Piece of crashed Lancaster sent home to solider’s niece in Invercargill
Wrapped up in a plastic bag is a piece of crumpled metal that is starting to rust around the edges.
To the average person it might look like a hunk of junk, but for Gay Wilson it’s a connection to her uncle.
Stephen Cook was flying in a Lancaster with a crew over Holland during World War II when they were shot down.
They had just dropped bombs over a large railway yard in Aachen, Germany, and were flying back to Mepal, Cambridgeshire, when the plane was shot down by the enemy.
Three of the crew members, including Stephen, died when the plane crashed, while the survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
It’s only been within the past 20 years that the plane was recovered from where it crashed in Holland and a piece was sent to Wilson at her Invercargill home.
While she never met Stephen, her mother Maideline (or Maidie, as she was referred to in letters) would often share memories of her brother.
‘‘She talked about him so much. I grew up as if I knew him.’’
Stephen joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942 and trained at Taieri Air Field in Otago. He was part of the 75 Squadron that fought in World War II. Stephen’s plane was shot down on May 28, 1944, just more than a month after his 21st
birthday.
In that time he sent plenty of letters back home to his sister, Maidie, who diligently wrote the date received and the date she replied on the envelopes.
Wilson’s parents visited his grave in 1981, where they met the deputy mayor of the town, who showed them to Stephen’s final resting place. A school pupil of the deputy mayor’s was able to send a piece of the plane back to Wilson in New Zealand.
Wilson has also been to visit his grave in Mepal, which is in a
well-groomed section of land in the cemetery.
‘‘It is comforting to know that Steve’s final resting place is well cared for and respected,’’ she said.
She’s not sure what she will do with the letters, it’s something she is considering, but for now she is happy to hang on to them.
STEPHEN ASTLEY COOK NZ421142 LETTER TO HIS SISTER, MAIDIE:
On Board. July 2nd, 1942
Our daily programme is very good. We have to be up at 8 for breakfast if we intend to have any.
That is one meal I don’t know much about incidentally.
After breakfast we have time to clean and tidy our cabins and be out of the way to enable the leaders to inspect them by 9.
At 9 we go on deck and have PT. Our time is until 9.30. After PT our time is our own until 10.30 …
Mother will be a shade disappointed to learn that I have not as yet been sea sick. I will however admit that I have often been sick of the sea. A few of the Boys have been crook but not many. We have really had only two days when it was anything like rough ...It will be realised that I am unable to mention ports or such as the censor has to have a gaze at this before it is sealed up … I suppose Mother’s letter will be awaiting reply or perhaps Dad’s but I should have a little news then as I’ll have been places by then. Well, cheerio for now. Love Steve