Tewitt Lane - Previous ceremonies
The engraved memorial stone was installed in 1992 by Oakworth Village Society, after local people expressed a desire to remember these six men who died tragically in the Second World War.
Some newspaper reports of previous ceremonies held:
1993 - Crash Tribute - Bradford Telegraph & Argus Thursday 30/12/1993 Andy Broadfoot - Ex-service notes
January 2 marks the 50th anniversary of a tragedy far removed from the front line when a Wellington bomber from Ossington Newark, Nottingham. crashed in Tewitt Hall Wood near Oakworth, Keighley, killing all six crew members from the Royal Canadian Air Force. A memorial stone, pictured here being read by local scout Gavin Jones, 11, was unveiled at the site last year.
1998 - Oakworth & Exley Head - Yorkshire Observer in Bradford Telegraph & Argus Monday 12/1/1998 Paul Anderson
Memorial: A group of 20 people attended a short memorial service on Sunday January 4 at the site on Tewitt lane, where, on January 2, 1944 six young Canadian airmen on a training flight from RAF Ossington lost their way in fog and crashed into the hillside at Tewitt Hall Wood, Tewitt Lane. Those who attended were welcomed by Mrs Janet Armstrong and thanked for being there on such a wet and cold day. The service which consisted on bible readings and prayers was led by the Rev David Swales. The two minute silence was followed by a holly wreath being laid by Mr Max Friebel who was visiting the area for the second time. He is the nephew of the pilot of the doomed aeroplane. He expressed his gratitude to Oakworth for the permanent memory to the six young men who had died so tragically on that hillside more than 50 years ago.
2000 - Service for victims of 1944 air crash - Bradford Telegraph & Argus 1/11/2000
Six Canadian airmen who died when their plane crashed at Oakworth more than half a century ago have been remembered.
A service was held at the site of the crash, Tewitt Hall Wood, where a stone memorial was erected by Oakworth Village Society in 1993.
The six young Royal Canadian Air Force personnel were on a training flight from Ossington, near Newark, on January 2, 1944 when their Wellington bomber came down.
A memorial service is now held annually at the isolated spot. Normally it takes place on the Sunday closest to January 2, but this year it was put back a week so that Max Friebel - a nephew of dead pilot Flight Sergeant Ernest Israel Glass - could travel from America to be there.
Also at the ceremony was Ben Hanley (Actually Philip Handley), from Nottingham, the great-nephew of warrant Officer Jack Henfrey who was an air gunner on the flight.
The service, led by the reverend David Swales, included bible readings, prayers, a two minute silence and the laying of wreaths.
Oakworth Village Society secretary Mrs Janet Armstrong said: "These airmen who lost their lives so tragically were all young men. it is impossible to imagine what their loved ones back home must have gone through. I think it is important we continue to remember them.
2004 - Sunday 4th January - 60th Anniversary
55 people attended the ceremony to remember the crew. Janet Armstrong gave the address, Reverend Tom Allen led prayers and the hymn, 'Abide With Me' and Noelene Sharp gave the reading. Also attending was Philip Handley (Great Nephew of Jack Henfrey). Three wreaths and four floral bouquets were laid.
2005 - Sunday 2nd January - 61 years to the day
50 people attended the ceremony to remember the crew. Janet Armstrong gave the address, Reverend Allen Holmes led prayers and the hymn, 'Abide With Me' and Noelene Sharp gave the reading. Also attending were Canadian Forces Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Lee Smith and His wife Mrs Pat Smith. Max Friebel (Nephew of the pilot Ernest Glass). Philip Handley (Great Nephew of Jack Henfrey). Four wreaths and three floral bouquets were laid.
2006 - Sunday 8th January - 62 years.
58 people attended the ceremony to remember the crew. Janet Armstrong gave the address, Reverend Tom Allen led prayers and the hymn, 'Abide With Me' and Peter Sharp gave the reading. Also attending were Canadian Defence Attaché Colonel D. B. Smith. Max Friebel (Nephew of the pilot Ernest Glass). Philip Handley (Great Nephew of Jack Henfrey). Four wreaths and three floral bouquets were laid. This year we had the benefit of a new raised platform and supporting wall, which had been laid in front of the memorial stone to reduce the effect of the rain on the bridleway, which usually creates rather a lot of mud. This was provided by Bradford Council and voluntary groups. A new hardwood bench seat has also been provided by Keighley Town Council to replace the original provided by the Canadian Bomber Command Association. Five wreaths and one floral bouquet were laid.
2007 - Sunday 7th January - 63 years
83 people attended the ceremony to remember the crew. Janet Armstrong gave the address, Reverend Tom Allen led prayers and the hymn, 'Abide With Me' and Noelene Sharp gave the reading. Also attending was Deputy Lieutenant Richard Jackson (representing the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire), Keighley Town Mayor Graham Mitchell, Philip Handley (Great Nephew of Jack Henfrey), representatives of the RAF, WRAF, Royal British Legion and a guard of honour provided by the Keighley Air Training Corps. Six wreaths and one floral bouquet were laid.