Two former air cadets from different eras were remembered during a service at Newark Cemetery on Saturday.
Air cadets, led by, left, Flight-lieutenant Mark Edwards and Pilot Officer Nick Squire, of the Newark squadron, march to the war graves section at Newark Cemetery. - 260708MAT2-16
Fourteen members of 1260 Squadron Newark Air Training Corps marched to the war graves, where the Newark team curate, the Rev Tim Pownall-Jones, led a service at the grave of Keith Couzin-Wood.
The service followed research by the cadets into the plane crash that killed him, aged 16, on July 29, 1942.
Keith, who was on his first flight, was in an RAF Hampden bomber from 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, when it stalled and crashed soon after take off from RAF Balderton.
The crew, who also included another cadet, Geoffrey Hughes of Chesterfield, and two flying officers, were all killed.
It is hoped the memorial service, on the Saturday closest to Keith’s death, could become an annual event.
Mr Pownall-Jones said: “Those young men stood out because of their uniform and what that uniform still represents.
“The young men and women here today are champions of the same core values of the services.”
He said the values were teamwork, initiative, dedication and being young at heart, and that the first letters of those words spelt tidy. He said when the cadets checked their uniforms were tidy they should think of those values.
Cadet Andrew Tallis (13) lays a wreath in memory of Sergeant Michael Patton. - 260708MAT2-5
During a minute’s silence flags were lowered by corporal Sam Parkes (16) and Mr Robert Doyle, the standard bearer for Newark Royal British Legion.
Mrs Karen Grayson, the mother of a current cadet, Kristian Grayson, read a poem called Somebody’s Darling.
Cadet Joe Parkes (14) laid a wreath.
The Mayor of Newark, Mr Harry Molyneux, said: “The youngsters wanted to serve their country but little did they know what could happen to them. They were very brave.”
Keith was from Leigh-on-Sea and his father’s family were from Southwell and Normanton. The cadets tracked down Keith’s nephew, who is in his seventies and lives in Australia.
One of the pallbearers at Keith’s funeral was Mr Jack Stringer (85) of Grosvenor Road, Balderton. He was unable to attend the ceremony due to illness and was represented by his wife, Mrs Irene Stringer (83).
She said her husband, who was a corporal in the RAF stationed at Balderton, was sorry he could not be there.
The cadets also honoured Sergeant Michael Patton, a former cadet of the Newark squadron, who died in September 1996 when he fell from an RAF helicopter during an exercise over south Wales.
Cadet Andrew Tallis (13) laid a wreath beside a memorial tree and plaque for Sergeant Patton near the London Road entrance to the cemetery.
Mr Patton’s niece, Miss Natalie Henstock (24) of Newark, represented his family.
She said her grandparents, Mr and Mrs Brian Patton, of Bathley, who are Mr Patton’s parents, and her mother, Ruth Hughes, of William Street, Newark, who is Mr Patton’s sister, were unable to attend.
Mr Patton’s father-in-law, Mr Chris Grant, of The Park, Newark, attended along with his wife, Mrs Doreen Grant.
The cadets, who meet at their Sherwood Avenue headquarters on Tuesdays and Thursdays, are looking for adult helpers. An open evening takes place on September 30.
