How a Simple Stroll Unveiled a WWII Hero's Tale

Join me on a riveting journey into the heart of Chislehurst's tranquil churchyard as I unravel the mysterious tale of Derrick Fielder. Through extensive research and miles traveled, I've dug deep into a forgotten WWII story. Get ready to be enthralled by the coincidences of history and the lengths I've taken to unveil them.
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📕 Welcome to my channel where I share my love of history and aviation. I first fell in love with military aviation when reading Biggles books as a boy, then I studied history at university. I like finding interesting stories and sharing them with others.
I also followed this passion into the real world and managed to get a Private Pilot's Licence on 10th May 2014.
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⏱️ Timestamp:
0:00 intro
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#aviationhistory#history

[@CalibanRising]

Liked the video? Keep the good times rolling by buying me a pint! 🍺 Tip with a Super Thanks or via PayPal: bit.ly/47p3xNT - Your support means a lot! Also check out my new channel membership.

[@rob5944]

Whether they be flying against the Rhur dams or on a training flight or, as my own father did, performing relatively humdrum ground crew duties, all played at vital part in the immensely complicated machine which was the war effort. R.I.P.

[@vspencer9764]

I’m also from the Chislehurst/Bromley area and went to Coopers school opposite in Hawkwood Lane and I never knew this, I remember walking past the grave of Flight Sergeant Dunmore though daily on the way to school, which is located in The Annunciation Church yard in the High street opposite Sainsbury’s. It’s also nice to see his story down at the Battle of Britain museum in Hawkinge How those Bomber Boys went out night after night is beyond me and they really were the bravest of the brave, lest we forget.

[@CalibanRising]

I was actually back up in the area today looking at the grave of F/L Ferris DFC who is laid to rest in St Mary's just opposite Coopers School. I didn't know about Sgt Dunmore, so I'll have a walk down there next time I'm in Chislehurst. I should also get down to Hawkinge too!

[@vspencer9764]

@@CalibanRising Also down in East Kent, David Maltby of Dam busters fame is also buried in Andrew's Church, Wickhambreaux, it’s in a lovely part of Kent and the old Manor House and Water Mill which are in close proximity of the church are in the lovely 1944 Powell and Pressburger film a Canterbury Tale.

[@rogerhayes2117]

​​​​​​​​@@vspencer9764 My uncle Flt Lt Burt Beales flew Lancaster bombers. He would talk about all sorts of things except what us kids really wanted to know: 'his war-time experiences,' except for two things: how easily Lancaster bombers fell apart when hit by flack as if they were made of balsa wood, but you always believed that your airframe was as solid as a tank. He also spoke of how bomber pilots were told that it is no shame if you lose your nerve and turn back for home enroute to the target. But, he reckoned that those pilots who did, lost their commission, were given the worst jobs on the airfield (usually the latrines) and every posting were told beforehand, to expect a coward ex- pilot, so that everyone knew and they sat alone in the mess. My uncle said 'the repercussions of 'losing your bottle' was a great deterrent not to turn back until your bomb load had been released.'

[@charlietango4924]

Men and women from the Commonwealth fought and sacrificed themselves to Great Britain - a nation they have not lived in. For some, they are fortunate to rest in eternity in a lonely grave in Great Britain. I am glad you have given these warriors a sense of purpose and recognition for their sacrifices.

[@CalibanRising]

Well said CT! F/L Rooney never made it home, but hopefully a few more people will be able to remember his sacrifice now.

[@JAlucard77]

Amazing how sometimes the world can get so small. When you find yourself connected to these men in an interesting way 😮

[@jimsharp5044]

Hats off to these men and women. These people didn’t wear capes they wore a Military uniform. I’m sure they were scared. My father served in the US Navy on Iceland from June or July 1941 - Feb 1942. Serving along side the Royal Navy. And he had nothing but praise for the Royal Navy

[@TJ3]

One of my personal favorite things to do is to tell the stories of the aviators who have been forgotten by history - the little stories. Cool vid!

[@CalibanRising]

Cheers mate!

