After we marked the 70th anniversary of Britain’s worst mid-air collision over the town last month, a man says he has the only surviving item from the crash.
Simon Breach discovered an envelope which was aboard the Scandinavian Airlines System Douglas DC-6. The Swedish plane collided with an Avro York C1 transport RAF aircraft near RAF Northolt on July 4, 1948.
Simon made the remarkable find at a garage sale in 2012 and has spent the years in between trying to research his remarkable find.
The note on the envelope reads: “Recovered from wreck of Swedish Skymaster wrecked at Northwood July 4, 1948 bringing Sir Edward Gent home from Malaya. No survivors.”
Sir Edward Gent was a decorated veteran of the First World War and was the first governor of the Malayan Union and the British High Commissioner in Malaya which later became Malaysia.
Simon explained: “I was very surprised that such a distinguished person like Sir Edward Gent was not honoured. He served with the Duke of Cornwall’s light infantry in the First World War in Flanders and Italy. He was wounded twice and was awarded the military Cross in 1917 and the Distinguished Service Order in 1919.”
Simon said the envelope has pride of place in his collection of letters and postcards. He originally gave the letter to his son to decide what to do with it but said he has no intention of parting with such a unique piece of local history.
He added: “I keep it in a plastic folder and I am proud and pleased to have kept it. I’m glad its been brought up more. Hopefully it might lead to an overdue honour for Sir Edward.”
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