The Royal British Legion has honoured the Paulton Double Hills glider tragedy, after news that a formal service at the meadows was cancelled this year.

Members of the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Branch laid a wreath in memory of the soldiers and aircrew who died in September 1944.

On September 17, a glider had set off from RAF Keevil airfield in Trowbridge, bound for Arnhem, towed by their bomber, with 21 airborne sappers from the 9th Field Company, Airborne Royal Engineers and two pilots from the Glider Pilot Regiment on board.

Glider RJ113, which was due to play a part in the ‘Bridge Too Far’ Operation Market Garden and land behind German lines, broke up and fell to earth from the skies over Paulton, with all on board dying in the Double Hills meadow below.

For RBL member Will Nicol, the commemoration of that tragedy is all the more poignant as he placed a posy of poppies at the Arnhem Memorial at Double Hills.

Midsomer Norton and Radstock Royal British Legion laid a wreath at the Double Hills memorial.
Midsomer Norton and Radstock Royal British Legion laid a wreath at the Double Hills memorial. (Midsomer Norton and Radstock RBL)

Sapper Joseph Beale of number 1 platoon of the 9th Field Company of the Royal Engineers, who died tragically in the glider crash, was the uncle of a lifelong friend, Dave Tigwell.

Craftsman by trade, Dave designed and made the Pegasus sculpture, which was affixed to the memorial a number of years ago, dedicated to the memory of his lost relative.

Dave and Will went to school together in Stroud, Gloucestershire, before later joining 1329 Squadron Air Training Corps together.

As life changed their directions, Dave moved to Cornwall and set up in business as a craftsman, turning his hands to many things, including metalwork.

Dave passed away shortly after the installation of the sculpture, but was forever proud to have made the lasting dedication to his lost uncle.