The Abersychan & Garndiffaith local history group
produced a booklet on the subject in
January 2001, by Ken Clark.
Along the mountain from Pontypool Golf Club towards Abersychan, accessed along Water Works Lane, Cwmavon, lies the Garn Wen memorial stone organised by the Abersychan & Garndiffaith local history group.
Time had been spent by the group researching the incident before the Memorial Dedication Service was held on 22 September 2000, sixty years after the actual crash on the mountainside.
On the eastern boundary of the South Wales Coalfield, near Abersychan, lies Mynydd Garnclochdy, 427 mtrs high leading to Garn Wen, 448 mtrs high. Garnclochdy is known locally as the Devil's Heap of Stones. According to legend this area was a favourite haunt of the Devil, not only did he leave his footprint, but his chair sits on top of the heap.
The Blenheim L8610
The Blenheim L8610 aircraft took off from Upwood on a training exercise on 22 September 1940, a Sunday. The plane was piloted by Sergeant H. Wilson. Low cloud covered the mountains during the afternoon when various local people reported hearing the low rumble of plane engines and then a crash. Children were prevented from exploring as they had to attend Sunday School.
The air crew who died were:
Sgt H. Wilson, aged 22: Pilot
Pilot Officer Anthony Drake Copplestone, aged 29: Observer
Sgt John November, aged 20: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner:
Despite the wreckage being guarded by members of the RAF, souvenir items have found their way around the valleys and into people's houses.
The photographs in this piece were taken on 13 November 2011 after a memorial service was held at the site. More information is available on the following link:
http://www.rafupwood.co.uk/17otulosses.html
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