Bomber Command Memorial Register

Somersham Wellington Memorial

Somersham, Cambridgeshire

Partial Record
Approximate location?

Help us verify this location. This memorial's position is not yet precisely confirmed. If you have local knowledge, photographs, or documentary evidence of the exact site, we'd love to hear from you.

Photographs

5d16695497501 Somersham 1 547x410
5d16695497501 Somersham 1 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d1669558fc2b Somersham 2 547x410
5d1669558fc2b Somersham 2 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online

Location

Somersham, Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire

what3words: ///isolated.rebounder.limitless

Aircraft & Operation Details

156 Squadron badgeWe light the way
Aircraft Type
Wellington
Serial Number
X3811
Squadron
156 Squadron
Station
Warboys
Date of Loss
1942-10-05

Crew

Crew bailed out; 11 civilians killed (including children) when aircraft crashed into houses

Memorial Details

Type
Plaque commemorating civilian casualties

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.

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.

Crashed into cottages next to WhitehallCrew bailed out safely before crashBad weather and severe icing caused crew to lose control

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.

Whitehall building narrowly missedBuilding now used as a school

Sources

  • Geograph Cambridgeshire(website)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph Britain and Ireland (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-21

Nearby Memorials

Pidley Mosquito Memorial
Pidley, CambridgeshireMosquito1944-07-22
2.8 km
away
Earith (mid-air collision) Stirling Memorial
Earith (mid-air collision), CambridgeshireStirling1942-01-17
3.9 km
away
Bury Halifax Memorial
Bury, CambridgeshireHalifax1944-04-18
9.9 km
away
Coveney (double Lancaster crash) Lancaster Memorial
Coveney (double Lancaster crash), CambridgeshireLancaster1944-04-19
13.5 km
away
Godmanchester Stirling Memorial
Godmanchester, CambridgeshireStirling1942-04-11
13.7 km
away

Do you have additional information, photographs, or corrections for this record? We welcome contributions from researchers, families, and local communities.

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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.

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