31
May 2004
62
years ago a Manchester bomber aircraft, L7301 crashed in Molenbeersel
(Belgium). Sadly the 20-year old pilot of this aircraft, P/O Leslie
Manser, perished by keeping his aircraft flying long enough for his crew
to parachute to safety.
For deliberately laying down his life to save his crew, P/O Manser was
posthumously awarded the highest British award for Valour: the Victoria
Cross
A local researcher, Mr JP Jegers, researched the history of this crash
and its crew.
During
the reshaping of the local domain called the, “Zig”, much effort
went into the recovery of the remains of the Manchester . A propeller
blade, once belonging to Manchester L7301 was recovered inside the embankment
by Mr G. Laveaux and Mr M. Truyen who informed Mr JP Jegers immediately.
With the help of a crane from the company working in the area, the blade
was removed. It was remarkably well intact after lying in the wet soil
for over 60 years.
It
was decided then that this propeller blade would serve as a reminder
not only to the bravery of P/O Leslie Manser VC but also to the bravery
of many local and more distant people, who, at great personal risk, aided
the escape of 5 of the 6 crewmembers. They were back in England within
6 weeks, unfortunately without their navigator who became a prisoner
of war. Contrary to what is written in several publications, he was
not wounded. He was on the run for 2 days when a local peasant turned
him over to the German authorities via the Belgian Police.
With the help of Mrs Marjo Janssens, Mr JP Jegers was able to get in
touch with the relatives of the 7 crew members. All were invited to be
present at the inauguration of the monument on May 31, 2004 . With the
exception of the son of Sgt Allan Mills and the son of P/O Bob Horsley
they all came to Molenbeersel.
Present were the nephew of Leslie Manser, John Randle, his wife Rosalind
and their youngest son Francis (Frank). Mr Randle's father was also posthumously
awarded a VC for his actions in Kohima , India in 1944! Mr Randle's half-brother,
Charles Lowndes, together with their cousin Clive Manser arrived on Sunday,
as did the Randles. Before they arrived they paid a visit at their Uncle
Leslie's grave at the War Cemetery in Heverlee.
The cousin of Sgt Baveystock, Mr Howard Baveystock was also present.
Also
at the ceremony was the son of Sgt Ben Naylor, Peter Naylor – the
daughter of P/O Richard Barnes, Mrs Stephanie Linell – Barnes and her
husband Peter - the nephew of Sgt Stanley King, John Fricker who arrived
on Thursday May 27.
Invitations
were also sent to the British Embassy in Brussels, to AFNorth in Brunssum,
Netherlands and the dignitaries of the village Kinrooi. Sadly the Embassy
informed the organisers that they wouldn't be able to be at the unveiling.
So I am very grateful to Wing Commander Mike Firth, of AFNorth who
laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal Air Force. Maj Meeuwissen; ADC
Lippens and 1CC Leysssen, from nearby Kleine Brogel Air Base, represented
the Belgian Air Force.
The
ceremony started at 2.00 pm with speeches from the Chairman of Stichting
Limburgs Landschap, Mr Pierre Van Haelst and Mr Frans Verstraeten. Followed
by Mr JP Jegers, and the Mayor of Kinrooi Mr Brouns and last but not
least Mr Charles Lowndes (half brother of John Randle) on behalf of the
family members.
Then everybody was invited join up at the location near the crash site
where the monument is placed.
Mr John Randle and the Mayor of Kinrooi performed the unveiling of the
propeller blade by removing a cover that was placed on the monument.
Mr Van Haelst then unveiled the info board by removing the flag of Stichting
Limburgs Landschap draped over it. Belgian War Veterans and representatives
of the Resistance were standing near the monument with each holding their
Standards.
The Mayor was the first to lay flowers at the monument followed by Mrs
Rosalind Randle and Mr JP Jegers on behalf of the relatives. After that
Maj Meeuwissen laid flowers after which Wing Commander Firth lay the
wreath. A representative of the local Freedom fighters laid the last
flowers on the base of the monument. A bugler then played the Last Post
and with a minute of silence the very moving ceremony was over.
Everybody
was invited to the reception at the local Community Hall in Molenbeersel
for a talk, a drink and a small snack.
A
comment on the weather….in the morning dark clouds and now and then
a few drops of rain….at the start of the ceremony and during the unveiling….sunny
and warm….and at the end when everybody was inside of the Community Hall…..heavy
rain!!
As
John Randle stated the day after: “It was as if Uncle Leslie has
something to say with the planning of the weather up above!!!!” |
