Lt. John Aiden Beech Masefield R.A..C. (1914-1942) was the son of Rev. William Beech Masefield, B.A. and Eileen Muriel Roe.
His father died on the on 4th Oct. 1940, when the car he was driving on the road between Stopham and Hardham (where he served as Rector of both parish churches) was hit by one of 3 bombs jettisoned from a German Dornier bomber returning from a raid. The other 2 bombs landed in nearby fields. Two brothers (boy evacuees from London) and their visiting mother had been picking crab-apples from the roadside hedgerow when the bomber loomed low, causing them all to dive into the hedge. Thankfully they were not injured and promptly the mother led the boys away from the scene.
There is a roadside memorial to Rev. Masefield where he was killed; the road no longer serves as a main road, with the A283 running a few yards to its south. The outline of the bomb crater can still be seen. The youngest of the evacuees still visits and tends the roadside memorial every year on 4th October. As at 15th August 2021, he is 88 years of age and can still vividly recall the sound, and sensation, of the 3 bombs hitting the ground and exploding. My, now late, mother and I met him whilst also paying our respects at the memorial. As a child living in Hardham, she had known Rev. Masefield. She recalled hearing the exploding bombs whilst shopping some distance away in Lower Street, Pulborough and then heard the very sad news of Rev. Masefield's demise.
Hanging on the wall in the Village Hall at Stopham is a painting capturing the scene of the Dornier bomber releasing its bombs on 4th October 1940. This was painted by the evacuee when in his 70s, and he says it portrays the vivid image that has stayed in his mind ever since the fateful event.
His father died on the on 4th Oct. 1940, when the car he was driving on the road between Stopham and Hardham (where he served as Rector of both parish churches) was hit by one of 3 bombs jettisoned from a German Dornier bomber returning from a raid. The other 2 bombs landed in nearby fields. Two brothers (boy evacuees from London) and their visiting mother had been picking crab-apples from the roadside hedgerow when the bomber loomed low, causing them all to dive into the hedge. Thankfully they were not injured and promptly the mother led the boys away from the scene.
There is a roadside memorial to Rev. Masefield where he was killed; the road no longer serves as a main road, with the A283 running a few yards to its south. The outline of the bomb crater can still be seen. The youngest of the evacuees still visits and tends the roadside memorial every year on 4th October. As at 15th August 2021, he is 88 years of age and can still vividly recall the sound, and sensation, of the 3 bombs hitting the ground and exploding. My, now late, mother and I met him whilst also paying our respects at the memorial. As a child living in Hardham, she had known Rev. Masefield. She recalled hearing the exploding bombs whilst shopping some distance away in Lower Street, Pulborough and then heard the very sad news of Rev. Masefield's demise.
Hanging on the wall in the Village Hall at Stopham is a painting capturing the scene of the Dornier bomber releasing its bombs on 4th October 1940. This was painted by the evacuee when in his 70s, and he says it portrays the vivid image that has stayed in his mind ever since the fateful event.
Lt. John Aiden Beech Masefield R.A..C. (1914-1942) was the son of Rev. William Beech Masefield, B.A. and Eileen Muriel Roe.
His father died on the on 4th Oct. 1940, when the car he was driving on the road between Stopham and Hardham (where he served as Rector of both parish churches) was hit by one of 3 bombs jettisoned from a German Dornier bomber returning from a raid. The other 2 bombs landed in nearby fields. Two brothers (boy evacuees from London) and their visiting mother had been picking crab-apples from the roadside hedgerow when the bomber loomed low, causing them all to dive into the hedge. Thankfully they were not injured and promptly the mother led the boys away from the scene.
There is a roadside memorial to Rev. Masefield where he was killed; the road no longer serves as a main road, with the A283 running a few yards to its south. The outline of the bomb crater can still be seen. The youngest of the evacuees still visits and tends the roadside memorial every year on 4th October. As at 15th August 2021, he is 88 years of age and can still vividly recall the sound, and sensation, of the 3 bombs hitting the ground and exploding. My, now late, mother and I met him whilst also paying our respects at the memorial. As a child living in Hardham, she had known Rev. Masefield. She recalled hearing the exploding bombs whilst shopping some distance away in Lower Street, Pulborough and then heard the very sad news of Rev. Masefield's demise.
Hanging on the wall in the Village Hall at Stopham is a painting capturing the scene of the Dornier bomber releasing its bombs on 4th October 1940. This was painted by the evacuee when in his 70s, and he says it portrays the vivid image that has stayed in his mind ever since the fateful event.
His father died on the on 4th Oct. 1940, when the car he was driving on the road between Stopham and Hardham (where he served as Rector of both parish churches) was hit by one of 3 bombs jettisoned from a German Dornier bomber returning from a raid. The other 2 bombs landed in nearby fields. Two brothers (boy evacuees from London) and their visiting mother had been picking crab-apples from the roadside hedgerow when the bomber loomed low, causing them all to dive into the hedge. Thankfully they were not injured and promptly the mother led the boys away from the scene.
There is a roadside memorial to Rev. Masefield where he was killed; the road no longer serves as a main road, with the A283 running a few yards to its south. The outline of the bomb crater can still be seen. The youngest of the evacuees still visits and tends the roadside memorial every year on 4th October. As at 15th August 2021, he is 88 years of age and can still vividly recall the sound, and sensation, of the 3 bombs hitting the ground and exploding. My, now late, mother and I met him whilst also paying our respects at the memorial. As a child living in Hardham, she had known Rev. Masefield. She recalled hearing the exploding bombs whilst shopping some distance away in Lower Street, Pulborough and then heard the very sad news of Rev. Masefield's demise.
Hanging on the wall in the Village Hall at Stopham is a painting capturing the scene of the Dornier bomber releasing its bombs on 4th October 1940. This was painted by the evacuee when in his 70s, and he says it portrays the vivid image that has stayed in his mind ever since the fateful event.
Gravesite Details
Lieutenant, Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C.. Age: 27.
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