Five members of the Old Bridlingtonian Club (OBC) have recently travelled to France recently to represent the club for the 80th anniversary of the tragic aircraft crash that killed Flight Sergeant Edwin Raymond Abell.
The poignant commemoration was held at the site of the crash in North West France.
Flight Sergeant Abell was an Old Bridlingtonian and attended Bridlington School before World War 2. He worked as a chemist in Bridlington until he volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR).
His aircraft crashed at Val-d’Izé in France on 9th August 1944, and six members of the crew died, though Edwin Raymond Abell was the only crew member with any representation at the commemoration. The aircraft crashed due to beingshot down by a fighter.
When Flight Sergeant Edwin Raymond Abell was killed, he was unmarried so his family line stopped with him. “It is truly an honour to be here to give this plaque to the people of France, donated by the Old Bridlingtonian Club, commemorating Edwin Raymond Abell’sbsacrifice in the name of freedom during the dark days of World War 2” said Martin Barmby during the ceremony.
“ It was wonderful to discover that he is not forgotten in France – where he lost his life.”
The plaque to commemorate Edwin
Raymond Abell’s sacrifice is set to be placed on the stem of the monument that is already in place. The O B C h a s been holding annual Remembrance services in the Bridlington School War Memorial Gymnasium.
It holds the names of the fallen from World War 1, World War 2 and other conflicts. Martin added: “On behalf of the Old Bridlingtonian Club, and the United Kingdom, thank you for remembering his and his fellow crew members’ sacrifice.”
