'Bomber Command Window' - St Mary the Virgin - Christon, Somerset - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

Memorial window in the church of St Mary the Virgin, Christon, known as the 'Bomber Command Window'.

This 1950 window, by Arnold Wathen Robinson (visit link) , depicts an airman and a nurse with search lights lighting up the night sky in the background, with a map of the Kiel Canal area at their feet. It is known as the “Bomber Command Window” and commemorates Sergeant Kenneth Michael Garton Durrant, a navigator with 582 Squadron based at Little Staughton (between Bedford and St Neots) (visit link) . He was lost on a raid against Kiel (ref. (visit link) ) on the night 15/16 September 1944 aged 20 and 364 days. He is buried in Kiel War Cemetry (plot 4, Row F, grave 10).

At the base of the window is the inscription -
IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF CATHERINE HERMIONE GARTON AND MICHAEL
BELOVED WIFE AND SON OF KENNETH GARTON DURRANT
AND DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON OF CHARLES RAWLINSON WAINWRIGHT

"Born Weybridge, Surrey, 17 September 1923 and was known as Michael. His father was the director of a brewery. He was educated at Charterhouse School from 1937 to 1941 where he was a member of the Maniacs Cricket XI and the Harpies Football XI, and he won his school colours for cross country running.

Michael enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and entered Worcester College, Oxford as an RAF cadet on a short course on 24 April 1942. He trained as a navigator and rose to the rank of Sergeant. On leaving Worcester College he was posted to 582 Squadron. He was killed the day before his 21st birthday.

He is also commemorated on the war memorials at Charterhouse School, Weybridge, on a stained-glass window at St Mary’s Church, Christon, Bristol, and on the war memorial at Worcester College, Oxford.

Last Operation Information -
Start Date 15-09-1944
End Date 16-09-1944
Takeoff Station Little Staughton
Day/Night Raid Night (2% moon)
Operation Kiel. 490 aircraft, 6 lost. The old town and modern city centre were devastated, although the local report also states that many bombs fell outside the city limits. Despite the damage, the death toll was remarkably low at 12 with a further 28 injuries.
Reason for Loss Crashed into the North Sea."

SOURCE - (visit link)

See also (visit link)

Date of Dedication: 01/01/1950 Property Permission: Public Location of waymark: St Mary the Virgin Christon , Somerset England BS26 2XX Commemoration: Sergeant Kenneth Michael Garton Durrant Access instructions: Not listed Access times: Not listed Website for Waymark: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Include a photo containing, at minimum, the monument and your GPSr. We'd prefer a photo containing YOU at the monument, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
Also include a bit about your visit here.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.