June 23, 2016 10.39 am This story is over 93 months old

Lincoln children join Bomber Command veteran in tribute to uncle killed in battle

Lincoln school children accompanied a Cold War veteran as he laid a poppy in memory of his uncle who was killed at war at the Bomber Command Memorial on Canwick Hill in Lincoln. The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) welcomed pupils from Fosse Way Academy in North Hykeham, accompanied by Cold War Bomber Command veteran,…

Lincoln school children accompanied a Cold War veteran as he laid a poppy in memory of his uncle who was killed at war at the Bomber Command Memorial on Canwick Hill in Lincoln.

The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) welcomed pupils from Fosse Way Academy in North Hykeham, accompanied by Cold War Bomber Command veteran, Terry Clague on Wednesday, June 22.

Photo: IBCC

Photo: IBCC

The children have been working on a project with Lincoln based charity, Making History, which is headed up by TV celebrity, Colin McFarlane.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Colin McFarlane at the launch of the Making History project. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The children have, as part of their outreach programme, spent time in a retirement home where they met Terry, who served on Vulcans.

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Nicky Barr, IBCC Director, said: “During a visit with the children to Newark Air Museum, Terry mentioned his uncle, Sgt William F C Clague had been killed in 1943 whilst serving in Bomber Command during WW2.

“William had been on a mission to Wuppertal, flying in a Lancaster from 460 Sqn out of Binbrook.

“Sadly, the plane crashed near Koblenz in Germany killing all 7 members of the crew who are all buried in the Rheinberg Forest War Cemetery.”

William’s name is now recorded on panel 20 at the IBCC and the children accompanied Terry to place a poppy on his name and mark his passing for the first time.