A MEMORIAL event was held on Sunday, September 1, to honour the 23 lives lost when an aircraft crashed into the Double Hills meadow in Paulton.

The tragedy happened on Sunday, September 17, 1944. This year marked the eightieth anniversary of the Battle for Arnhem and Operation Market Garden, and 45 years since the first Double Hills Memorial event was held. 

Dignitaries were driven to the service site by a convoy of vintage military vehicles
Dignitaries were driven to the service site by a convoy of vintage military vehicles (Will Nicol)

The annual service was organised by Royal Navy and RAF Regiment Reserves veteran Peter Yeates. Peter, who was seven at the time of the crash, formed a committee in the early 1970s with a view to erecting a memorial plinth to commemorate those who lost their lives in the incident.

On September, 23, 1979, the memorial was unveiled by Roy Urquhart, the general commanding the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem and an annual memorial service has been held since.

Jacob Rhys-Mogg gives a small talk at the service
Jacob Rhys-Mogg gives a small talk at the service (Will Nicol)

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Patron of Double Hills, attended the event and addressed the crowd.

The service was opened by Reverend Adam Pitt, Vicar of Paulton, Farrington Gurney and High Littleton. Prayers, poems, hymns and readings were all part of the remembrance event. The service concluded at around 3.30pm.