Notts RAF hero finally remembered

Flt Lt Cumberworth's heroic actions prevented many civilian deaths

A Nottingham bomber pilot, who prevented a disaster during World War Two, has been remembered at a service of dedication.

Flight Lieutenant Leslie Cumberworth died when the Halifax bomber he was piloting crashed near the Yorkshire village of Swanland.

If it had not been for his bravery, the plane, that was laden with ammunition, would have crashed into the village.

The dedication service was held following a long search for relatives.

The true story of Flight Lieutenant Cumberworth has been difficult to uncover. For years his family was told the pilot had died when his plane was shot down over Germany during a bombing raid.

They only learnt the truth following investigative work by a Swanland villager.

The need for a memorial

Eighty-eight-year old Tom Waller is the man who revealed the facts. He did it because he was worried the story of Flt Lt Cumberworth and his crew would be forgotten.

"I was out with the church in Yorkshire and the organiser of the trip stopped at the end of a road and showed me a monument to a plane that had crashed. I thought something should be done about the one that crashed in my village and took it on my shoulders to do it.

"I don't think there are many people in Swanland now who know anything about it because most of the old people have died."

The crash happened in September 1944. Flt Lt Cumberworth, from Nottingham, was test flying a Halifax bomber. Approaching the Yorkshire village of Swanland it developed a fault which prevented the pilot from achieving sufficient lift.

Although there were no bombs on board the Halifax did contain machine guns and ammunition. It was heading directly for houses in the village.

Despite clipping a tree, Flt Lt Cumberworth managed to avoid Swanland but could not prevent the plane from crashing into a hill behind the village. He died along with Flying Officer Jack Easdale from London.

It's been hard work but I'm glad I've achieved something. Everybody that was in the forces deserves to be remembered. Flt Lt Cumberworth plaque originator Tom Waller

Village detective

Mr Waller, a fitter-armourer with 109 Pathfinder Squadron during World War Two, was keen to invite relatives of Flt Lt Cumberworth to the dedication service.

Despite approaching local radio stations and newspapers it proved more difficult than he expected.

"Everywhere I went I came up against a blank. I got on to the Royal Graves Commission but they had no information.

"The cemetery where he's buried (in Beverley, Yorkshire) had no information. Even on his grave there's only his name, number and rank. Not even his age is on it.

"I've been over and put a poppy wreath on his grave because there was nothing there at all.

"I wrote to the records office at Gloucester. They told me he came from Nottingham."

Happy ending

It was not until after the plaque had been made and put in Swanland church that a relative came forward.

Flt Lt Cumberworth was David Cumberworth's uncle. He only found out about his relative because a niece in Australia contacted him.

"I was totally surprised," said Mr Cumberworth, 62, from Clifton, Nottingham.

"For 65 years we'd been told he was shot down over Germany. He was actually test flying a Halifax and I suppose at the time this would have been secret given the circumstances of war. That's why the Ministry of Defence didn't give the whole story."

The tale has a happy ending. In November 2009, villagers from Swanland watched Mr Cumberworth unveil the commemorative plaque during a service of dedication.

"It's very special for me because I'm ex-army and an ex-policeman," said Mr Cumberworth. "It's very important for me personally and for my mother."

They are sentiments echoed by Tom Waller.

"I'm pleased. Half the time I was coming against brick walls. I sent stamped addressed envelopes out and had no reply. It's been hard work but I'm glad I've achieved something.

"Everybody that was in the forces and achieved something deserves to be remembered."