In the heart of the Norfolk countryside stands a quaint little church with a round turret. Standing proud on top of a hill just outside the nearby village, the church holds a rare and unique collection of war records.
RAF Little Snoring (Trail 22) was home to a number of squadrons including the rare Bristol Hercules engined Lancaster IIs of both 1678 HCU and 115 Sqn and latterly units of 100 Group flying amongst others, the DH Mosquito.
At the end of the war the airfield was closed down, used primarily as a storage site for surplus aircraft prior to scrapping.
Many of the buildings were pulled down and runways dug up returning the site to its primary use of agriculture. Whilst a small section survived along with two hangars and a now derelict control tower, the church has become the holder of a rare collection.
In the Officers Mess of Little Snoring were four boards painstakingly hand painted by L.a.c Douglas Higgins of 23 Squadron between 1944 and 1945, on which the ‘Kills’ of the squadrons were recorded for prosperity. Never intended to be more than a trophy board, they have now become a unique ‘diary’ of the events that took place in the latter part of the Second World War.
The four boards stand on the back wall of the church and were rescued by a local villager (Mrs E. Whitehead the church warden) on demolition of the officers mess. The two to the left, list the ‘victories’ and the two to the right the squadron honours.The first victory is listed as “30.1.44, 169 Sqn, S/L Cooper. F/Lt Connolly. Brandenburg Area. Me 110 destroyed”. The final entry shows eight unidentified aircraft as ‘damaged’ by F/Lt Davis and F.O. Cronin of 515 Sqn over the Kaufbeurin Airfield on the 24th, April 1945.
Perhaps one of the most interesting entries is that of 20th, March 1945 when the Station Browning Battery of RAF Little Snoring damaged an attacking Ju 88 on an intruder mission.A range of aircraft appear on the boards including: Do 217, Me 109, Me 110s, Me 262s, Ju 88s, Ju 52s, Fw 190s and Heinkel’s 111 and larger 177 bombers. Many of the latter entries being for action over enemy airfields toward the closing months of the war.
The honours boards go back slightly earlier. The first 13 entires go to 115 Sqn for a range of honours including the:DFM, DFC and DSO, which began on August 1943 when Sergeant Rosonbloom was awarded the DFM.The final entry is a mention in despatches for L.a.c , G.E. Harper, in September 1944.
Next to the boards is a moving and thoughtful poem written by L.a.c. S. Ruffle on his return to Little Snoring post war. He tells the tale of the airfield through his eyes and about his wartime friend, creater of the board, Douglas Higgins, even referring to the boards in his poem.
These boards stand as a reminder of both the many brave actions of crews and the airfield defence staff, they are a permanent record of action from a small airfield tucked away in the Norfolk countryside.
Pingback: Douglas Higgins – RAF 23 Squadron
If you visit the church again, you might want to visit the grave of Lucy Hoare, who served as a WAAF, at LIttle Snoring, and who was married to Group Captain Bertie ‘Sammy’ Hoare the base Commander. Her grave is in the north corner of the churchyard, overlooking the airfield. A lovey spot.
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Thank you John. I’ll look out for it next time I’m that way. It certainly is a lovely place.
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Thanks a lot for this. I don’t know how many times I have driven past this village on the way to Cley to birdwatch, but didn’t know what treasures were inside.
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It really is a fabulous little place. Worth dropping into next time you are passing.
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This is a wonderful memorial and I shall visit the church to pay my respects.
I am looking for info on 23 Squadron and Flt Lt Robert (Bob) Henry Williamson, whose last mission was on 23 November 1942, from RAF Bradwell Bay; a fatal night mission over Cognac, France, where his Mosquito was shot down, with the loss of two lives, Bob, and his Navigator.
I would be grateful for any info on my late mother’s husband, whom I never met. Thank you.
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Thank You for the comment. I shall look into it for you and see if I can turn anything up. Do you have any further information, s/n, date of birth etc. may take a little while but I’ll certainly dig for you. It would be my pleasure.
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I have came across that story. Maybe it’s on my 23 squadron blog.
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Hi David,
I have found out that RH Williamson s/n 62691 flew with an observer Norman Adin Lavers s/n 116968 in a Mosquito II on a sortie to Ford. They were part of a 3 ship formation and due to bad weather split up to attack different targets. Williamson sadly never made it home. They were both declared killed on 28th November 1942. Williamson is buried in Cognac (Crouin) Communal Cemetery Row 1 Grave 2, his observer, Lavers is in the adjacent plot Row 1 Grave 1.
Lavers was the Son of Arthur Hamilton Lavers and Lottie Lavers, of Dorking, Surrey.
There is a 23 Squadron Blog which may have further details it is written by Pierre Lagace, you can see the log entry here. https://no23squadron.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/26-november-1942-redux/
I hope this is of help to you.
Kindest regards
Andy
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Its amazing that on the eve of the end of the war the Luftwaffe were still putting aircraft over the UK
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Last ditch efforts to break morale or a token gesture perhaps.
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I am ecstatic here…
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I thought you would like it.
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Reblogged this on RAF 23 Squadron and commented:
RAF Little Snoring – Honours and Awards
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Thank you Pierre.
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I am the one to thank you. These images are perfect.
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They were difficult to get as they were so shiny, but an amazing record.
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These are perfect.
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115 Sqn RAF was based there also in 1943 🙂
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They were indeed. Flying Lancaster MK IIs with the Bristol Hercules engine.
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