This memorial area was completed in March 2022 and consecrated by Padre Charles Lewis and unveiled by the families of P/O Wicky and P/O Mountford and addressed by Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Rear Admiral Iain Henderson CB CBE DL, in the presence of a representative of the Australian High Commission and Air Commodore Allan Vaughan on 4th February 2020.
HORNDEAN HEROES – REMEMBERED
On the 4th February 1945, seventeen Mosquito aircraft from 140 Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force attacked the Rhur, two of these aircraft were from 464 Squadron based at Thorney Island. In the early hours of the 5th February 1945, these aircraft from 464 Squadron appeared in the sky over Hampshire. Weather conditions were poor, one aircraft piloted by P/O Gordon Nunn landed safely but the other having chased a V1 rocket on the way home is thought to have run out of fuel only three miles from the squadron’s base.
As the aircraft came lower in heavy cloud the pilot made a brave attempt to circle away from heavily populated areas and to come down in the sea. But it was not to be. In a desperate effort to make a landing away from the village, the aircraft came down in open fields having narrowly avoided the local public house but not before clipping the roof of a row of cottages and crashing through the roof of the Parish Hall on the outskirts of the village. At 0212hrs Pilot Officers Edward Wicky DFC, RAAF and Oswald Mountford DFC, RAAF tragically lost their lives adjacent to this memorial site.
BIOGRAPHY
Edward George Wicky was born September 28th, 1922, in Bellingen, New
South Wales, Australia, to parents Edouard Jean Wicky and Rita Hughes.
His father originated from Switzerland. Edward attended school in Leeton
And later worked at the Head Office of the Bank of New South Wales.
He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force and trained as a pilot. In Canada whilst doing flight training, he met Oswald Mountford, and they became good friends. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and already having been ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ (MID) twice, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on January 26th, 1945, for having flown over 50 operations. He was killed in action on Sunday February 5th, 1945 and was buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Guildford on February 8th, 1945. His DFC was presented to his mother, Mrs Rita Turner on April 13th, 1946, by the Governor General at Government House, Sydney.
Oswald Mountford was born on December 11th, 1922, in Leeton, New South Wales, Australia, to parents Oswald Dennis Mountford and Ivy Dorothy May Breadman. Both parents originated from the UK; Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, and Uxbridge, Middlesex respectively. Oswald’s father emigrated from the Port of Liverpool to Sydney on July 16th, 1912, on the White Star Line Ship the SS Waimana. Oswald’s mother emigrated from the UK to Australia in March 1913.
On May 22nd, 1942, Oswald enlisted in the Royal Australian Air force at No.2 Recruitment Centre in Sydney. He attended training courses in bombing, gunnery and navigation. On October 27th, 1944, having already been ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ (MID) twice, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on January 26th, 1945 and having flown over 50 operations, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He was killed in action on Sunday February 5th, 1945 and was buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Guildford on February 8th, 1945. His DFC was presented to his mother, Mrs Ivy Mountford by the Governor General at Government House, Sydney on February 16th, 1946.
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A group of people who remember the scene clearly from their childhood came together and the ‘Horndean Children of the 1940’s’ started campaigning for a place of remembrance for these two gallant young airmen who sacrificed their lives for our peace and freedom we enjoy today. After 17 years of campaigning and fundraising, and help from East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire Highways, Horndean Parish Council, Skanska, Local businesses and members of the public, this memorial was installed in October 2019.
The following letters were written to members of the committee from Gordon Nunn the other pilot of 464 Squadron flying that night and a diary entry written by Ray Lackley a member of the Squadron.
Gordon Nunn’s Letter ……….
….. Thanks for your letter and your suggestion for a memorial to PO Ted Wicky and PO Ossie Mountford.
Ted was a long-standing friend of mine, and we went through good times and bad times together. We were both finishing our second turn of operations – 12 months of continuous operational flying. We were the only two flying ops that night – the weather was dreadful. I managed to find the airfield and make a safe landing, but Ted was not so fortunate.
