Spitfire collision over Seagry Mill.
On the morning of the 6th April 1941 the air above the parish of Seagry near Chippenham reverberated to the sound of two V.S Spitfire 1a's of 118 Squadron RAF as the pilots honed their skills in the art of aerial combat. At 0955, 2,300ft above Seagry Mill the aircraft were to fatally collide, the starboard wing of X4826 flown by P/O Harold Williams had come into contact with the port wing of X4822 flown by F/O John Brewster, during a 1/4 frontal attack. Moments later X4826 with P/O Williams still onboard buried itself to a depth of 16ft and burst into flames, X4822 with F/O Brewster at the controls flew on for approximately two miles before falling flat into a copse and disintegrating, F/O Brewster was killed instantly.
The loss of these two officers was keenly felt by 118 Squadron, the Operation Record Book describing P/O Williams as "..a keen and promising young pilot." F/O Brewster was in the process of being promoted to Flight Lieutenant and is described as "..a very skilful pilot and popular flight commander whom the squadron could ill afford to lose." He had gained his experience whilst flying with 616 Squadron, on 1st July 1940 he claimed a share of a Heinkel He 111 over the Yorkshire coast and later during the Battle of Britain he claimed a Me 109 destroyed on 1st September 1940.
F/O Brewster and P/O Williams were laid to rest on 11th April 1941 with full military honours at St Giles Church, Stanton St Quintin.
The loss of these two officers was keenly felt by 118 Squadron, the Operation Record Book describing P/O Williams as "..a keen and promising young pilot." F/O Brewster was in the process of being promoted to Flight Lieutenant and is described as "..a very skilful pilot and popular flight commander whom the squadron could ill afford to lose." He had gained his experience whilst flying with 616 Squadron, on 1st July 1940 he claimed a share of a Heinkel He 111 over the Yorkshire coast and later during the Battle of Britain he claimed a Me 109 destroyed on 1st September 1940.
F/O Brewster and P/O Williams were laid to rest on 11th April 1941 with full military honours at St Giles Church, Stanton St Quintin.
At 11:00 on Sunday 14th September 2014 a memorial was dedicated to F/O Brewster and P/O Williams. The service was attended by members of the pilot's families, local dignitaries and members of the Armed Forces and Air Training Corps, as well as a large number of the local community.
The service began with the hymn 'Guide me, O thou great redeemer' followed by the Act of dedication and remembrance. As the final notes of the Last Post were played the air was filled with the engines of two De Havilland Hornet Moth's as they flew past in formation before the minute silence. The hymn 'I vow to thee my country' was then sung, this was followed by the Act of commitment and the laying of wreaths. As the service drew to a close with the singing of The National Anthem, the unmistakable sound of a Merlin engine could be heard in the distance, there then followed a ten minute display by a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire IX, a fitting tribute to F/O Brewster and P/O Williams.
The service began with the hymn 'Guide me, O thou great redeemer' followed by the Act of dedication and remembrance. As the final notes of the Last Post were played the air was filled with the engines of two De Havilland Hornet Moth's as they flew past in formation before the minute silence. The hymn 'I vow to thee my country' was then sung, this was followed by the Act of commitment and the laying of wreaths. As the service drew to a close with the singing of The National Anthem, the unmistakable sound of a Merlin engine could be heard in the distance, there then followed a ten minute display by a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire IX, a fitting tribute to F/O Brewster and P/O Williams.
Source: CWGC, 118 Squadron ORB (Crown Copyright), Men of the Battle of Britain - K Wynn.