For Crown and Country
The book “For Crown and Country” was produced by a dedicated working group of the Bozeat Parish Council and it was launched in January 2010.
Copies are available from the Parish Clerk. Contact details are available on the contact page.
Below are the lists of those brave men who fell, both in the World War I (1914 – 1918), and in World War II (1939 -1945), giving the dates when they fell and the locations with the memorials where they are remembered. We have also included Lt John J.Ahern, an American Air Force pilot, who sacrificed his own life by staying with his aircraft in order to steer it away from the village.
We were delighted with the interest shown in the second book – “For Crown & Country.. coming home” – but have sold all our copies.
1914-1918 World War I
1939-1945 World War II
Lt John Ahern USAF
John J. “Jack” Ahern Jnr enlisted in the United States Air Force on 20th July 1942, becoming a flight officer in March 1944. He received a commission as a second lieutenant in September of 1944. He was married with a daughter.
Jack arrived in England in October 1944 and flew on more than 300 combat missions originating out of Kimbolton, Bedfordshire.
On Sunday, 16th December 1944, the crew were sent out on a mission targeting German marshalling yards. The plan involved 116 aircraft from Kimbolton airfield, including the Eighth Air Force’s 303rd, 379th and 384th bomb groups. The aircraft were approved for take-off at 9am that morning. The mission was scheduled to last around 7 hours.
An hour into the flight, the mission was scrubbed due to deteriorating weather. With Jack’s aircraft losing height – it had one engine on fire and the other disabled, Jack Ahern ordered the eight members of his crew to bale out and they all parachuted to safety. Jack told the crew he would bale out once he had steered the plane past the village he could see below – Bozeat – he never followed the crew, he was killed when the bomber crashed and exploded close to Red Gables Farm, London Road, Bozeat. The farm buildings were damaged by the blast but the farmer’s family were unharmed.
The rural farming village of Bozeat and the 1100 residents were spared from destruction because of Jack’s decision not to leave the controls of his plane – he gave his life for Bozeat.
To show their gratitude and to express their sympathy, a house-to-house collection was made by members of the Women’s Voluntary Service in the village and the amount collected (£17) was sent to Jack’s mother.
The villagers recognised Jack’s sacrifice in a letter to his Chief Officer, Colonel Lyle, who then sent a testimonial to the villagers, which remains on the Memorial Altar in St Mary’s Church, Bozeat. 400 people gathered in the church when the plaque was handed over by an American Air Force Chaplin.
Lt Ahern’s name is read out at the annual Service of Remembrance in St Mary’s Church and his sacrifice will never be forgotten by the grateful people of Bozeat.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them.