Pidley Mosquito Memorial
1.7 miles away
Cambridgeshire
Somersham Wellington Memorial
Somersham, Cambridgeshire
Partial Record
Photographs
The Memorial
It is maintained by Somersham Parish Council.
Type
Plaque commemorating civilian casualties
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Somersham, Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire
what3words: ///isolated.rebounder.limitless
OS Grid Ref: TL3577
What Happened
The Wellington X3811 GT-? of 156 Sqn, having departed Warboys at 1910 for Ops Aachen, iced up and suffered an in-flight fire. The crew abandoned the aircraft and safely bailed out. Tragically, the aircraft crashed onto a row of houses in the village of Somersham, resulting in heavy loss of civilian life.
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
Do you know of any commemorative events or annual services held at this memorial? We would love to hear from local communities who remember.
Share remembrance informationAircraft & Operation Details
Crew
Crew bailed out; 11 civilians killed (including children) when aircraft crashed into houses
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Somersham Parish Council
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Somersham Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Somersham Parish Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23
War Memorials Online listing for the memorial plaque to those killed in the crash of 156 Squadron Wellington X3811. Records the plaque commemorating the 11 civilian casualties of the crash.
What you'll find: Memorial: Somersham Wellington Memorial - War Memorials Online records 11 civilian casualties from crashed 156 Squadron Wellington aircraft.
Memorial plaque for civilian casualties156 Squadron Wellington
Geograph Britain and IrelandRetrieved 2026-03-23
Photographic record of the memorial plaque to eleven Somersham civilians killed when Wellington X3811 crashed into cottages next to Whitehall in October 1942. The crew bailed out safely but the uncontrolled aircraft struck residential buildings.
What you'll find: Photographic records of eleven Somersham civilians memorialized for their loss due to Wellington aircraft crash in 1942.
Crashed into cottages next to WhitehallCrew bailed out safely before crashBad weather and severe icing caused crew to lose control
Geograph Britain and Ireland (Whitehall)Retrieved 2026-03-23
Photograph of Whitehall, Somersham, now a school, which narrowly escaped destruction when the Wellington crashed into adjacent cottages. Provides visual context of the crash site location.
What you'll find: View historical photograph capturing Wellington Memorial's aftermath in Somersham, Whitehall.
Whitehall building narrowly missedBuilding now used as a school
Nearby Memorials
Sources
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph Britain and Ireland (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph Britain and Ireland (Whitehall) (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph Cambridgeshire (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-03-21
Do you have additional information, photographs, or corrections for this record? We welcome contributions from researchers, families, and local communities.
Suggest a correction or additionCan You Help Complete This Record?
This record for Somersham Wellington Memorial is partially complete. We’re looking for additional details such as crew information, photographs, narrative history, or source references.
Email admin@bombermemorial.co.uk or contribute directly via our GitHub repository