Princess Anne opens memorial in Greenham

Princess Anne officially dedicated the three memorial stones at Greenham Business Park by placing a poppy wreath at their base.
On December 12, 1944, 31 paratroopers and two pilots from the 17th Airborne division were killed when their Horsa glider crashed shortly after take-off from Greenham airbase.
Just three days later, a further 16 men were killed when two B-17 bomber planes collided above Greenham Common.
Mary Mockus-Shipler and her brother Patrick Mockus travelled from Illinois to remember their father, Lt John P Mockus, who was co-pilot of one of the B-17 bombers.
“We are so thankful to the British people that they would remember after so many years,” said Ms Mockus-Shipler.
Ed Siergiej attended on behalf of his father, Edward Siergiej Senior, who worked closely with those who were killed.
He was transferred to company headquarters just one day before the accident, a transfer which saved his life.
“This would have been very emotional for him,” said Mr Siergiej Jr. “These were his closest friends.
“They are all very proud that these men have not been forgotten and are being honoured today.”
Mr Mockus, Ms Mockus-Shipler and finally Mr Siergiej also placed poppy wreaths on the memorial, which was funded and organised by the Greenham Common Trust and the Newbury Royal British Legion and created by Newbury stonemason Joss Nankoo.
For more, see Thursday’s Newbury Weekly News.