Google Map of Tilton on the hill

Colborough Hill

Colborough Hill, situated to the south of Salisbury Arms, Halstead, was the site of a crash of a Wellington bomber in 1941. The aircraft, which was on a mission from RAF Newton in Nottinghamshire to Boulogne crashed around 04:45 on 28 May 1941 on its return. It was emerging from the low cloud base. On impact the Wellington broke into two sections.

The following were on board:

Rank Position Name Personal ID Age Destiny Burial Place Notes
Sergeant Pilot Vernon Douglas Huggett 745281 23 Killed Southend-on-Sea (Sutton Road) Cemetery, Plot H Grave 14438 Son of Mr and Mrs Huggett (nee Iron) of Essex. Married Kathleen E Burrells in 1940 in Southend.
Sergeant Pilot Vernon Edward Pereira 1251844 19 Killed Rougham St. Mary churchyard, Suffolk Son of Maj. Frederick Vernon Cowper Pereira, The Suffolk Regt., and Margaret Challis Pereira, of Bury St. Edmunds.
Sergeant Observer Peter Jarvis 759159 20 Killed Hatfield Road Cemetery, St. Albans Son of Capt. Cecil James Jarvis and Beatrice Ethel Jarvis, of St. Albans.
Flight Sergeant Ernest Burton Wilcox 625946 23 Killed Burwell Cemetery, Cambridgeshire Section C Grace 117 Son of William Cossack Wilcox and Sarah Elizabeth Hardwick Wilcox, of Clapham, London.
Sergeant Air Gunner Michael Edward Gardiner 968317 19 Killed Cottesmore St. Nicholas Churchyard Extension Son of Douglas Iven Gardiner and Constance Joan Persis Gardiner, of Peermade, Travancore, India.
Warrant Officer Air Gunner Lewis Edmunds 621557 29 Injured - Broke Back Consett Blackhill and Blackhill Old Cemetery Section 13 Grave 32 Son of Robert and Jane Edmunds, of Blackhill; husband of Georgina Edmunds, of Consett. Awarded DFM (Distinguished Flying Medal) in 1943. He died from Polio 31 Jul 1943. See bio from Hilary Ramshaw, daughter
RAF 150 Squadron Vickers Wellington

Sources:
Lost Aircraft
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
150 Squadron Memories
RAF History - 150 Squadron