Under the surface II

Or hidden histories.

I've previously remarked upon the significant buildings and places that are hidden in common sight - the wartime hospital now a cafe, the buried grand Victorian railway terminus, and now a memorial.

This memorial is on the edge of a patch of woodland - Mousehold Heath - near the city centre, edged by a busy road. I wanted to catch a passing car to demonstrate that you can pass by this memorial within a metre or two and have no idea it's there. It reads:
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HONOURING THE MEMORY OF
Plt.OFF COLIN BARTON R.N.Z.A.F FLT.SGT. JAMES LEMON R.C.A.F.
FLT.SGT. ROBERT KATER R.C.A.F. SGT. DONALD CARPENTER R.A.F.V.R

THE CREW OF A BRISTOL BEAUFORT WHICH CRASHED
ON THIS SITE ON 25TH JULY 19-42

AND
SGT.ERNEST NIGHTINGALE D.F.M. R.A.F.V.R.
PILOT OF THE HAMPDEN BOMBER WHICH CRASH-LANDED
IN LONG VALLEY MOUSEHOLD ON 12TH FEBRUARY 19-42

THIS PLAQUE DEDICATED BY THE CITIZENS OF NORWICH ON 22ND APRIL 19-90
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Two crashes within six months might seem unfortunate, but this was at a time when Norwich faced regular air raids, so the dangers were certainly heightened. And, about a mile to the east of here was formerly a major RAF airfield, in 1942 it was a Q site - an empty field rigged to look like an active airfield to draw bombers away from genuine targets - were they hoping to make it to that piece of clear flat land? I have no idea, but very sad anyway.

I'm struck by the international nature - Two British, two Canadians, and one New Zealander.