Scattered throughout the forest are a various memorials, many of which relate to events of the first half of the last century when the New Forest played a major part in both World Wars.
The New Forest Airfields Memorial stands on the western boundary of what was the Holmsley South wartime airfield.
It was erected by the Friends of the New Forest Airfields (FONFA) to commemorate all those who served on the New Forest airfields during and immediately after the Second World War. It was formally dedicated on August 16th 2002.
It was designed by a local man, Basil White, and contains a time capsule which was interred during 2005, to be opened in 2045.
External Links and References
External Links
New Forest connections
More on the New Forest airfields from the D-Day Museum site https://theddaystory.com/discover/researching-local-d-day-connections/the-new-forest-and-d-day/
The New Forest Airfields Memorial
Some information on the memorial on the Friends of the New Forest Airfields site. https://fonfasite.wordpress.com/the-memorial/
A poignant place this. Still surrounded by many wreaths, fading bunches of flower, cards and other offerings, a simple wooden cross stands overlooking a wooded valley.
It is now a memorial to those killed in action.
The plaque reads:
"On this site a cross was erected to the Glory of God on 14th Apr 1944. Services were held here until D Day 6th June 1944 by men of the 3rd Division R.C.A.S.C."
Comments
Jill Queen
What is the name of the area that the memorial is situated.
Strolling Guide
Bolderwood. It's on the minor road from Lyndhurst to Linwood just before in passes under the main A35
Alan day
My dad family went two canada in 1924 some came back 1935 i have all was love canada .lest we forget god balsas the canadian
The Eversley Bench was designed by the architect Elisabeth Scott, best known for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
As the inscription states, it was put here in 1929 when the Open Spaces Society purchased of the 40-acre Hightown Common, and commemorates George John Shaw Lefevre, Baron Eversley, the founder and President of the Society, who died in 1928, at the age of 96.
The common and the seat were given to the National Trust in 1931, who restored the bench in 2010. The stonework and carving were restored by Matt Williams of St Leonards, while the oak seat was made by craftsman Andy Baerselman.
Situated on Mockbeggar Green close to the chapel, this substantial memorial includes a map of the former airfield and details of all the units stationed there during the Second World War.
It was unveiled on the 24th April 2000 by Wing Commander C F Currant DSO DFC CdeG who was Station Commander at Ibsley in 1942 and Flight Officer R S George formerly of 616 Squadron who was based there in 1943.
Two side panels listing all those who gave there lives whilst serving at Ibsley were added in 2009. These were unveiled by Mrs M S C Simmonds who was an MTC Driver in 1941, and Captain W R Walling, a pilot with the 9th USAAF in 1944.
Gravel extraction has removed almost all traces of the airfield which now forms the Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve.
External Links and References
External Links
New Forest connections
More on the New Forest airfields from the D-Day Museum site https://theddaystory.com/discover/researching-local-d-day-connections/the-new-forest-and-d-day/
RAF Ibsley Airfield Heritage Trust
The trust aims to preserve the watch tower creating somewhere for people to come and find out about RAF Ibsley and to show them how a WW2 airfield would have operated. http://www.ibsleytower.info/
Still watching over Ibsley
Some photos of the Ibsley Control Tower on the New Forest Remembers site https://nfknowledge.org/contributions/still-watching-over-ibsley/
I was stationed at Ibsley Air Field 1944 wwII. 8TH Air Force with the 83RD Airdrome Sqd. Interested in knowing what is going there.
Armand Venditti
Strolling Guide
Hi Armand
Apart from the memorial, I am sorry to say that there is very little evidence of the old airfield. The site has been used for gravel extraction and most of it is now under water.
Armand Venditti
Hi Anthony Sorry for the long wait in getting back to you.Thanks you very much for your repley.I was hoping to receive a little history regarding the area.It was a very place to be in. Armand
Strolling Guide
Hi Dan,
Thanks for your kind comments. I have forwarded a copy of your email to Armand. Hope he gets in touch with you.
Dan Major
Hi Anthony, great site, we love the new forest and this has given some places to visit. can you forward my details to armand would love to speak about ibsley as the airfields of the forest are great passion of mine. Dan
C Edwards
Up the road from where it comes down to the ford near the Alice Lisle . this road ending up on Fritham plain, where in WW2 there was an airfield. I think manned by the Canadian Air force. I believe the road is an old rd that comes from Pennington on the outskirts of Ringwood to Ibsley and then on to South Gorely and North Gorley In the rural area of Fordingbridge. Am amazed to learn that there was also another Airfield at Ibsley. The way that the Avon zigs and zags a;long the River Valley made me think that there was not enough flat land that was long enough for a plane to take off and land. Reference that Chapel at Cross Plains or something like it. Is it linked to a very similar chapel at South Gorely way?
The Needs Oar Airfield Memorial stands alongside a quiet back road in a peaceful field with a nice view of the Solent. However for a brief period in the spring and early summer of 1944 the scene was very different as this was the site of RAF Needs Oar Point.
To support the ground troops during the D-Day invasion, a large numbers of fighter-bombers needed to be temporarily based along the south coast before being moved to France at the earliest opportunity.
One of four Advance Landing Grounds in the New Forest, Needs Oar was home to over one hundred Hawker Typhoon ground-attack aircraft flying numerous sorties during one frantic spell.
External Links and References
External Links
New Forest connections
More on the New Forest airfields from the D-Day Museum site https://theddaystory.com/discover/researching-local-d-day-connections/the-new-forest-and-d-day/
Driving along the Lyndhurst to Bolderwood road, you are suddenly met by the incongruous sight of a fireplace sitting all on its own in the woodlands to your left. The nearby plaque explains what it is doing there:
"This is the site of a hutted camp occupied by a Portuguese army unit during the First World War. This unit assisted the depleted local labour force in producing timber for the war effort.
"The Forestry Commission have retained this fireplace from the cookhouse as a memorial to the men who lived and worked here and acknowledge the financial assistance of the Portuguese Government in its renovation."
Comments
Richard Reeves
The site at Millyford was occupied by the 103rd Company of the Canadian Forestry Corps, they arrived in the New Forest in 1916 first working at Norley Wood, but moved to Millyford early in 1917, 3 miles of narrow guage railway was laid out to assist in retrieving the timber. Later in 1917 100 Portuguese workers were attached to the Company which in itself consisted of about 200 men. The 125th Company CFC was based at Brockenhurst in 1918 and 1919 to which 200 German PoWs were attached.
This stone was erected by the Forestry Commissioners to the memory of William Pleydell Bouverie 7th Earl of Radnor K.G. K.C.V.O. Chairman of the Forestry Commission from 1952 to 1963 and Official Verderer of the New Forest 1964 - 1966
Round the edges of the stone are some beautiful carvings of New Forest wildlife.
External Links and References
External Links
Bolderwood Radnor Trail
A brief overview of the trail from the Forestry England site. https://www.forestryengland.uk/bolderwood/radnor-trail-bolderwood
Comments
Edna Davie
Hello.
I remember seeing the Radnor stone years ago but couldn't find it when following the red walk this week. Is it still on site ?
Strolling Guide
Sorry. Can't help you there. Last time I went there was in 2013.
Most memorials are erected somewhere prominent and fairly accessible; the Samuel Carter Memorial is not like that. Miles from anywhere and difficult to find,
it is tucked down below the edge of a slight ridge making it even more difficult to spot.
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