Wartime Wollaston · Shepherds Hill · 22 June 1941
The Avro Manchester L7314 Crash at Shepherds Hill
Remembering the seven airmen of 207 Squadron RAF who lost their lives near Wollaston on 22 June 1941.
On the night of 21/22 June 1941, Avro Manchester EM-Y, serial number L7314, of 207 Squadron RAF, crashed near Shepherds Hill, Wollaston. The aircraft had taken off from RAF Waddington on an operation connected with Boulogne in occupied France. It crash-landed near Shepherds Hill with a full bomb load, which exploded shortly after impact. All seven crew members were killed.
Today, a memorial stone stands near the crash site at Shepherds Hill. It was erected by Wollaston Parish Council and public subscription and unveiled for the 80th anniversary in 2021. The memorial ensures that the crew and their sacrifice remain part of Wollaston's village memory.
The events of 22 June 1941
What happened?
Avro Manchester L7314 was a twin-engined RAF bomber belonging to 207 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. In the early hours of 22 June 1941, the aircraft crashed near Shepherds Hill on the edge of Wollaston village.
- Avro Manchester L7314 was a twin-engined RAF bomber
- It belonged to 207 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Waddington
- It took off from RAF Waddington on an operation connected with Boulogne
- It crashed near Shepherds Hill, Wollaston, in the early hours of 22 June 1941
- The aircraft was carrying a full bomb load at the time of the crash
- The bombs exploded shortly after impact
- All seven crew members were killed
The crash is widely understood to have involved mistaken identification by an RAF Beaufighter night fighter — a tragic friendly-fire incident. Wartime night flying was extremely dangerous, and the identification of aircraft in darkness was one of the most difficult challenges faced by night-fighter crews.
A tragic wartime error
The aircraft is widely recorded as having been mistakenly shot down by an RAF Beaufighter night fighter. Wartime night flying was dangerous, and identification in darkness was extremely difficult. This was one of many such tragedies during the Second World War.
A note on the accounts
The memorial inscription records that the aircraft was outward bound with a full bomb load. Some secondary aviation summaries describe it as returning from France. This page uses the memorial inscription as the primary local source; where accounts differ, this is noted.
207 Squadron RAF
The aircraft: Avro Manchester L7314
The Avro Manchester was a twin-engined heavy bomber and the forerunner of the famous Avro Lancaster. Although less well known than the Lancaster, it played a significant part in Bomber Command operations during the early years of the Second World War, before being superseded by the four-engined Lancaster from 1942 onwards.
207 Squadron RAF was one of the first squadrons to operate the Avro Manchester. Based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, the squadron flew operations over occupied Europe during 1941. The loss of L7314 and its crew was one of many suffered by Bomber Command during this period.
The aircraft code EM-Y identified the aircraft within 207 Squadron. The serial number L7314 is the unique identifier used in official records and on the Shepherds Hill memorial.
Aircraft record
- Aircraft type
- Avro Manchester
- Serial number
- L7314
- Squadron
- 207 Squadron RAF
- Aircraft code
- EM-Y
- Base
- RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
- Crash location
- Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
- Date
- 22 June 1941
- Crew
- Seven
- Outcome
- All crew killed
In memoriam
The crew
The seven men who died are named on the Shepherds Hill memorial. This page remembers them individually.
Flying Officer
J. D. G. WithersDFC
Remembered at Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
Sergeant
A. M. James
Remembered at Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
Flight Sergeant
W. BrownDFM
Remembered at Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
Flight Sergeant
M. V. Browne
Remembered at Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
Flight Sergeant
A. Malone
Remembered at Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
Sergeant
S. Veitch
Remembered at Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
Sergeant
J. A. Maville
RCAF
Remembered at Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
Further biographical details — ages, hometowns, roles and family connections — may be added if confirmed from reliable sources or family contributions. If you have information about any of the crew, please share it with us.
Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
The memorial at Shepherds Hill
A memorial stone now stands near the crash site at Shepherds Hill, on the edge of Wollaston village. It was erected by Wollaston Parish Council and public subscription, and unveiled on 22 June 2021 — exactly 80 years after the crash.
The memorial bears the names of all seven crew members and records the details of the aircraft and the date of the crash. It gives the village a permanent place to remember, reflect and pass the story on to future generations.
The unveiling in 2021 was attended by local residents, parish councillors and others with an interest in the history of the crash. The event marked eight decades since the loss of the crew and brought renewed attention to a piece of Wollaston's wartime history that had not previously been formally commemorated.
Memorial details
- Type
- Stone memorial with plaque
- Location
- Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
- Erected by
- Wollaston Parish Council and public subscription
- Unveiled
- 22 June 2021 (80th anniversary)
- Purpose
- To remember the crew of Avro Manchester L7314
Visiting the memorial: Visitors should use public routes and be respectful of nearby residents, land and countryside. Please do not block gates, disturb livestock or enter private land without permission.
Commemoration
Annual remembrance
The crew are remembered locally through commemorative services at Shepherds Hill. Wreaths and flowers may be laid at the memorial during remembrance events, and the community is invited to attend when services are arranged.
The annual commemoration is usually held around 22 June, the anniversary of the crash. Please check the Parish Council or village notices for current service times and arrangements.
Annual commemoration
Please check the Parish Council or village notices for current service times.
2026 · 85th Anniversary
85th Anniversary Memorial Service
All welcome. Please check village notices and the Parish Council for confirmed arrangements.
"In remembrance of the sacrifice they made for our future."
Why this matters to Wollaston
Although the crew were not from Wollaston, their final moments became part of the village's wartime story. The crash at Shepherds Hill is a reminder that the Second World War affected rural communities as well as cities and airfields. The fields and lanes of Northamptonshire were not untouched by the conflict — they were part of it.
The memorial gives the village a place to remember, reflect and pass the story on to future generations. It connects Wollaston to the wider story of Bomber Command, to the men who flew dangerous operations over occupied Europe, and to the families who lost them.
"In remembrance of the sacrifice they made for our future."
Finding the memorial
Map and visiting information
Visitor information
- Area
- Shepherds Hill, Wollaston
- Setting
- Rural edge of the village
- Parking
- Check local notices; use considerate parking only
- Access
- Follow public paths and lanes where available
Please be respectful: Do not block gates, disturb livestock or enter private land without permission. The memorial is in a rural setting — please treat the surrounding land and its residents with consideration.
Map showing Shepherds Hill memorial location
Can you help?
Can you help add to this story?
Do you have information, photographs or family memories connected with Avro Manchester L7314, Shepherds Hill, 207 Squadron, the 2021 memorial unveiling, or earlier remembrance events? We would welcome:
References
Sources and further reading
- Imperial War Museums memorial record for Avro Manchester L7314
- Royal Air Force article on the 2021 memorial unveiling
- Wollaston Parish Council commemoration notices
- 207 Squadron historical records
- Local memory and village contributions
Research note: Some details of wartime aircraft losses can vary between sources. This page uses the Shepherds Hill memorial inscription and official memorial records as the main local reference, while noting where later summaries differ.
Location
Finding the memorial
The memorial stands in open countryside on the edge of Wollaston, a short walk from the road. It is accessible year-round.
Directions
- 1.Drive along Shepherds Hill, Wollaston.
- 2.Park up where the road ends.
- 3.Walk the track for approximately a quarter of a mile.
- 4.The memorial will come into view in the field ahead.