A SERVICE was held to remember young RAF airmen who died when their aircraft crashed during the Second World War.

On April 25, 1944, the lives of seven RAF airmen were lost after their Lancaster bomber was attacked by a German aircraft near Diss, Norfolk.

The Lancaster tried to carry on, hoping to land at Boxted Airfield which was an American Fighter Station at the time.

Gazette: Colchester ATC and 4626 Squadron saluting in the minute’s silence.Colchester ATC and 4626 Squadron saluting in the minute’s silence.

By then the aircraft was well alight and spiralled out of control near a site which is now Severalls Industrial Estate.

The tail of the plane, the only recognizable piece of wreckage, ended up close to where Safestore’s reception area is now situated.

In 2013, a group of friends who heard the story from West Bergholt resident, David Seaborn, established a small memorial pillar to remember the crew.

Gazette: Lay reader Michael Foster with Colchester ATC in foregroundLay reader Michael Foster with Colchester ATC in foreground

Every year since, they have held a memorial service to honour the airmen on the nearest Sunday of the crash date.

A service was held on Sunday, April 24 to commemorate the airmen in Colchester.

Chris Stanfield, an organiser of the service, said: “This year we were joined by members of Colchester Air Cadets again and also members of the Royal Air Force Auxiliary Reserve 4626 Squadron from Brize Norton.

Gazette: Roy Tolhurst, leader of the group of friends who established the memorial, having just placed a wreath.Roy Tolhurst, leader of the group of friends who established the memorial, having just placed a wreath.

“The service was led by Michael Foster of West Bergholt. Two letters that the crew wrote during the war were read out and some verse was recited.”

“Vimy Ridge, a World War One poem was read by Victoria Steinitz who is the director of the Boxted Silver Methodist Band, the last of its sort in the UK.”

Air Cadet Max Percivall read one of the airman’s letters and Cadet Thomas Lloyd laid a wreath.

Gazette: Looking towards the memorial and Ipswich RoadLooking towards the memorial and Ipswich Road

Former St. John’s councillor Paul Smith read a second letter from one of the crew. Officers from the 4626 Squadron also placed wreaths and seven remembrance crosses marked with the airmen’s names.

A minute’s silence was observed with the Last Post and Reveille being played.

Chris added: “I would like to thank Lofty Tolhurst as well, who was instrumental in organising the service.”