Mendlesham Dedication and Blessing

Mendlesham Dedication Video

9 November 2014

Bishop of Richborough presiding.

I'm the last one to lay a wreath, for the Walter Hines Page Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mendlesham: New Memorial

St Mary the Virgin

52.25000, 1.08294
TM 104 657

I attended the dedication and blessing of this new memorial on Sunday, 9 November. It is a very beautiful piece of art, standing in the grounds of the church, where it should be safer than alongside the A140.

Somerleyton

St Mary's Church

52.51584, 1.67289
TM 492 972

I found an entry on the War Memorials Online site. As it was so close to me, I went right out to find it. It's not a permanent memorial, but a very touching one. The church is on the Somerleyton Estate.

Parham Airfield Museum 2014

Museum website

Photos taken 21 September 2014

Since we were there in 2012, there have been changes at Parham. A brand new extension, and the chapel is now in the room where the airmen signed their names on the wall. My interest is in the Americans, of course, but there is also a British Resistance Organisation museum here that is worth a visit.

Check out the website for the latest, and here are a few photos of what's new.

Sorry about the glare--I couldn't get into a position where it didn't get in the way. Look closely--you'll see two famous names!

Glare again, and I couldn't get the whole thing. The opposite wall is too close. But this gives us an idea of how many of our precious young people were lost. These are all names of those MIA or KIA while serving at Framlingham/Parham

Belton Tavern

The Tavern

52.56495, 1.65775
TG 479 026
Photos taken 19 September 2014

60 Station Road South
Belton
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR31 9AA

Well. I thought I was done. I'd heard that this pub had some photos, but someone contacted me yesterday, and said that there was an actual memorial there. So, of course, I just had to visit.

And That's It

With my visit to Foulsham, I have visited every known memorial in Norfolk and Suffolk. I was able to complete the project with the help of my very dear friends, Peter and Marion. Gary would have been so pleased.

Finding these memorials has been a joy, for me, and for Gary. I have been amazed at the response we've had from both sides of the Atlantic. I'll still visit, as I find new things, or when these places are sometimes refurbished or rededicated. But the project is basically done.

I will be handing my database over to the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library in Norwich, as soon as I've gone through it and made sure that everything is accurate.

If you see anything that needs to be corrected, or added, or removed, do please get in touch. If you think I can help you with research you are doing, again--please contact me. I'm very happy to help where I can.

2nd Air Division Memorial Library

Foulsham

Near the village War Memorial

52.78418, 1.01197
TG 032 249
Photos taken 17 September 2014

This memorial has one line referring to the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group of the USAAF

Beeston

Village Sign

52.70647, 0.82446
TF 909 158
Photos taken 17 September 2014

Hilgay

Village War Memorial

52.55856, 0.38994
TL 621 983
Photos taken 17 September 2014

South Cove Again

South Cove: St Lawrence

52.36892, 1.67051
TM 499 808
Photos taken 12 September 2014

I had been in this church several times, looking for a rumoured Roll of Honour. I finally made contact with someone connected with the church, and it had been there all the time!

The church council has just approved a proposal to place a more permanent memorial in the church. 

Hingham: Lincoln Hall

52.57983, 0.98151
TG 021 021
Photos taken 23 July 2013

There are 3 plaques here, besides the letter about the flag donated to the village from Hingham, Massachusetts. They are not mounted on the walls; apparently, when the hall was repainted, the decision was made that nothing was to be hung on the walls. So these are kept in what is called the "History Room," and you will need to make arrangements to see them. You should be able to do that through the Hingham History Centre.

This plaque is made of a brushed aluminium, and I couldn't get a good photo.

Hingham Church is the only one in the country to fly an American Flag on Remembrance Day. 

Costessey: Longwater Lane Cemetery

52.64957, 1.20380
TG 168 105
photos taken 14 July 2014


This is a very small cemetery, quite easy to find. The memorial refers to a tree--I am under the impression that the stone is not in the original position, and it stands between two quite mature trees. Mystery.

Costessey: St Edmund

St Edmund, Costessey

52.66568, 1.21746
TG 176 124
photos taken 14 July 2014


The church is kept locked, but the key can be obtained from 2 Vicarage Close, or the Vicarage on Folgate Lane

Wymondham: Fairland United Reformed Church

Fairland United Reformed Church

52.56929, 1.11547
TG 112 013
photos taken 16 July 2014

Captain Widen was a USAAF Chaplain, and is well remembered by the congregation of this church. The photo and plaques are in the church, which is kept locked. Contact the secretary for entrance.

Taverham

Taverham Mill Fisheries

52.67833, 1.19155
TG 158 137
Photos taken 14 July 2014

Commemorating the crash of Pappy's Chillun/Turnip Termite. The main body of the plane still lie in the lake here.

Entrance to the Mill, which is a nature reserve and fisheries.

Hingham: St Andrew

St Andrew, Hingham

52.57933, 0.98183
TG 021 021
photos taken 13 June 2014

This was the last memorial Gary and I found together. We'd gone to Hingham for another reason, but while he sat at the pub having lunch, I walked over to the church to take these photos. Gary couldn't walk very far, so I went on my own. But he saw the pictures while we sat at the pub.