[@playstationgroup3413]

Please, continue to do more videos like this. These videos are very fascinating and look forward to what you'll have next waiting to be viewed. Thank you! And any follow ups to this video would also be greatly appreciated.

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for this. I keep hanging out in churchyards and see what I can find for you!

[@user-xh3lz9xt4l]

As you say Hawes is an unusual name. I lived in Cranham Road in Gidea Park, Essex until Dec 1966 our "aged" neighbour was Mrs Hawes who entered a care home in Gidea Park in about 1974. I used to ride my bike to the care home to deliver a xmas card until she passed in 1978 from my home in Moor Lane, Cranham ,Essex each year.

[@hawnyfox3411]

My Brother & Sister-in-Law lived in a HUGE house near Gidea Park station & I met my Wife nearby. Funny you mention "Moor Lane" as our mates Colin & Sarah lived right on the corner of Moor Lane Cranham. I'm a lifelong Handley Page Hampden 'fan' & built my first (Airfix) in the late 1960's, circa 1968/1969 There is an astonishing aviation story that happened & took place over Gidea Park, Upminster & Cranham. It involves the crew of an RAF Flying Boat & a double-suicide of their G/f's (intentional) from a plane It's a fascinating & intriguing tale (all round) & "if" someone like Caliban/Phil covered, it would be great !! There are just SO many aviation tales that ARE known by a mere few, yet, never see the 'light of day' It's all about media, distribution & views = If it doesn't get the coverage, these tales stay buried !! Like Caliban/Phil, I learned the (by chance) tale of an Ju.88 pilot, who got "impaled" by an English Oak Tree !! Again, just a walk in a cemetery (I'd been tipped-off about one of my RAF heroes, since childhood) & by doing so, in visiting HIM & seeing his CWGC grave, I by chance, caught sight of this (back then) unknown grave of a German It never mentioned WHO he was, or, why he was there - Just date of birth & death - I had to research it myself Caliban mentions "Get in touch" if you have a wartime tale (or three !) but I don't see a contact address (E-mail I lived in Hornchurch BTW & there are PLENTY of tales too, stemming from there.

[@user-lt9py2pu6u]

Thanks very much for that. As my father served with 83 squadron later in the war when they had been re-equipped with Lancasters I have always had a particular interest in that squadrons history ( as well as 464 and 635 squadrons in which he also served ).

[@nadineteece9826]

Thankyou for this video. My Grandad Godfrey Dennis Thomas 751987 Sergeant No.83 Sqn features in it. We have a wonderful story regarding searching for my grandads lost medals, uncluding the DFM, of which I now have back, it's the story of how they were found, and the 6194 lengths of swimming to raise the money to buy them from a collector miles away. I also have the ring pull from his parachute that saved his life on November 9th 1940 when the plane 83 Squadron Hampden P4402 squadron code OLOD, ran out of fuel over Lincolnshire returning from Munich. I have a wealth of information about my Grandad and his crew, if you would like it, it's fascinating and heart-warming all thanks to a passionate family member who made this all possible.

[@mikedevere]

Really enjoy your videos for their detail and accuracy. You're a real historian. If I may, I'd like to take the opportunity to suggest a topic. Broadly, the role of the Tactical Air Force aka Army Cooperation Command or more narrowly, the operations undertaken, such as arial reconnaissance. In particular, it surprises and disappoints me to see that the role of low level photo reconnaissance missions gets so little press. In short, teams of four fighter aircraft would fly together with one plane carrying the camera. This plane needed to fly in a straight line at a fixed low altitude, making himself an easy target. The other three planes would act as a distraction to draw enemy fire. Each pilot took it in turns within the team to be the one with the camera. My father very often stated that he owed his life to the courage with which his team mates quite literally took this flak. This must in fact be the origin of the expression. My father flew in Squadron 26 from 1941-1945 and yours is the only video I've come across that even mentions their contribution. Personal relationship notwithstanding, I genuinely believe the role of this Squadron and others like it deserves far greater study, awareness and recognition.

[@eric-wb7gj]

TY 🙏🙏, very moving and a good tribute.

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching.

[@08Barclay]

Well done!

