The Midsomer Norton and Radstock Branch of the Royal British Legion honoured its pledge to remember veterans laid to rest in local cemeteries.

On Saturday, 13th November, the Branch arranged for 56 poppy sprays to be laid to remember those veterans, most of whom who have been laid to rest locally. The response of the public and local businesses meant that all 56 could be sponsored, which covered the cost of each poppy spray.

The event was hugely successful and was supported by local Councils, clergy, youth groups and the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band.

Sponsors are welcome to visit the graves of the veteran and see the spray and personal card for which they have paid. However, to ensure the sprays do not degrade to an unacceptable condition, they will be removed during the last week of December.

One of the sites visited was Downside Abbey’s cemetery, where Sub Lieutenant Alan Cairnhill McCracken and nine pupils died. He was aged 22 and the pupils were all aged between 10 and 16.

Sub Lieutenant McCracken had been posted to HMS Heron at the RNAS Yeovilton to train on fighters and crashed the Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk 1B whilst flying with his instructor, practicing tail chasing and dog fighting.

At 3.30 pm on 15th May 1943 they both flew very low over Downside School, Sub Lieutenant McCracken the lowest and was seen to strike a tree, crashing in to the school’s playing field where a number of cricket matches were taking place, watched by a large group of pupils.

Alan was killed outright and the wreckage killed ten pupils and left fourteen more seriously injured. He was laid to rest at the Abbey Cemetery alongside nine of the ten pupils who died.

One seriously injured pupil was Richard Kingsbury who bore his injuries and pain with bravery and was awarded the Scout VC by the Queen Mother. His award was presented to him by Queen Mary on a later visit to the school.

Alan’s instructor, Sub. Lt. Leeming, was later court

marshalled for low flying in a non-low flying area.