Newark: Children who died in Balderton plane crash remembered with service at St Giles' Churchyard, Balderton

A service was held to commemorate the lives of six children and two pilots who died when a plane crashed into the side of a house in Balderton 80 years ago.

The service of remembrance took place at the children's grave in St Giles’ Churchyard, Balderton.

The Brumpton children were asleep in their home on 84 London Road, Balderton, in the early hours of the morning on August 16, 1941, when disaster struck.

An RAF plane had hit the side of the house and several others on London Road, killing six out of seven of the Brumpton children and two airmen.

Pete Stevens, who organised the service, said: "I would like to thank everyone who was at the graveside of the Brumpton children this afternoon for the remembrance service.

"A special thank you to the Rev Louise for a wonderful short service and also RAFA Balderton for the parade with their standard."

Geoffrey Lascelles, 18, Joyce, 14, Mary Elizabeth, 13, Alan, 12, Lucy, 9, and Sheila, 6, all died when the plane — on its way back to RAF Balderton — clipped some trees and crashed into their home.

Their mother Lucy was in her bedroom at the front of the house with her youngest child Roy, but they managed to survive the crash by jumping out of a window.

Lucy tried to save her other children but, unfortunately, found the doorway blocked.

Her husband William Bumpton also survived as he was at work at the time and only discovered the tragedy when he returned home.

The children were remembered alongside Pilot Sergeant Sidney Balderchin RAF and Wireless Operator Sergeant Thomas Wood RAF who also died in the crash.

A third crew member escaped with minor injuries.