Newark: Children who were killed in a Balderton plane crash to be commemorated with service at St Giles Church

A service will be held to mark the anniversary of the deaths of six children who died after a plane crashed into the side of their house 80 years ago.

The Brumptons 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.

A service of remembrance will take place at 2.30pm on Sunday at the graveside of the children in St Giles’ Churchyard, Balderton.

Organisers are hoping people will take flowers to the grave ahead of the service.

Pete Stevens, who has organised the service, said: “What we would like to see is the good people of Newark, Balderton and Fernwood place flowers on the children’s grave in St Giles’ Churchyard, Balderton, over the weekend of the 14/15 August.

“Your support for this service would be a fitting tribute to the short lives of the Brumpton children and the bravery of these young men who gave so much in very difficult circumstances.”

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 at the time with her youngest child, Roy, and 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 out of the house at work at the time of the incident and only discovered the tragedy when he returned home.

The children will be remembered at Sunday’s service 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.