For those who have walked in the New Forest and in particular on the commons you are almost bound to have stumbled upon strips of tarmac and concrete plus the foundations of some old building now raised to the ground and virtually hidden below the vegetation. No doubt you will have recognised these as runways part of our 2nd World War air defences and probably long forgotten. But it was not until we came across this equally ‘lost’ memorial that the true significance of the New Forest Airfields was realised.
Beautifully and creative in construction, exceptionally well maintained, with an area for quiet contemplation surrounded by an equally well thought out garden for easy care and drought tolerance. It commemorates the 12 Airfields located within this relatively small area of the New Forest, the Airmen, Ground Crews, Field staff and civilians who occupied these bases from 1935 till 1945. Vital bases for protecting not just the English Channel coast but in particular the Solent, the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth, merchant shipping and of course the Naval Bases.
It is just a shame that this very important Memorial is so well hidden in the corner of a field behind a caravan site on an aptly named ‘Back Lane’ near Holmsley. For the role in our history and for all those involved with these Airfields, it deserves much better prominence than this lonely location provides.
27th June 2011
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 