The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:14 am Post subject: Annan Air Crash

Not listed on UKNIWM

Location (11 June 2009) in grounds of Warmanbie House (former hotel) OS Map Ref NY 19453 68997 (by GPS).

I finally tracked this down on the above date and this is the full story.

The original info that I had was that there is a memorial 1 mile north of Annan to commemorate an air crash. Not sure where this info came from.

The memorial is not listed on UKNIWM and its precise location is uncertain, but it is believed still to exist. A local historian told me that it commemorates the crash of a training aircraft in WW2. It was originally near the bank of the river at approximate OS Map Ref NY 195 689. Aporoximately 15 years ago or more it was moved further from the river to prevent it falling into the river and to prevent vandalism.

I have walked the riverbank path in this area and it is not visible from there. The area is heavily wooded so you could walk within a few yards and not see it.

I believe it to be in the grounds of Warmanbie House, formerly a hotel but now a private residence. The new occupants had no knowledge of the memorial and refused me access when I called on spec - I will leave it a little while then try again but telephone in advance this time.

This might seem a bit of a let-down, but I think it important that we document the memorials as far as we can, even if we cannot find them, or they no longer exist.

spoons · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:07 am Post subject:

I had a meeting last Sunday with Morris Service, one of the founders of Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum. He confirms that the location I have is correct, on the riverbank beside Warmanbie House. The memorial was a sandstone block, about one foot square and two feet high. Unfortunately it was last seen a number of years ago lying in the bed of the river where some local 'ne'er do well' obviously thought it belonged so I think we have to count this as a lost memorial now. It is just possible that the remains of it are still there and I might go back to check sometime in the summer. Of course it may have been rescued and taken elsewhere but the Aviation Museum and Annan Museum are not aware of it so that seems unlikely.

The good news is that we have some info on the memorial. It was to a 2nd Officer Corsellis ATA to mark a fatal air crash on the spot of a Miles Magister serial L8268 on 10th October 1941.

\Paul

JOLLY GREEN · Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 3 Location: GREAT BRITAIN

Paul
Great to meet you the other day, I'll be in touch soon with further Cairnsmore details. Please follow the links below for further details of 2nd Officer Corsellis. My Father and I went to Annan the following day but had difficulty seeing anything in the water. Definitely a job for the Summer!

http://www.raf-lichfield.co.uk/ATA%20Casualties.htm
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=22783

Mark Service
Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum

spoons · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject:

Mark - thanks once again, have added the two links to our links section, very useful. I had seen the Aviation Safety net site a few years ago but there were very few military crashes listed then, it has been added to greatly since I last saw it.

Date: 10-OCT-1941
Time:
Type: Miles Magister Mk.I
Operator: RAF TFPP
Registration: L8268
C/n / msn: 724
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Nr. Annan, Dumfriesshire - United Kingdom
Phase: Approach
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Luton
Destination airport: Carlisle
Narrative:
Stalled of turn & hit trees.

Crew:
Pilot:2nd Officer Timothy John Manley Corsellis 20 ATA killed.

Sources:
Air Britain RAF Aircraft L1000 - N9999

spoons · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject:

I found quite a bit about this memorial in the Ewart library Dumfries. I don't know who to thank for this (including the photos) as there was no name on it but I think it may have been a recently retired librarian. I also do not know where the newspaper clipping is from.

Now we know exactly what the memorial looked like and when it was moved (1976) but I could not find it in its new location so I am continuing to show it as lost until proven otherwise.

Note that this memorial was carved into a re-used block of stone that was originally a sundial.

spoons · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject:

I visited Warmenbie House today and met the owner who was very generous with his time and kindly took me to the memorial which is in fact in the grounds of his house. I have edited the first post with the exact position and I took the following photos today. It could do with a bit of a clean but is in otherwise good condition.

He understands the importance of the memorial and will ensure that it is kept safe and has said that he will notify me of anything affecting the memorial. Its current position is not ideal and there is a lot of landscaping going on in the grounds so he intends to move it to a more suitable position a few metres away, slightly nearer the original location (actual crash site) and actually overlooking it. He also intends to clean the memorial and as he is a trained archaeologist he is well placed to do so without causing damage.

A great outcome to a long hunt.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:20 am Post subject:

Paul

Excellent news. I'm glad to see it is safe and will be cleaned up and re-positioned near the crash.

Thanks for your perseverance in tracking it down.

Regards

Adam
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Scottish Monuments & Memorials