Assistance required for International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) Project

Dear ARG Members

The IBCC (International Bomber Command Centre) in Lincoln is in the process of compiling and creating a national database of images of memorials to Bomber Command in the UK. The aim is to link this database to the existing personnel losses database so that for example, if in the future someone is searching for a particular individual, a “pop-up” window will appear showing an image of a memorial to; the individual/the crew/the crash/the Sqn, or unit etc. Longer term the project will hopefully be expanded to include all known BC memorials across Europe and beyond (e.g. Australia/Canada/New Zealand).

Currently a handful of IBCC volunteers led by yours truly are engaged in the task of visiting and recording all “known” existing memorials across the UK, along with a welcome steady increase in newly dedicated ones. It is also highly likely that there are more memorials out there that are as yet, unrecorded and which will hopefully come to light as a result of this project.

In terms of distance and topography, the actual physical task of recording these memorials remains substantial and there are several areas of the UK “suffering” from poor volunteer coverage – which is the main reason for this post.

A small number of ARG members have already been assisting me for some time – but are there any others members of the ARG "out there" who would be interested and willing to assist in this project?? You might be closer to a number of memorials than you think - or even have friends/family in the area or visit on a regular basis for work or leisure . . .

Quite simply, the task involves visiting specific memorial sites as and when convenient to you, taking a number of images and then submitting them for inclusion into the IBCC Memorials database. Any images taken would be duly credited to the owner accordingly. Subject to anticipated approval, to further enhance the project these images would also be shared with relevant Bomber Command Sqn Assn’s (if still extant) to increase general awareness. A win-win situation for all involved.

Those areas of the UK where current volunteer coverage is poor, or just one or two memorials still remain unvisited are as follows;

ENGLAND:

Cheshire / County Durham /Derbyshire / Gloucestershire / Greater Manchester / Lancashire / Merseyside / Northumbria / Somerset / Tyne & Wear / West Midlands / West Yorkshire

EIRE

Co Galway

NORTHERN IRELAND

Co Antrim / Co Tyrone

SCOTLAND:

Borders Region / Dumfries & Galloway / Shetland Isles / Strathclyde / Tayside

WALES:

Clwyd / Dyfed / Gwynedd / Mid Glamorgan / South Glamorgan / West Glamorgan

Most of these memorials are plaques, tablets or SGW’s located in Churches. Of these a small number exist in inner city locations e.g. Bristol & Birmingham. A handful of others memorials are in more remote locations i.e. actual crash sites and are therefore some distance from the nearest road.

This request for assistance is directly aimed at ARG Members, if you have the time and are genuinely interested in assisting, please contact me (NOT the IBCC) as and when convenient and further details will be provided on request.

NB: The project does not cover generic “village green” style war memorials i.e. a simple list of names of locals lost in service, or images of CWGC gravestones (or additional dedications on gravestones) as these are already covered by other well-established organisations.

Thanks in advance for your anticipated co-operation in aiding the creation of the first dedicated database of Bomber Command Memorials in the UK

Tony H

ARG Memorials Moderator (& Voluntary IBCC Memorials Archivist)

Have you looked at the former ARG member Cliffe Gardner collection which we inherited from his wife when he passed away. Together they complied a book on the subject in the 1980s and we have his bound photo collection which are in the walk-in cupboard.

Paul

Many thanks for the suggestion - will bear it mind & hopefully be able to visit

Tony

Thanks for the suggestion. The last time I checked GEOGRAPH (over 12 months ago) images of memorials at the specific locations I was (still am) after, did not appear - but will re check ASAP

Many thanks

Tony

Hi Pete

Many thanks for the info - which I will peruse ASAP. Happy to share any info in return. PM me if interested

Kind Regards

Tony