[@jaenoxus3872]

Well researched, thank you for sharing this story

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching Jae!

[@andygiles4036]

Really enjoyed this... Thank you for all the hard work.

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching Andy, I really enjoyed researching this story.

[@RobDavisTelford]

Excellent research, well done.

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks Rob, I really enjoyed making this video.

[@jonjackson6470]

I do enjoy your vidioes full of interest and a great enthusiastic delivery. Do keep up your great efforts

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching Jon!

[@nickjung7394]

Thanks very much.

[@CalibanRising]

You're welcome!

[@Ob1sdarkside]

Another great vid, your detective work is outstanding! Britain having its own version of the flying pencil, up yours goering!

[@spitfire451]

Brilliant documentary...... you've really gone through every aspect and made a excellent video. Having spent 20years in the Royal Air Force myself I truly feel that more should be done to draw the public's attention to what ordinary people decided to do in the defence of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth...... it's not just pilots who are heroes......

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching.

[@johnparsons1573]

What an amazing story

[@joseph71345]

Well done

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching Joseph!

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

There is a commonwealth graveyard on a church grounds in Carmarthen, on Picton Road - St. David's church. The church is now depressingly neglected, shut and disused, falling to pieces.

[@CalibanRising]

It's a shame. If only the UK could do something like the Dutch have done with its youth to honour the men who fought at Arnhem and places like that. Be great to see some local kids in there tending to those graves.

[@kennedysingh3916]

Watched from Old Harbour, Jamaica. Very interedting.🎉 I took am trying to put together two stories of US airmen who losed their lives on training missions while based at Vernam Field in Jamaica.

[@user-pv6vi6xq6d]

less we forget

[@Ob1sdarkside]

Hannah was different gravy, that's an incredible story

[@brianford8493]

One of too many.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Been watching episodes of Wings in recent weeks, WW1 TV drama. I recommend, all on YT. I recommend WW2 based Piece of Cake, too, featuring the same actor, Edward Woodward's son, forget his first name, Tim is it?

[@PStevesson]

Reminds me of personal coincidence, am a scale modeler and few back years for the Bob 75TH chose a not so random spitfire but still fairly random to build as it was the sqn leaders aircraft of a one of the several units at my home town in the battle of britain, discovered as I was building the aircraft was shot down and the pilot (not the SL but another P/O)was buried in the graveyard at the end of my road, and in another coincidence he was shot don by my personal favorite Luftwaffe ace of the early war period Werner Molders, who though I wasn't able to find out eitherway but might have been flying one of the few BF109F's to see combat in the official BoB

[@CalibanRising]

It's great when things like that happen. It really closes the gap between these men and us learning about them now.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

You've got a post-1942 Navigator wing there. In 1940 it should be an Observer wing.

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for the correction Neil!

[@kayekaye251]

At 10:14 you seem to have a typo(?) in the date being 1914? (In captions).

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately KZbin doesn't understand my mumbly British accent. Autogenerated captions don't work for me!

[@kayekaye251]

@@CalibanRising Ah, the accent, of course!

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

00:19:00 - My fave city in France ~ Bordeaux. When you say you are Welsh, there, the ladies are instantly all over you. Something from our seafaring days I think it is

[@rogerrussell5155]

Any relation to keeley hawes?

[@CalibanRising]

She's not turned up at Sunday lunch yet, so I don't think so.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

✝️ 😐😔

[@dragongaming4509]

Appreciate you need to illustrate the function these men were occupying on the fateful flight, but allocating the Nav flying badge to Plt Off Fielder is not correct. Fielder was a pilot fulfilling the duties of the navigator and therefore the pilot flying badge should be used to show his qualification.

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

This is a well known story.its always a risk bombing in built up areas . Particularly unfortunate to hit a school

[@johnstirling6597]

1😀😀

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

I have heard smoking pipes was standard kit issue for officers during WW2, and stick on moustaches. 🙃😁😁😁👍

[@dragongaming4509]

Somewhat childish comment!

[@peterstubbs5934]

Well the fact that the Germans nicknamed the Sunderland "The Flying Porcupine" says a lot about their fear of it.