Havenstreet Memorial

From where I was staying on the Ilse of Wight, I usually took the backroad into Newport, then out again in which ever direction I was headed. Most routes on the Island pass through Newport! The first time I did this, I saw a small building on top a hill, just before the village of Havenstreet. When heading back in the other direction I could see a pull-in and a gate. I drove past it several times, and then on the penultimate day of my holiday, curiosity got the better of me, I was in no hurry, and had a handful of exposures left on the roll, I pulled in.

Through the gate and up the path, the building above came into view. I still didn’t know what it was. The view looking out from it was wonderful. A black and white photo doesn’t really do it justice.

It turns out that this is a memorial to 2nd Lieutenant Richard Thomas Cyril Willis-Fleming, who was killed, aged just 20, in the first World War in 1916. We often hear stories of people killed in Flanders, Ypres or Passchendaele, but Lieutenant Willis-Fleming was killed at the battle of Romani near Sinai. It was the second anniversary of England’s declaration of war on Germany, and very sadly the day following the Lieutenants 20th birthday. This memorial was erected in his honour by his parents who lived locally.

It has since been dedicated to include others who died in that “Great” war, and also USAAF Major E W Leach. He was a decorated US pilot, held a DFC, (Distinguished Flying Cross) and was a test pilot, based at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire. On 19th July 1945 he was flying near Havenstreet when the port fuel tank detached throwing the plane into a un-controllable fatal spin. A bronze plaque inside was added on 12th April 1994 to ensure his sacrifice was remembered locally.

All of these photo’s were made on the last roll of my bulk loaded Ilford Delta 100, developed in FX21. I think that this film/developer combination is one of those “good matches” that happen. Certainly if I ever use another bulk length or a few rolls of the film at once I’ll mix another batch of FX21. Camera, as usual for this trip was the ever trusty (at least for another 24 hours) Canon EOS30 with the 40mm STM!