CONSTRUCTION materials company Lafarge has supported a memorial dedicated to five Canadian airman killed on a World War II training flight.
Relatives of the crew, along with Canadian and British veterans, the Canadian High Commissioner and local dignitaries, travelled to Derbyshire beauty spot, Creswell Crags, for the dedication of the commemorative stone.
The memorial was unveiled in a poignant ceremony during which relatives, including the brother of navigator, Lowell Milton Brehaut, 86-year-old Blair Brehaut spoke lovingly about the lost airmen.
Organised by lifelong Creswellian Gerald Plant, a former works manager at nearby Whitwell Quarry, now owned by Lafarge, the event remembered the loss of the aircrew in 1944 on a Wellington bomber training flight from RAF Gamston.
Aged just 15 at the time, Gerald witnessed the crash first hand and had long felt some kind of memorial should be built.
His brother Arthur felt the same and on his death he left a legacy for a commemorative stone with the request that it should also mention his friend Flying Officer Herbert Keeton, who was killed in service in 1942.
With the bequest and support from sources including Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK, Gerald was able to carry out Arthur’s wishes.
The construction materials company offered assistance not only because of Gerald’s link with Whitwell quarry but also because of its close association with Creswell Crags itself.
Over the last 12 years Lafarge has donated almost £200,000 to the Creswell Heritage Trust – the body responsible for the landscape and facilities at the Crags -through the Landfill Communities Fund.
David Atkinson, Lafarge regional planning and estates manager – UK North said:
“As a very near neighbour we have a strong relationship with Creswell Crags and we are always keen to assist our local community so we were delighted to help with this special memorial.
“Gerald and the organising committee did an absolutely amazing job in tracking down the Canadian relatives and arranging such a moving event.
“Lafarge is honoured to be connected with the memorial and the efforts to ensure the aircrew, Flying Officer Herbert Keeton and the generosity of Mr Joseph Arthur Plant will always be remembered.”
Gerald, who worked at Whitwell while it was under the management of Steetley Minerals, said:
“Arthur died in October 2009 and during his later years he spoke many times about the death of his close friend, Herbert Keeton, also of Creswell, who, as an RAF Flying Officer was shot down and killed in 1942.
“Arthur and Herbert had volunteered together in 1939 to join the RAF but Arthur was rejected because of a damaged eye and his rejection probably saved his life.
“We also discussed the bomber crash many times and Arthur decided to leave a percentage of his residual estate to provide funding for a suitable memorial for the Wellington crew with the request that his friend, Herbert Keeton, who provided inspiration for his funding, was also referred to.”
Gerald and a small organising committee spent more many months preparing for the commemoration, sourcing the memorial itself, tracking down aircrew relatives and arranging travel plans.
The bulk of the funding came from his brother’s estate while donations also came from organising committee member Peter Alam and Lafarge, which helped with the cost of accommodation and materials.
