The brass plaque honouring Gisborne airman William Seddon Appleby and his two English crewmen, Ernest Hartley Green and Joe Lupton, is mounted within a stone base which stands on moorland in Rhyd Y Felin forest, Wales, where the 1944 flying accident happened. Photos / Rob Evans
The brass plaque honouring Gisborne airman William Seddon Appleby and his two English crewmen, Ernest Hartley Green and Joe Lupton, is mounted within a stone base which stands on moorland in Rhyd Y Felin forest, Wales, where the 1944 flying accident happened. Photos / Rob Evans
A World War II airman from Gisborne, killed along with two others in a flying accident in Wales, has been honoured with the unveiling of a memorial stone.
Sub-Lieutenant William Seddon Appleby, Sub-Lieutenant Ernest Hartley Green and Sub-Lieutenant Joe Lupton from 848 Naval Air Squadron, were flying a FleetAir Arm Grumman Avenger through poor weather and heavy snow between Gosport and Kirkwall on February 3, 1944, when they struck a hillside north of Lake Vyrnwy, killing all three men.
Appleby, 24 at the time of his death, was born on November 19, 1919, in Gisborne to William Ernest and Mary Ionic Appleby (nee Pulley), who lived at Kaiti Beach.
The airman also had a sister named Mary.
Appleby was educated at Central School and Gisborne High School and worked as a postman before enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1941.
The memorial, on moorland at Rhyd Y Felin forest, was unveiled on September 19.
Sub-Lieutenant William Seddon Appleby, 24 at the time of his death, was born on November 19, 1919, in Gisborne. Photo courtesy of Medals Reunited New Zealand
Forest manager Jay Williams arranged for the standing stone to be put in place and organised the event with help from Tim Nicholas, an ex-Fleet Air Arm pilot and instructor at No.1 Flying Training School based at RAF Shawbury.
“My grandfather was a navigator in the Second World War, and it was very important to me to ensure these three young men were not forgotten and ensure the crash site was preserved,” Williams told the Gisborne Herald.
The unveiling service included a wreath-laying ceremony and a flyover from a modern-day Avenger aircraft organised by Nicholas.
“The event really took off and we had around 30 villagers join despite the driving rain,” Williams said.
Commander ‘AJ’ Thompson Royal Navy, of No.1 Flying Training School, took the salute while RAF Shawbury’s Padre, Squadron Leader (Rev) Harrison, blessed the memorial.
Jay Williams second from right, Commander A J Thompson on the right at the unveiling. Photo / Rob Evans
“The bodies of the two other airmen were buried in their home towns, but, as William was a New Zealander, he was buried in a fairly local town – Oswestry," Williams said.
He said Oswestry was fairly close to where he lived, so he and his wife took a wreath to Appleby’s grave.
Sub-Lieutenant William Seddon Appleby was buried in Oswestry. Photo / Jay Williams
“I actually got a little choked up when we found his grave, as it all seems so sad that not even his family would have seen his burial place or the place where he was lost. Immensely sad that he had a fiancee waiting for him.
“I have been to Gisborne myself, a few years back, and it feels a very long way away – it was nice to have seen the place where he grew up, although I didn’t know it at the time.”
A stone memorial for Sub-Lieutenant William Seddon Appleby, Sub-Lieutenant Ernest Hartley Green and Sub-Lieutenant Joe Lupton, was unveiled on September 19 at Rhyd Y Felin forest. Photo / Rob Evans
The forest is owned by Gresham House, which supported Williams and funded the memorial. It is managed by Tilhill Forestry, which provided vehicles and allowed managers from Williams’ office to attend the unveiling.
Thompson said in a statement that it was an honour for him, representing the Royal Navy, to formally recognise the crash site for the first time in 81 years.
“The memorial will be a lasting legacy to the young Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy aircrew who tragically lost their lives here.”
