7 Squadron weblink -

  masterbombercraig.wordpress.com/bombing-ope

  R.A.F. Oakington

● RAF Oakington History Vol 1 weblink - www.scribd.com/document/188146049/RAF-Oaki

Royal Observer Corp

• ●  The Royal Observer Corp Association weblink - www.rocatwentytwelve.org/national-heritage.html

• ●  Imperial War Museum Royal Observer Corp weblink - www.iwm.org.uk/search/global?query=royal+observer+corp

  Video links

• ●  The Forgotten Four Engine Heavy Bomber web link - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb8akhhn9QQ

• ●  British Pathé – Stirling Bombers First Pictures (1941) - youtu.be/IYgQlmSQKaA?si=BXJsDfaj0P3ihzN

• ●  Youtube Short Stirling Search - www.youtube.com/results?search_q

• ●  British Pathé – DEFENCE: World War II: RAF Stirling bombers loaded up for raid on Ruhr (1941)

  - www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4xM-cdjcMA

  Local history

• ●  Northstowe, the new development on RAF Oakington and a history weblink - www.northstowe.com/content/local-history

• ●  Fenland Wildfowlers Association History weblink - www.fenlandwa.org.uk/gallery/photo-gallery/v

Photograph Plates

• ●  Front cover –

  • ○  Stirling MG-V taken from the British Pathé video Stirling Bombers First Pictures (1941).

    Copyright approval applied for.

  • ○  Crash site – CopyRight ©NickTarr_2023

• ●  Page 1 – Short Stirling, with train in background – Stirling MG-V taken from the British Pathé video. Copyright approval applied for.

• ●  Page 4 – Crash site – CopyRight ©NickTarr_2023.

• ●  Page 5 – Sergeant Hunter photograph and headstone, is from the Auckland Museum Memorial

  online Cenotaph website.

• ●  Page 6 – Sergeant Bennett headstone photograph taken from the Cambridge City Cemetery

  website.

• ●  Pages 7 to 28 – includes photographs of documentation from my family's collection and as such

  are property of the family. (Nick Tarr and Ashley Maylin).

• ●  Page 14 and 16 – use screenshots from Google maps.

• ●  Pages 29 to 32 use photographs and content from the Fenland Wildfowlers Association.

• ●  All websites used to create this memoir are used to create educational content and also as a

  reference for the reader.

Photographic and written content copyright statement

Endeavours have been taken by the author to ensure that all content currently complies with Copyright Law, though there may be content that has no obvious Copyright however a reader believes that there may be a Copyright infringement. If this was to arise then the following is required to provide proof of any potential Copyright infringement:

• ●  The page and content in this Memoir where a Copyright infringement may have occurred.

• ●  Link to a relevant website detailing limited Copyright, that proves beyond doubt that the Copyright

  is correct.

• ●  Your name, address and contact details.

• ●  A declaration that the content that is believed to infringe on a Copyright is not authorised by the

  Copyright holder, their agent or presiding Law and that you act in good faith.

• ●  A declaration by you, that you are the owner of the Copyright or intellectual Property or you have

  written, signed authority to do so on the owners behalf.

• ●  As soon as we have confirmed the Copyright infringement is legitimate we will take endeavours to

  remove that content.

• ●  Note, making Copyright claims against content on or taken from the Public Domain can be viewed as an

  attempt to create revenue under false pretences.

• ●  References to website and resource sites used to create this memoir are detailed in the Appendices and

  Photograph Plate listing.