THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — These Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

THE MYSTERY OF THE HIGH SALVINGTON DORNIER

Copyright Valerie Martin 2003

Originally published in the Findon News in January 2004

I have a puzzle to clear up. A crippled twin-engined Dornier-17 bomber was reported by the late Nancy Price, crashing very close to her house in Honeysuckle Lane on the downland above Findon.   

Most unfortunately, she gave no clue as to the date for this event as I might otherwise been able to pin-point the enemy aircraft by the month and year. This aircraft reputedly made a landing at High Salvington "a few yards" from her garden gate said the authoress and actress.   Her cottage was named “Arcana” and was situated in Heather Lane on the Downs above Findon, quite near the High Salvington Windmill.    (Nancy was a great friend of Margot, the youngest daughter of Edwin Douglas the Findon artist who had lived at Fox Down in Findon.   See my narrative Margot and Nancy). 

Oddly enough, I have been unable to discover any date or documentation for this crash and no one knows of a doomed Dornier-17 bomber near Findon during the hostilities.  Oh, Nancy, why didn't you not give us the date of your adventure? 

I am sure that Nancy Price believed that what she saw was a Dornier.    But did she identify the enemy aircraft incorrectly?     No one has ever come forward with even a whisper that a Dornier crashed on that particular stretch of downland.

Nancy Price stated that when she found the crew of this enemy aircraft were beyond any help (which makes it sound as if a full compliment of four were on board), but the pilot had miraculously escaped and was able to walk away from his machine.  Nancy said she was the first to arrive on the disaster scene and rather bravely (or foolishly I thought considering he was the dreaded enemy) took him to her cottage where she lived alone except for her dogs and a parrot.  She attempted in her best faltering schoolgirl German (with gestures), to communicate with the enemy that she would have to hand him over to the British authorities.

Although appearing somewhat confused by his recent experience, her "prisoner" preferred to remain standing until she finally insisted he sit down on one of her chairs.  He proceeded to watch her very closely as she telephoned for assistance.  A long strained and awkward silence ensued as they nervously eyed each other up and down. The minutes ticked by and with a flash of inspiration she hastily made her unwelcome guest a cup of coffee to pass away the time.   The cup rattled on the saucer as she handed it to him with a trembling hand.  Aid eventually arrived and Nancy's "prisoner" was taken away and no more has been reported of the mysterious crashed aircraft to this day.       

No, Nancy did not imagine all of this.   Soon after peace was declared Nancy was somewhat surprised to receive out of the blue a postcard bearing a German postmark.  She opened it in wonder and it immediately brought memories flooding back of our dark days of war, saying the few poignant simple words —

 Roughly translated — 

"I have recognised you in a magazine and seen your name. If you receive this, you will know that I thank you heartily for your cup of coffee. Should you come this way, I should be glad to offer you one in return". 

It was a poignant reminder of the war years to always haunt Nancy.

Continue to read The Annington Farm Heinkel

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This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.