Felixstowe to Commemorate 80th Anniversary of Lancaster Bomber LM258, HA-Q, and its Heroic Crew
On Sunday 25 August at midday, Felixstowe will hold a special commemorative service to mark the 80th anniversary of the tragic loss of Lancaster Bomber LM258, HA-Q of 218 Squadron, and its seven heroic crew members. The town invites the public to join in honouring the bravery and sacrifice of these young airmen, whose actions on August 25, 1944, saved Felixstowe from potential disaster.
On that fateful evening in 1944, Lancaster LM258 took off from RAF Methwold at 18:55 hours on a critical mission to strike a V-1 Flying Bomb site in Vincly, France. The aircraft, carrying a crew of seven, was struck by enemy flak near St Omer on its return journey. Other crews in the formation lost sight of the bomber as it struggled to make its way back to England.
At 21:15 hours, East Suffolk Police received reports of the Lancaster approaching Felixstowe at a dangerously low altitude. The crew, realizing they could not maintain height on two failed engines, attempted to reach RAF Woodbridge’s Emergency Landing Ground (ELG) but were forced to turn back toward the coast. Witnesses recall seeing the bomber circling Felixstowe with its undercarriage lowered before it tragically plunged into the sea a quarter mile southeast of Felixstowe’s New Pier. The wreckage was quickly consumed by flames and sank in 12 feet of water.
An RAF Walrus amphibian from 277 ASR Squadron and two High-Speed Launches from Felixstowe Dock arrived at the scene within minutes. Despite their swift response, only three of the seven crew members were recovered from the sea, all of whom tragically lost their lives.
- Sgt Angus Craig (19 years old), the rear gunner, was still alive when found but sadly succumbed to his injuries three hours later in the RAF Sick Bay at Felixstowe.
- Sgt George Covell (20 years old), the mid-upper gunner, and F/O Charles Bryce Oxenham (20 years old), RNZAF, the Bomb Aimer, were both found deceased.
In the following days, the remaining bodies of the crew were discovered along the Suffolk coastline:
- Sgt William Augustus Dyer (20 years old), the navigator, was found in Harwich Harbour on September 1, 1944.
- Flt Lt Doug Haggis (25 years old), the pilot, was washed up on Fagbury Beach, Trimley St Martin, on the same day.
- Flt Sgt Ernest George Murray (26 years old), the wireless operator, was discovered near the Spa Pavilion at Felixstowe on September 2, 1944.
- F/O Glyn Davies Mathias (25 years old), the flight engineer, was the last to be found, washing ashore at Landguard Point, Felixstowe, on October 6, 1944.
F/O Mathias was buried in Felixstowe Cemetery while four others were interred at Cambridge City Cemetery and the other two taken back to their home towns in Ilford, Essex and Northumberland. Ahead of the main commemoration, on Friday 23 August, the Mayor of Felixstowe, Councillor David Rowe, will lay a wreath at the grave of F/O Glyn Davies Mathias in Felixstowe Cemetery. This private act of remembrance will set the tone for the larger public event on Sunday.
In 2001, Felixstowe honoured the crew’s sacrifice with the unveiling of a granite memorial at the Town Hall. The inscription at the bottom reads: “For that noble action we shall be forever indebted,” a line taken from a letter of condolence sent by the Felixstowe Town Clerk to the crew’s next of kin in September 1944.
The commemorative service on 25 August, organised by Felixstowe Town Council in collaboration with Felixstowe Museum, will take place on the steps of the Town Hall. The Mayor of Felixstowe, Councillor David Rowe, will read the original letter of condolence, while Sharon Harkin, Chair of Felixstowe Museum, will share a moving letter of response from Matilda Dyer, mother of Sergeant William Augustus Dyer.
The Mayor, Cllr David Rowe, said: “Felixstowe is indebted to the brave RAF airmen that lost their lives by putting the lives of those of the town above their own . We shall forever remember their brave act.”
Relatives of F/O Charles Bryce Oxenham, one of the fallen airmen, are expected to attend, along with local residents and visitors. The Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol will lay a wreath at the site of the crash.
Richard Whitehead, Great Nephew of Charles Bryce Oxenham, said: “On behalf of our Oxenham family, we are incredibly moved by how the people of Felixstowe have continued to commemorate the sacrifice that Uncle Bryce and the other young men in his crew made 80 years ago. We are very grateful to the town for keeping their story alive, so that it can be passed down to current future generations and as we remember all those who gave their lives in the conflict.”
This solemn event is an opportunity for the community to come together to remember and honour the courageous actions of the Lancaster crew. Their legacy continues to inspire and remind us of the sacrifices made during World War II.
In conjunction with the service, Felixstowe Museum will host a special exhibition dedicated to Lancaster Bomber LM258 and its crew. The display, which includes photographs, information about the crew members, and fragments of wreckage that washed ashore, will run from Sunday, August 25, to Sunday, September 8. The museum, located on Viewpoint Road, Landguard, between the Fort and the Port, will be open Thursday to Sunday, including Bank Holidays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All are welcome to attend the commemorative service and visit the exhibition to pay their respects to these brave men who gave their lives for the safety and freedom of others.
Reeve, John Constable; Lancaster Bomber B1, LM258, HA-Q of 218 Squadron; Felixstowe Museum; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/lancaster-bomber-b1-lm258-ha-q-of-218-squadron-10489
Lancaster Bomber B1, LM258, HA-Q of 218 Squadron
John Constable Reeve (1929–2020)