Mountain rescue to stage remembrance walk to Second World War plane crash site

A mountain rescue team will be staging a remembrance walk to the spot where a Second World War plane crashed.

Cleveland Mountain Rescue volunteers will be walking to Captain Cook’s Monument near Great Ayton from Gribdale Gate on Sunday, November 11.

It was close to the monument that an RAF Lockheed Hudson aeroplane crashed on the peak in bad weather on February 11, 1940.

The plane had set off from Thornaby Aerodrome before the tragedy occurred.

Flying Officer Tom Park, Sergeant Harold Bleksley and Corporal Norman Drury were all killed in the accident. Leading Aircraftsman Atholl Barker survived the crash but in November 1943 he died while flying over Germany.

The mountain rescue walk will make its way to a memorial plaque at the site on Sunday, where they will lay a wreath and hold a two minute silence.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Mountain Rescue team stated on Facebook: “The plan is to walk as a group up to the memorial plaque. Here we will say a few words and a wreath will be laid.

“Two minutes silence will be held at 1100hrs as a mark of respect to all the fallen. Their sacrifice in defence of our freedom will always be remembered.

“People are invited to join us in this walk, we will then make our way up Captain Cook’s to enjoy the views and beyond as people wish.”

Parking is limited in the area. People are asked not to park on the verges and share lifts where possible.

The walk will be keeping to the main tracks and should be accessible to most people. Dogs on leads are welcome.

The group will be meeting at Gribdale Gate at 10.15am.

For more details visit Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team’s Facebook page.

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