Tales of a veteran: War veteran James Flowers presented the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Trust with money raised from sales of his biography.
Flight Sergeant H James Flowers, 94, who first volunteered for the RAF in 1943, has presented the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Trust with a donation raised through his signed books.
The veteran, who published A Tail End Charlie’s Story, signed many copies of his book, which recounted the experiences of his aircrew rear gunner days when serving in the RAF during the 1939-45 war against Germany.
The money raised from his book signings amassed over £1,000, which he has donated to the trust that’s building a historic memorial and visitors’ centre on Canwick Hill in Lincoln.
Guests gathered at the memorial on Canwick Hill on Tuesday, July 21 for a special cheque presentation.
As previously reported, the names of 26,500 fallen Bomber Command aircrew are being remembered with a striking memorial on Canwick Hill in Lincoln.
The £9 million project, which when completed will form the International Bomber Command Centre, has already seen the installation of the 102ft Memorial Spire.
The Walls of Names are next to be installed on site, and Lincoln firm Micrometrics are cutting the names of the thousands who lost their lives during the second world war in to a series of Corten steel plates ready to be installed.
The first wall of names has been installed on site. Photo: Emily Norton for The Lincolnite
James Flowers enlisted in the RAF in 1944. He then went on to serve the 50 squadron and 44 squadron until 1945.
After writing down his life story for his family, with old and new photographs, James decided to sell copies and donate all the proceeds to the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Trust and their project.
James Flower in 1944
He said: “I have done a lot in my life, I have fallen vertically from 11,000 feet but really and truly there is nothing special about me. I was just a mainstream Tail End Charlie.
“My children asked me to write a book for family history. They had a first edition produced ten years ago and I was so dissatisfied that I re-wrote it and it came out two months ago.
“I am very pleased because I have done everything myself. It’s really my biography and it goes right the way from 1939 to last year, because I have had a very interesting life.
“I was a driving examiner in Lincolnshire for 33 years and they used to call me the smiling assassin and all those stories are included, some of which are just as exciting as my time as a rear gunner.
“I gave £500 pounds from the book sales as our recent reunion and today I am presenting a check for £710.”
Tony Worth, Chairman of the LBCM Trust, added: “It’s amazing how far we’ve come and how much money a small number of people have managed to raise.
“It’s fantastic that this project has brought so many people together. And we are very grateful to James and everyone who has contributed.”
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