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          | MELCHBOURNE 
              - Roll of HonourWorld War 1 - Roll of Honour with detailed informationCompiled and copyright © 2001 Martin Edwards
 Word War 2 - Memorial with detailed information
 Compiled 
              and copyright © 2001 Brenda 
              Asplin
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          |  
 Photographs Copyright © 
              Martin Edwards 2001
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          The 
            Memorial is on the wall of the porch leading into the parish church. IN 
        MEMORY OF
 THE
 the men of this Parish
 who fell in THE GREAT WAR
 1914-1919
 
 
         
          | Arthur 
            HANCOCK | Lance 
            Corporal, 20554, 8th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment who was killed in 
            action on Monday, 25th September 1916. Age 38. Born Riseley, enlisted 
            Bedford, resident Melchbourne. Son of Thomas and Martha Hancock, of 
            Riseley; husband of Arm Minnie Hancock, of Melchbourne. Commemorated 
            on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 C. |   
          | Harry 
            John PAYNE | Private, 
            11767, 7th Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment who was killed in action on 
            Wednesday, 28th July 1915. Age 23. Signaller. Born Melchbourne, enlisted 
            Stamford, Lincolnshire, resident Stourbridge, Worcestershire. Son 
            of William F. and Fanny Payne, of Sandwell Cottage, Ridge St., Wollaston, 
            Stourbridge, Worcs. Native of Melchbourne. Buried in Menin Road South 
            Military Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave III. C. 
            29. |  This 
        tablet is erected bythe Parishioners as a token
 of their appreciation.
 WORLD 
        WAR 2 There is a memorial to 2003rd 
        Ordinance Maintenance Co. 8th Air Force Service Command on 
        a wall at Park House, Melchbourne. 
         
          |  Photograph 
              Copyright © Brenda Asplin 2001
 |  WORLD 
        WAR 2 MEMORIAL In St Mary’s Church, Melchbourne.  
         This is formed from part of the propeller 
        of the aircraft in which the men died. IN MEMORY 
        OF 
         
          | KING | William 
              Everby | Pilot 
              Officer 81356.  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died Monday 
              19 August 1940.  Age 20. Son of Thomas William & Lilian Isabel 
              King of Beaconsfield, Bucks.  Commemorated on   Cardington (St. Mary) 
              Church Cemetery, Bedfordshire.  Ref.  Row R.  Coll. Grave 15 |   
          | BRITNOR | Stanley | Sergeant 
              754172.  .  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died Monday 19 August 
              1940.  Age 26.  Son of Harold & Gertrude Britnor; husband of 
              Frances Eileen Britnor of Allerton, Leeds, Yorkshire. Commemorated on   
              Cardington (St. Mary) Church Cemetery, Bedfordshire.  Ref.  Row R.  Coll. 
              Grave 15 |   
          | BISHOP | John | Sergeant 
              754664.  .  Royal Air Force Volunteer reserve.  Died Monday 19 August 
              1940.  Age 20. Son of Revd. L. Cornewall Bishop & Daisy E.G. 
              Bishop of South Kensington, London. Commemorated on   Cardington (St. 
              Mary) Church Cemetery, Bedfordshire.  Ref.  Row R.  Coll. Grave 15 |   
          | JACKSON | John 
              Angus | Sergeant 
              651960.  W.Op/Air Gunner. Royal Air Force.  Died Monday 19 August 
              1940.  Age 19.  Son of Angus Drummond Jackson & Margaret Jackson 
              of Sunderland, co. Durham.  Commemorated on   Cardington (St. Mary) 
              Church Cemetery, Bedfordshire.  Ref.  Row R.  Coll. Grave 15 |  CREW 
        OF H.P. HAMPDEN P130514 O.T.U. R.A.F. COTTESMORE
 WHICH CRASHED 19.8.40 AT MELCHBOURNE
On Monday 
        19 August 1940, Pilot Officer W.E. King was carrying out a training flight 
        practising the use of oxygen and seat change.  The aircraft lost control 
        and exploded in a filed beside an oak tree at Dower House, Melchbourne, 
        Bedfordshire.  Wreckage was thrown over a wide area.   On 
        Monday 26 August 1949, the remains of the four men were buried in the 
        churchyard at Cardington, near Bedford. 
         
          |  
 Photograph 
              Copyright © Brenda Asplin 2001
 |    There 
        was a service in the parish church with full military honours. Further 
        information will be placed in the Bedfordshire Family History Society 
        Library.  
 30 August 2001 |