Afternoon all, This is my first Report, apologies for the quality of the photos, they were taken on phones that were not known for there camera quality 
This is the site of two Memorials dedicated to two downed World war 2 Pilots we discovered while Geocaching a couple of years ago.
HISTORY
Alexander Bruce Kynoch of 37 Squadron, joined the RFC in 1916.
He left Stow Maries Airfield on the night of 7th March 1918 in a BE12 C3208 in search of a reported lone raider heading for London.
Captain Henry Stroud of 61 Squadron based at Rochford took off about the same time in SE5a B679
Many planes had been grounded that night because of the weather.
The aircraft collided in the darkness and fell into a field on Dollymans Farm
The two memorials were originally placed on site with two nine foot crosses by the then landowner, Mr. W.W. Wilson, a gentleman farmer. An Officer from 37 (HD) Squadron flew down soon afterwards and landed at the farm, bringing with him a small memorial to be placed at the foot of Kynoch's memorial. We think that over the passage of time, this memorial was later placed at the base of Strouds memorial. The parents of both airmen visited the respective crash sites, and wrote very moving letters to Mr. Wilson thanking him for his kindness and consideration towards the earthly remains of their respective sons.
Later as time progressed two more fashionable memorials appeared which were paid for by the parents.
Captain Stroud is buried in the churchyard of St Andrews Church in Rochford and Captain Kynochs grave, is in the Victorian part of North Finchley cemetery.
THE EXPLORE
In 2019 my Son Thomas and I were very much into GeoCaching, basically it's searching for containers using clues and an app with the GPS co-ordinates.
We would spend a lot of time at weekends trying out places nearby to us and working out further each week.
This Particular week would take us to a location named Dollyman's Farm in Wickford, our Map would show that there were 4 Geocaches to find in a walk called 'Henry's loop'
We parked up and started walking when we bumped into the lady who created this set of Cache's, I asked her whether 'Henry' was named after her dog, she explained it was named after Henry Clifford Stroud, an airman who had come down in the field and that we would come across the memorial on our walk. We were intrigued at this point
This the basic loop which takes you round a public footpath right up to the memorials:-
Henry Clifford Strouds Memorial
Alexander Bruce Kynoch's Memorial
As we started our walk, we quickly got the first Geocache and made our way past a fishing lake and then past a railway bridge to the second Cache.
We were wondering what we were looking for when Thomas ran off up the field and we came across the memorial for Henry Clifford Stroud
First Memorial taken end of 2019
On another visit to capture some more photos;
Close up of Clifford's Memorial
The propeller is a nice touch
A sign right next it showing the Pilots...
We then made our way over to the location of the second Pilot's memorial - Alexander Bruce Kynoch
I think it was this point where Thomas started to become interested in History being able to see stuff like this up close and then reading up about the pilots made it very interesting.
This is just a short report, please let me know if I haven't filled it in correctly and I'll revise it.
Thanks
Austin
This is the site of two Memorials dedicated to two downed World war 2 Pilots we discovered while Geocaching a couple of years ago.
HISTORY
Alexander Bruce Kynoch of 37 Squadron, joined the RFC in 1916.
He left Stow Maries Airfield on the night of 7th March 1918 in a BE12 C3208 in search of a reported lone raider heading for London.
Captain Henry Stroud of 61 Squadron based at Rochford took off about the same time in SE5a B679
Many planes had been grounded that night because of the weather.
The aircraft collided in the darkness and fell into a field on Dollymans Farm
The two memorials were originally placed on site with two nine foot crosses by the then landowner, Mr. W.W. Wilson, a gentleman farmer. An Officer from 37 (HD) Squadron flew down soon afterwards and landed at the farm, bringing with him a small memorial to be placed at the foot of Kynoch's memorial. We think that over the passage of time, this memorial was later placed at the base of Strouds memorial. The parents of both airmen visited the respective crash sites, and wrote very moving letters to Mr. Wilson thanking him for his kindness and consideration towards the earthly remains of their respective sons.
Later as time progressed two more fashionable memorials appeared which were paid for by the parents.
Captain Stroud is buried in the churchyard of St Andrews Church in Rochford and Captain Kynochs grave, is in the Victorian part of North Finchley cemetery.
THE EXPLORE
In 2019 my Son Thomas and I were very much into GeoCaching, basically it's searching for containers using clues and an app with the GPS co-ordinates.
We would spend a lot of time at weekends trying out places nearby to us and working out further each week.
This Particular week would take us to a location named Dollyman's Farm in Wickford, our Map would show that there were 4 Geocaches to find in a walk called 'Henry's loop'
We parked up and started walking when we bumped into the lady who created this set of Cache's, I asked her whether 'Henry' was named after her dog, she explained it was named after Henry Clifford Stroud, an airman who had come down in the field and that we would come across the memorial on our walk. We were intrigued at this point
This the basic loop which takes you round a public footpath right up to the memorials:-
Henry Clifford Strouds Memorial
Alexander Bruce Kynoch's Memorial
As we started our walk, we quickly got the first Geocache and made our way past a fishing lake and then past a railway bridge to the second Cache.
We were wondering what we were looking for when Thomas ran off up the field and we came across the memorial for Henry Clifford Stroud
First Memorial taken end of 2019
On another visit to capture some more photos;
Close up of Clifford's Memorial
The propeller is a nice touch
A sign right next it showing the Pilots...
We then made our way over to the location of the second Pilot's memorial - Alexander Bruce Kynoch
I think it was this point where Thomas started to become interested in History being able to see stuff like this up close and then reading up about the pilots made it very interesting.
This is just a short report, please let me know if I haven't filled it in correctly and I'll revise it.
Thanks
Austin
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