The next day I had to fly to another airfield on the Somme River. That’s where we operated for the next few weeks, until I was due to have a rest from operational flying.
I knew Ted well and the day before he was killed, I could see he was physically and mentally worn out. He should have been pulled off operationally flying there and then – but these things happen in a war. I am sure that what ever you do for a memorial to Ted and Ossie will be done with every consideration.
I myself prefer granite stone with a plaque, mainly because of its permanency. The Squadron logo depicts a magpie – very familiar in Australia. Whatever you do will be much appreciated by the remaining members of 464 and the relatives of Ted and Ossie.
Yours sincerely
Gordon Nunn
Diary entry by Ray Lackey ……….
Still, they went out night after night and the flak became worse, but with February came the melting of the snow. Our Squadron losses still averaged one a night. In quick succession we lost three very popular crews. On the 2nd, it was Pilot Officer Jack Carter and his navigator Pilot Officer Ross Seaman. Both these boys, and thy were only boys, had recently been promoted to Officer status being awarded the D.F.M.
Another recent promotion was Australian Ted Wicky. Ted hadn’t been in the mess long. He was from Manly, NSW, and like the previous two had had recently been decorated for bravery. He proudly took his best blue uniform to Lilian, who was on duty behind the reception desk and asked if she would sew the “blue and white striped ribbon” beneath his wings. She gladly obliged.
Two nights later whilst returning from an op, Ted and his navigator, Pilot Officer Mountford, crashed in the circuit area in poor visibility. They had completed their trip to the Rhur and it was thought they may have used valuable fuel, chasing a V1 rocket on their way home, that finally led to them running out of fuel in the circuit area. The aircraft crashed into the town hall in Horndean, three miles from Thorney, but luckily the large crowd that had attended a dance that night had already vacated the premises.
The following day I visited the scene but there was little left. Indications were that the aircraft had gone straight through the wall, skidded across the floor and finally broken up against the far wall.
We ‘Horndean Children of the 1940’s’ and future generations will always be indebted to men like Pilot Officers ‘Ted’ Wicky and ‘Billy’ Mountford so please treasure this memorial for it was a major event of Horndean’s Village history during WWII. (Peter Barge)
POEM from ‘The Gestapo Hunters’ (Mark Lax & Leon Kane-Maguire)
Finest of mortal friends, I’ll not forget,
When war’s a faded memory in the land,
Which once stood tensely in the closing net,
I’ll think of what is past – and understand.
Yours was a truthful voice among the lies,
Unshaken by the falsehoods that were rife,
You were the men with level, fearless eyes,
Who lived with death, yet still believed in life.
Laughter was yours, that held not bitter sting,
That bubbled up more quickly than the rest,
Your steadfast friendship was a sacred thing,
And I who held it was doubly blessed.
Decades of easy peace may go their way,
And tide and time with drift us far apart,
But you who shared our savage yesterday,
Will hold the highest place in my heart.
Archie Morgan 464 Sqdn
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: -The ‘Horndean Children of the 1940’s’ (Horndean Heroes Project) would like to acknowledge the flowing for their support in the realisation of this memorial relating to two very brave airmen.
Blendworth Tree Surgeons; Clanfield Good Companions; Chris Earle Home & Garden Services; CWU West Sussex; Douglas and Jan Aird; Mark Tozer and family; East Hampshire District Council; Five Heads Masonic Lodge 8507; Fullers Brewery; Hampshire Flag Company; Horndean News; Horndean Post; Horndean Post Office; J. Rotherham Masonry; Keydell Nurseries; Mr & Mrs A Denton; Mr Nolan Bird; Mr Peter Barge; Mr Gerald Baldwin; North Hazelton Residents Association; Oh So’s Café; Pilgrims Masonic Lodge 9198; Skanska UK; Sound Advice Installations Ltd; The Ship & Bell PH; Bloor Homes; Recycled Furniture.co.uk; Mr R Sykes; Aquam Water Services; Horndean Technical College, Horndean Parish Council and many others.