Incidents in Cockayne Hatley in the Second World War

Bedfordshire was not much affected by loss of life due to bombing raids in World War Two compared with some areas of the country – a total of 125, of whom no less than 108 were killed or died in Luton. Cockayne Hatley saw a number of incidents during World War Two. 

• On 19 September 1940 3 delayed action bombs exploded in Potton Wood [WW2/AR/CO/2/2] 

• On 13 August 1943 bomb at Church Farm [WW2/AR/CO/4/1] 

• On 12 April 1944 USAAF practice bomb dropped in Church Field [WW2/AR/CO/2/3] 

• On 31 March 1944 a Mosquito bomber from RAF Henlow crashed killing both members of crew [WW2/AR/C/2/244] 

• On 18 September 1945 a Liberator KN736 crashed in Potton Wood killing four of the crew. Three of the crew and Bitsa the dog were saved by local people. A memorial to the crew who were killed now stands in the churchyard at St. Mary's Church, Cockayne Hatley.

References: 

WW2/AR/C/2/244 Agenda papers of Air Raid Precautions Committee, includes list of crashed aircraft, 31 March 1944 

WW2/HGV/1/1 Correspondence with Air Raid Precautions Headquarters, Biggleswade, over transfers of A.R.P. volunteers to Local Volunteer Defence Force, includes W. Mardlin, Neale, Simms, Matthews and John Garrett of Cockayne Hatley, June-July 1940