Royal Observer Corps

The Observer Corps post was originally located at ‘The Stage’ Hurst Green and was then moved to the top of Silver Hill. Later a subterranean post was added.

During WW2 the Chief Observer was Edward Tichurst, proprietor of E.H.Ticehurst grocers in Northbridge Street.

Home Guard Exercises

During World War 2 many Canadian Army troops were stationed locally and were occasionally involved with the local Home Guard in exercises in and around Robertsbridge.

On one of these the target for the Canadians was the local Telephone Exchange at the top of George Hill (now the site of Orchard Flats).

St Johns Ambulance

I believe the St Johns post was located at the railway crossing at Northbridge Street. Two members were Sidney Woodgate and Alec Taylor

Robertsbridge Landing Ground (Pre war)

During the1930s, the field North of Langham Road - and now, I believe, partly built on by the Community College - had large white letters spelling out ROBERTSBRIDGE embedded therein.

This was a navigational aid for the Imperial Airways Handley Page HP 42 and 45 Airliners en route to and from Croydon (at the time London's main airport) and Paris.

Planes were large, four-engine bi-planes and looked very impressive, especially as dusk fell, as they were flying quite low and were well lit up.

The field was occasionally used as a landing ground by the "Barnstormers" who travelled around the country offering joy-rides. I believe there was some friendly rivalry between some of the local young men as to who would fly first and try to impress the young ladies!!

The lettering had to be removed quickly when war broke out in 1939 /45. (By Len Woodgate)

Three Robertsbridge RAF Airmen

Three young boys from Robertsbridge who attended Salehurst School would eventually join the Royal Air Force. Growing up in wartime Britain it was inevitable that they would be called upon to serve in the defence of the country, All three volunteered to serve in the Royal Air Force, two would join Bomber Command and one would serve with Costal Command.

Alan Aimes

Bert Avann

Roy Woodgate

Alan Amies volunteered to join RAF Bomber Command in 1943. He trained at RAF Croughton flying the Airspeed Oxford, then graduated to RAF Bruntingthorpe flying the Vickers Wellington. From here he moved to RAF Stradishall flying the Short Stirling and, after passing the course, joined No.15 Squadron at RAF Mildenhall flying the Short Stirling.

Alan carried out two operational sorties with 15 Squadron flying the Stirling and he and the Squadron converted to the Avro Lancaster. He carried out 15 operations and was shot down on his 18th operation to attack railway yards at Leuven, Belgium and killed along with the seven members of his crew.

He is buried at Leuven Communal Cemetery and he is remembered on a family grave in Salehurst Church Yard.

Painting depicting Lancaster Bomber "LL752" with Alan Aimes and crew

Painted by Douglas Webber

11 May 1944

Title "Evening at Dispersal Mildenhall"

Bert received a number of awards and honours including the Bomber Command Clasp and 1939-45 star and in 2017 he was awarded the rank of ‘Chevalier’ in the Ordre national de la Legion d’honneur by the French President, for his role while serving with 218 Squadron helping to liberate France.

Research of the 218 Squadron records so far has revealed that Bert Avann completed at least 25 operations and aborted 1, due to weather. All the raids were undertaken in daylight, one of which was on the 2nd November to Homberg. This target had been attacked on the 1st November but the attack was not considered a success thus the target was attacked again on the 2nd November. The remains of 44 Squadron Lancaster LM650 on display at the museum, are a casualty of the heavy flak encountered on the 1st November attack. Although the allies had air superiority over most of Europe by mid 1944 the ground defences were possibly even more lethal as radar aids and search lights were not required to spot enemy aircraft.

Of the 26 operations 10 were completed in Lancaster Mk.1PD279 HA-W, which survived the war, returning to its maker, A.V.Roe, on 21st December 1945 and struck off charge 7 days later. PD729 was equipped with Gee-H which was a navigation aid that allowed the aircraft to bomb through cloud with reasonable accuracy and could direct as many as 80 bombers at a time. With the introduction of daylight bombing and the use of coloured tail fins for squadron identification, No. 3 Group devised the use of two yellow bars on the tail fin to indicate a Gee-H equipped aircraft.

After the war Bert became involved with the Royal British Legion, he had a passion for cricket and once worked for Gray-Nicolls in the village making cricket bats. Albert is survived by two children, his wife Jean, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Albert Alan Avann lived to the age 96. Bert was always interested in the aviation museum and visited many times to see the collection. He once took a seat in our Lancaster rear gun turret. Before his funeral service Bert was taken on one last journey through the village to Salehurst Church, leaving Heathfield Gardens, past Bishops Lane, down George Hill, past The George then into Station Road, to Robertsbridge Club before turning back on to the High Street past The Seven Stars, the Recreation Ground and Rotherview before arriving at the church. Just before the funeral service a flypast was conducted by Percival Jet Provost XN367 arranged by Patricia Tomkins, who lives in Robertsbridge.

Aviation Museum Vice-Chairman, Julian Chandler, has been granted access to Bert’s logbooks and a more detailed study of Bert’s operations will be carried out and a small display dedicated to him will be created at the museum.

Bert Avann was born in 1925 and was keen to join the RAF as a young boy.

He was 18 when he started his initial training in 1943, at the Aircrew Receiving Centre in St John’s Wood, London. He then joined 218 Squadron as a rear gunner flying in the Lancaster. Bert wrote some notes on his RAF service. One part related to how he would prepare for Operations with his crew mates before being transported to the aircraft. Once at the crew door his mates would enter the aircraft and turn right to their respective stations at the front of the aircraft, and some comfort - while Bert would turn left climb over the tail-plane spar, then out through the aircraft rear fuselage doors and into the rear turret. Once in the turret, the fuselage doors were closed followed by the turret doors. He was basically outside the aircraft in a cold and drafty turret. The only connection to his mates was via the aircraft’s intercom. There he would stay for the duration of the operation - often several hours.

Lancaster Mk.1 PD279 based at Chedburgh

PD279 was built by Metropolitan Vickers or Metrovick at Trafford Park Manchester as part of a batch of 200 aircraft built between June and December 1944.

Roy Woodgate served in the RAF during WW2 as a ‘Pilots Mate’ having been trained as a bomb aimer, wireless operator and gunner.

He served with No. 36 Squadron who operated Vickers Wellington Mk.XIV aircraft equipped with a Leigh Light mounted under the rear fuselage.

No.36 Squadron were deployed to the Mediterranean operating from North Africa and whilst on a patrol Roy’s Wellington flew into the sea after the pilot was blinded by the aircraft’s search light. Roy was rescued but was badly wounded. After a long convalescence period Roy left the RAF only to re-join several years later serving on High Speed Launches, initially in Scotland, enjoying his tome on the very powerful boats.

After leaving the RAF Roy worked for Nicoltoys, a wooden toy manufacturer based in Station Road, Robertsbridge before setting up a Newsagents with his wife Jill also in Station Road. Roy has been a supporter of the Society since its inception in 1964 and a member for many years. In recognition of his continued support of the Society the committee have decided to make Roy an honorary member.

On the occasion of Roy's 100th birthday, a card depicting the 36 Squadron crest and a 36 Squadron Wellington at work was made by Trevor and Suzi Woodgate and sent to Roy on behalf of all the members of the Aviation Society