Over six decades later, Helen Nall unexpectedly came across a fragment of aircraft alloy in one of her husband’s fields. Unaware, until then, of the story of the Lancasters, she talked to a local farmer who remembered the incidents, and decided to investigate further.

Over the next year, Helen tracked down the families of the aircrews and pieced together the final moments of the two Lancasters. This is her remarkable account of how the war affected Hoveringham and the surrounding villages. She covers the growth of Bomber Command into a mighty force, the construction of RAF Syerston - which dominated the parish of Hoveringham in the Trent Valley - and describes life for the bomber crews, as well as, of course, the Lancaster bombers which featured so largely in the lives of local people during the war.

Her book is a tribute to the 55,573 Bomber Command aircrew who did not live to see the end of the Second World War, but particularly to the fourteen young men who died so violently within sight of her home.

All proceeds from this book are being donated to the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund and the Bomber Command Memorial Appeal.

Since the end of May 2010, this small paperback book has raised over £20,000. Thank you for all your generous support and particularly to Linney Group, who kindly donated the printing.

Summary of the book:

In the final months of the Second World War, on the  12^th and 29^th January 1945, two Lancaster bombers crashed in fields close to the village of Hoveringham in Nottinghamshire, with the loss of both crews.

Published  May 2010
ISBN 978-09565500-0-2

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"The Courage of the Small Hours"

To obtain a copy of this book:

Please send a cheque made payable to Helen Nall for £12.50 (which includes the book price of £9.99, plus post & packaging and banking charges), to: Lady Nall,  Hoveringham Hall, Hoveringham, Notts., NG14 7JR.
Alternatively, copies can be ordered on line. Please go to:  www.thebookcase.co.uk

(The Book Case Lowdham, who have already despatched hundreds of copies around the world.)

PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flies over the Hoveringham Lancaster Memorial, August 2010, in tribute to the fourteen airmen named on the stones.

"A marvelously readable, carefully researched and superbly produced book ..... I dip my wings in salute to a tremendous achievement."
STEPHEN FRY

"A well-researched, easy to read and warm book..."
AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR MICHAEL GRAYDON GCB CBE
(Former Chief of Air Staff)

"....this superbly researched and very well-written story will move and inspire."
ANDREW ROBERTS
(Historian, Author and Broadcaster)