A memorial stone will be unveiled next month to commemorate seven airmen who died after the RAF bomber they were in crashed yards from a town centre school during the Second World War.

On December 2, 1943, a four-engine Halifax aircraft exploded as it hit an unoccupied bungalow beside Applegarth School on Springwell Lane in Northallerton. 

The plane’s crew had been training to shake off fighters and had taken off from RCAF Croft, near Darlington shortly before.

A Halifax BomberA Halifax Bomber (Image: PA MEDIA) During the crash, four Canadians, two Welshmen and an Irishman, who were all in the plane, lost their lives.

The seven who died in the crash were:

  • Pilot - F/O William John Taylor RCAF (J/24309), aged 25, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
  • Flight Engineer - Sgt William John Morgan RAF (1663229), aged 19, of Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, Wales
  • Navigator - F/Sgt James Murray Beatty RCAF (R/152879), aged 20, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
  • Air Bomber - F/O Donald Cameron Walker RCAF (J/25527), aged 27, of Sault Ste.Marie, Ontario, Canada.
  • Wireless Operator - Sgt Thomas John Skyrme RAFVR (1400888), aged 21, of Ynysybwl, Wales.
  • Air Gunner - Sgt John Owens Winters RAFVR (1796389), aged 19, of Belfast, Ireland.
  • Air Gunner - F/Sgt John Wallace RCAF (R/176389), aged 22, of Lang, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The project to create a memorial stone came after a Remembrance Service in Northallerton in 2023, which saw RAF Leeming Padre Kate refer to the 1943 Halifax bomber, which resonated with the public who attended. 

This was combined with RAF Leeming Station Commander, Group Captain Paul Hamilton, who remarked how there was a stone memorial in his home village in Nottinghamshire, and the memorial project was born.

Applegarth Primary School in NorthallertonApplegarth Primary School in Northallerton (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Alongside the idea, Lynne Cross,  the History Lead at Applegarth Primary School began doing work on the Halifax crash outside the school in 1943, which saw an assembly last December, on the anniversary of the accident, to which they invited the Mayor of Northallerton, Station Commander, RAF Leeming, and various other local VIPs including two ex-Applegarth pupils who were at the school when the Halifax came down.

The project has been supported by Lynne's brother Graeme Garnham, who did some research into the plane crash and the airmen who were killed.

It is hoped that the memorial stone will be unveiled at Applegarth School during a dedication service on December 2 this year.

A Halifax Bomber A Halifax Bomber (Image: ARCHIVE) The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, Ontario, has had a plaque made to commemorate the Canadian members of the crew who lost their lives that day.

There is also the planting of a maple tree with the stone proposed.

The Yorkshire Aircraft Museum at Elvington have also expressed its interest to be involved in the dedication and the Station Commander at RAF Leeming is also closely involved.

A strong RAF input at the service is expected with their padre in attendance.

Recommended reading: 

Get more content including the stories that matter to your community from The Northern Echo for just £5 for 5 month for a limited time only here.

Cllr Phil Eames, Mayor of Northallerton Town Council, who has backed the campaign, said: "This project has involved the supplier of the newly-resurfaced runaway at RAF Leeming, Volker Fitzpatrick, who sourced the stone from a local quarry, historians from Northallerton’s Heritage Hub, RAF Leeming historians and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario, Canada (through the work of Applegarth teacher Lynne Cross's brother Graeme Garnham).

"We plan to unveil the stone, which has now been put in place by Northallerton Town Council, on December 2, which is the 82nd anniversary of the tragic event.

"A ceremony is being organised to involve all those mentioned above, along with children from the School.

"This has been an amazing and uplifting project, with the engagement of multiple groups and individuals in the service of providing Northallerton with a lasting memory of an important event in the Town's history. Northallerton Town Council is proud to be involved."