N.L.H.S. SITE INDEX
On the night of December 16th 1942 the crew of Stirling R 9245 of No 75 (N.Z.) Squadron RAF) died tragically when their laden bomber clipped the Devil's Ditch, causing it to crash nearby with the resultant explosion of the two mines it was carrying. Now the old plaque recording the incident has been replaced at a dedication service held near the spot where the Stirling failed to clear the embankment.
Tony Pringle, who supplied the pictures, has also sent this description:
A new plaque sponsored by Mike Nicholas was dedicated near the 5 furlong marker on the July Course on 25th August 2016
Nine Stirling bombers of the Squadron were detailed to undertake a 'Gardening' Op off Bordeaux.
The surface wind at Newmarket around take off time was fluctuating and tending toward crosswind. Then it backed severely so that the flare path was downwind. During take-off at 21.45hrs, the first three aircraft swung badly on take off, but this was promptly rectified and they became airborne.
The next Stirling due to take off, R9245, Piloted by Sgt. Benjamin Franklin, was subjected to the same wind effect causing it to swing dangerously, but Sgt. Franklin kept power on to counter it and continued the take-off attempt. The aircraft became airborne briefly but crashed a mile away from the airfield. Two mines exploded and all the crew were killed. The remaining aircraft, due to take off were grounded.
It was later established that the starboard undercarriage had hit Devil’s Dyke (a mound around the perimeter of Newmarket airfield) and broke off the oil tank to the starboard inner engine, causing it to seize and turning the aircraft into the ground.
The dedication service. Tony Pringle is in the wheelchair in the centre of the group.
The new plaque bearing the names of the crew
What's New
To find out more go to Newmarket Arts Project October 2016
Long term NLHS Committee member Joan Shaw who has been in Bury Hospital following an accident at her home in August, has now been transferred to Newmarket hospital for recuperation.
We have been informed by the National Trust at Sutton Hoo of a series of talks about the area and its history to be held in October and November. Details are here Sutton Hoo talks
An email from Kenneth Bannerman of the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust has established that Side Hill was used for military purposes during late 1940 and continued as an ELG (Emergency Landing Ground) through the war (see Correspondence 24th May 2016)
Now his years of research have been brought together on a single website www.undyingmemory.net In addition to Newmarket town records the site covers a surprising number of surrounding villages and gives much detailed service and family information for individual names.
Tony has accomplished a great deal but he is not one to say job done, finished. One advantage of a website over a published book is that it can always be added to and he is pleased to receive additional details should they become available.
Thanks to this work relatives or descendents of those who made the great sacrifice can take comfort in knowing their dead will not be forgotten.
It was my original intention to hand over the running of the site to a new webmaster but as no volunteer has come forward to date I am happy to continue to maintain the site and continue as webmaster, at least for the time being.
(Rodney)
Visit his site at www.cambridgeshirehistory.com/MikePetty
An addition to the site covers a history of Newmarket's racecourses which can be viewed at http://www.newmarketshops.info/Newmarkets_Racecourses.html
On August 5th 2014 Tony Pringles's book 'Newmarket Remembers' was launched at a short ceremony at Newmarket Library. The amount of detail about Newmarket and District's war casualties covering two World Wars is a tribute to his remarkable dedication to the subject.
Copies are now very limited but if anyone particularly wants to get hold of one please contact Tony direct.
.
(February 2016 All his past research has now been brought together on his website)
Undying Memory
July 25th 2014. Over the generations Newmarket has long been host to Royal visitors, who came to the town for the racing and associated pleasures provided by this lively town.
Our website article, Personalities page No 10, deals with the Monarchs from James I onward who found Newmarket to their liking and who through their patronage had varying degrees of influence in shaping the town's future.
Please go to Personalities Page No 10
Please be aware that this is a pdf. document so you will need Adobe Reader installed on your computer and it could take a while to load, depending on your connection speed.
All events commence at 7.30 pm unless otherwise stated2016
Tuesday 20th September - A digital presentation by Peter Norman from his collection.
Tuesday 18th October - 'The Edwardians', Vanessa Mann
Tuesday 15th November - The Devil's Ditch - Sandra Easom
Tuesday 20th December - Christmas Cheese & Wine Party with Carols (Members only).How do I join the Newmarket Local History Society?
It is quite simple really, you may do so by attending one of the programmed meetings, the doors open at 7 pm, and you can then join whilst there, the cost is just £8 per head, or you may wish to visit for one evening without commitment, this will cost £2 and you can go away and decide.NEWMARKET'S ORIGINS (notes provided by N.L.H.S Committee Member Sandra Easom)
Mention Newmarket and most people think of the pounding hooves of horses and rolling expanses of green turf. The town is justly famous for both of these but its very long and varied history goes far beyond what most people expect.
Unlike most mediaeval towns, Newmarket is not centred on either of its parish churches, St. Mary's or All Saints'. Rather, it is centred on the initial reason for its existence - the ancient Icknield Way - the oldest road in Britain. Its original route followed Palace Street, past All Saints' Church and across the present day cemetery. The Icnield Way also took other courses, notably through Stetchworth and Woodditton. People have journeyed along the Icknield Way since the Stone Age when flint was mined in Grimes Graves in Norfolk and then supplied an extensive trade network.
The area where Newmarket now stands has springs of water and a small river which is essential for any settlement. Bronze Age barrows, showing evidence of early occupation, were scattered across Newmarket Heath until the 19th century when they were cleared to make better conditions for horse racing.
Later, nearby Exning was a main settlement of the Iceni tribe (best remembered for their famous Queen Boudicca or Boadicea who led a major rebellion against the Romans). The Iceni were renowned breeders of horses and dogs, so the Heath has probably seen many more races than we are aware of!
The area where the town now stands was given as dowry to Sir Richard de Argentein in 1200 A.D. when he married Cassandra, daughter of Robert de Insula, Lord of the manor of Exning. Sir Richard encouraged development of the town and was granted a charter for a market almost immediately by the King. In 1223 Newmarket received its first charter for an annual fair. It is important to note that the Plague arrived at Exning in 1227. Therefore, the Victorian theory that people left Exning to start a new town at Newmarket at this time cannot be true (although it is very persistent!).
Newmarket thrived because of its market and a lucrative trade in accommodating travellers and so it continued for centuries, until King James I "discovered" its Heath in February 1604 as a great leisure venue for his court and Newmarket's sporting associations began.....NEWMARKET AND HORSERACING
The local history of Newmarket is inextricably tied up with the history of horseracing. The town is home to the National Horseracing Museum, at present situated in part of the Jockey Club building. An enlightening article on Newmarket's racing history and the work of the museum written by the former Museum Director, Hilary Bracegirdle appears on this site select article here
The museum also has a very good website of its own www.nhrm.co.uk where much information on Newmarket's racing past is available.
Newmarket Local History Society and the National Horseracing Museum have much in common in that we both receive many queries from people on topics related to horseracing. Often people wish to enquire about their forebears who were jockeys, or in some way connected to racing. As Hilary says in her article, it is difficult to trace individuals unless they were high profile personalities. The best approach for persuing ordinary family history queries is through the Bury St Edmunds County Records office (for Suffolk related queries) or The Cambridgeshire Family History Society (for the Cambridgeshire part of Newmarket). Both the Museum and our Society wish to be as helpful as possible and welcome any queries of general interest. Queries to the Museum should be addressed in writing to Graham Snelling, Deputy Director/Curator, National Horseracing Museum, 99 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JS. Our Society's postal and e-mail addresses are given on page 3.
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e-mail: rodvincent@freenetname.co.uk
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