THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

THE HIGH SALVINGTON DORNIER (THAT WASN'T)

Copyright Valerie Martin 2003

Originally published in the Findon News in January 2004

I have a mystery 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. This aircraft reputedly made a landing at High Salvington "a few yards" from her garden gate said the authoress and actress. (She was a great friend of Margot, the youngest daughter of Edwin Douglas the Findon artist who had lived at Fox Down in Findon).  Oddly enough, I have been unable to discover any date or documentation for this event and no one knows of a downed enemy Dornier-17 bomber. 

Did Nancy Price identify the enemy aircraft incorrectly and it was, in fact, the Heinkel that crashed on 16th August 1940?  I am sticking my neck out and saying she has got it wrong and it was, in fact, the Heinkel He 111P aircraft, code G1+FR that came down at High Salvington that particular Friday.   No one has ever come forward to tell me that a Dornier crashed on that particular stretch of downland.

Nancy Price stated that crew of this enemy craft was beyond any help and only the pilot had miraculously escaped and was able to walk away from his machine.  Nancy was the first to arrive on the disaster scene and rather bravely (or foolishly I thought) took him to her cottage where she lived alone except for her dogs and a parrot.  She attempted in faltering schoolgirl-German, and 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, he preferred to remain standing until she finally insisted he sit down.  He proceeded to watch her closely as she telephoned for assistance.  A 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 visitor a cup of coffee to pass the time.   She handed it to him with a trembling hand.  Aid eventually arrived and Nancy's "prisoner" was taken away.    

Soon after peace was declared Nancy was somewhat surprised to receive out of the blue a postcard bearing a German postmark.  It brought back memories of the dark days of war, saying the few 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 haunt Nancy.

Continue to read about The Battle of Britain in the Findon area in September 1940.

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