Bomber Command Memorial Register

Bicker Lancaster Memorial

Bicker, Lincolnshire

Complete Record
Confirmed location?

Photographs

5d22645618588 LI Bicker 3 547x410
5d22645618588 LI Bicker 3 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d226456e0ac6 LI Bicker 4 547x410
5d226456e0ac6 LI Bicker 4 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d226457b3ef4 LI Bicker 5 547x410
5d226457b3ef4 LI Bicker 5 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d2264584f053 LI Bicker 6 547x410
5d2264584f053 LI Bicker 6 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5c012853903a0 Bicker Lancaster 547x410
5c012853903a0 Bicker Lancaster 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online

Location

Bicker, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire

what3words: ///juggler.event.though

Narrative

Lancaster ND820 took off from RAF Downham Market in Norfolk at 10:58 on the morning of 10 April 1944 for a bombing practice flight. The brand-new aircraft had only 6 hours of airtime. Just 22 minutes later, the aircraft was in serious trouble. Over Swineshead, witnesses saw the Lancaster catch fire. The auto-pilot is suspected of having malfunctioned, causing the aircraft to enter a diving turn at 8,000 feet. As the stricken bomber crossed over the village of Bicker, a figure was seen bailing out — this was F/O Thomas Ferguson Wilson, the 26-year-old Canadian navigator from Lucknow, Ontario. Wilson's parachute opened, but he was already dead or dying when he reached the ground. He is buried at Stonefall Cemetery in Harrogate. The Lancaster crashed in flames at Bicker, and the remaining six crew were killed. The fire was so intense that their remains could not be recovered; they are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. For decades, the people of Bicker honoured the seven men in an annual ceremony — and Wilson's family in Canada had no idea. It was not until recently that Canadian journalist CBC News connected the family with the Bicker community. The reunion of family and village was deeply emotional.

Aircraft & Operation Details

Aircraft Type
Lancaster
Serial Number
ND820
Squadron
635 Sqdn.
Station
Downham Market
Date of Loss
1944-04-10
Operation Type
Training
Cause of Loss
Suspected auto-pilot malfunction; aircraft entered diving turn at 8,000 feet and caught fire; brand-new aircraft with only 6 hours airtime

Crew (7 members)

RankNameRoleAgeNationalityFateBurial / Status
Fl/SgtJoseph Bernard BannanPilot24BritishKilledRunnymede Memorial (unrecovered)CWGC
Fl/SgtDouglas James FarrantFlight Engineer—BritishKilledRunnymede Memorial (unrecovered)CWGC
Fl/SgtAnthony Ivor HunterNavigator28BritishKilledRunnymede Memorial (unrecovered)CWGC
W/ORoland Thornton LordAir Bomber25BritishKilledRunnymede Memorial (unrecovered)CWGC
SgtReuben Horace MalthouseWireless Operator23BritishKilledRunnymede Memorial (unrecovered)CWGC
SgtJohn William NixonAir Gunner19BritishKilledRunnymede Memorial (unrecovered)CWGC
F/OThomas Ferguson WilsonNavigator26CanadianKilledHarrogate (Stonefall) CemeteryCWGC

About the Crew

Fl/Sgt Joseph Bernard Bannan(age 24)Pilot

Fl/Sgt Bannan was 24 years old. He had 254 hours total flying time with only 15 hours on the Lancaster type.

F/O Thomas Ferguson Wilson(age 26)Navigator

From Lucknow, Ontario, Canada

F/O Wilson was 26 years old, from Lucknow, Ontario, Canada. For decades his family had no idea that the village of Bicker held annual commemoration ceremonies in his honour. CBC News recently connected the family with the Bicker community in a deeply emotional reunion.

Memorial Details

Type
Memorial plaque

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Bicker Parish Council

Local Contacts

These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.

Boston & District Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Bicker Parish Councilparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

Bicker Parish CouncilRetrieved 2026-03-23

Bicker Parish Council hosts Dave Stubley's detailed research on Lancaster ND820, documenting how the brand-new aircraft (only 6 hours airtime) went into a diving turn at 8,000 feet during a bombing practice flight and crashed in flames. The auto-pilot is suspected of having malfunctioned.

Aircraft had only 6 hours airtimeEntered diving turn at 8,000 feetAuto-pilot malfunction suspectedPilot Farrant had 254 hours total, 15 on type

IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23

IWM records the Lancaster ND820 memorial at Bicker, Lincolnshire, erected on the 60th anniversary of the crash.

IWM memorial reference 59226

War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23

War Memorials Online documents the memorial on Eaudike Road, Bicker, built directly over the impact point by the Lincolnshire Aircraft Recovery Group (LARG) and unveiled on 10 April 2004.

Memorial built over exact impact pointErected by Lincolnshire Aircraft Recovery GroupUnveiled 10 April 2004, 60th anniversary

CBC News CanadaRetrieved 2026-03-23

CBC News reported on the emotional reunion between the Canadian family of F/O Thomas Ferguson Wilson and the Bicker community, who had honoured the seven airmen in annual ceremonies for decades without the family's knowledge. Wilson, 26, from Lucknow, Ontario, bailed out but was dead or dying when he reached the ground.

Wilson's family in Canada unaware of annual ceremonies for decadesCBC connected family with Bicker communityWilson bailed out but was already dead or dyingReunion described as deeply emotional

Sources

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
Bicker Parish Council (retrieved 2026-03-23)
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
CBC News Canada (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-23

Nearby Memorials

Scredington Lancaster Memorial
Scredington, LincolnshireLancaster1943-06-18
13.8 km
away
South Kyme Halifax Memorial
South Kyme, LincolnshireHalifax1943-11-04
14.2 km
away
Sibsey memorial) Memorial
Sibsey, LincolnshireLancaster (details on memorial)WW2
19.2 km
away
Tattershall (2) Lancaster Memorial
Tattershall (2), LincolnshireLancaster1945-07-13
20.0 km
away
Tattershall (1) Lancaster Memorial
Tattershall (1), LincolnshireLancaster1943-03-30
21.5 km
away

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