North Canterbury News: November 23, 2023

10 The
NEWS
North Canterbury News, November 23, 2023
Memorial service at crashsite
ByJOHN COSGROVE
The niece of aNew Zealand airman killed
80 years ago says visiting the crash site
was an experience she will always
cherish.
Heather Brown of Loburn, and six of
her cousins travelled to Germany to
attend amemorial service organised by
German crash site researcher Erik
Wieman, who found the wrecksite in
2017.
Heather’s uncle, Invercargill­born
Flight Sergeant Alexander Holms, died
aged 34, after his Stirling bomber was shot
down during an air raid over Germany,
early on the morning of September 6,
1943.
‘‘My father Bill Holms was Uncle Alex’s
brother. They grew up in Waimahaka.’’
Heather only found out about her uncle
when Erik sent the story about the crash
site to New Zealand newspapers seeking
any relatives in 2019.
‘‘It took afew years to get there thanks
to Covid, but Iwas so very proud to be
there and join in the service.’’
This took place in the German city of
Ludwigshafen am Rhein, south of
Frankfurt, and included representatives
from the United Kingdom Royal Air
Force and the New Zealand defence
attache, as well as families of the other
New Zealand and British servicemen
killed.
‘‘While it was avery emotional
occasion, the wonderful people there
kept the mood light as they celebrated the
lives of the stricken bomber crew who had
crashed there 80 years ago.’’
Flight Sergeant Holms, aged 34, was a
Royal New Zealand Air Forcenavigator
serving aboard the Stirling heavy bomber
of 149 Squadron, RAF.
He was one of three Kiwis aboard that
fateful flight.
The bomber was part of a605 bomber
Together ... Descendants of Flight Sergeant Alexander Holms gather at the crash site in
theGerman city of Ludwigshafen am Rhein, south of Frankfurt. From left. Ross Hogue,
Simon Hogue, Alister and Diane Menpes, Heather Brown, Alison and Jeremy Hogue.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
raid that left RAF Lakenheathinthe UK
on the evening of September 5, 1943, to
attack the industrial cities of
Ludwigshafen and Mannheim, a800 mile
round trip.
After dropping their bombs and turning
for home, they were shot down.
Only one member of the seven­man
English and Kiwi crew survived the crash
­the tail gunner. The bomber‘s remains
still rest in afarmer’s field near the city of
Ludwigshafen.
F/S Holms's body was recovered by
German forces and buried at Dernbach,
160 Km further south.
There were 34 aircraft shot down and
174 airmen killed that night,and until
recently the exact location of the crash
site of the Stirling bomber was unknown.
Mr Wieman was led to the site in 2017 by
aman who had witnessed the crash as a
young lad. Ms Brown says there is anice
plaque on the site now and following the
service they were all treated to soup and
bread supplied from aGerman Army field
kitchen.
Taking abreak ... Kaiapoi North School
students take abreak after climbing Mt Cass,
near Waipara, during the 3Peaks Challenge.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Kaiapoi pupils
climbhigh
Kaiapoi North School students have
been rising to new heights.
More than 100 year 6to8students
have participated in the school’s annual
3Peaks Challenge over the last few
weeks.
Teacher Olivia Hurley said the
challenge involved completing three
different walks, climbing North
Canterbury mountains which gradually
get harder.
‘‘This year we have had over 100 year
6to8students participate in this
challenge that gives them avariety of
learning opportunities.
‘‘Although each walk has its own
challenges, our students always
persevere and encourage others.’’
This year the students climbed the
Godley Heads Loop Track, Mt Cass at
Waipara, and Mt Isobel at Hanmer
Springs.
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