A local war hero and his son have been united after more than 80 years apart.
Captain of The Godmanchester Stirling Squadron Leader Matthew Drummond Henderson Wilson, known as ‘Jock’, was killed in action on April 11, 1942 just two months before his son Drummond Wilson Thorne was born.
The Godmanchester Stirling was one of 18 Stirling bombers which were part of a raid on the German city of Essen on the night of April 10-11 1942.
The young Drummond, who died on May 16 last year spent most of his life unaware of his father's military service until the publication of Roger Leiver’s book ‘Stirling to Essen’ in 2017, which allowed him to “fill in the gaps”.
Roger told The Hunts Post: "After Drummond's death his widow remarried, and he was not really mentioned very much.
"So his son never really got to know his father. In so many ways the book brought back to him the father he never knew.
"I'm constantly reminded by his family of just how much he valued it."
On June 29, after a year of planning, Drummond was reunited with his father when some of his ashes were interred at his father’s grave during a special service in St Margaret's Churchyard, Wyton.
Officiated by The Rev Geoff Boucher, the service was attended by Drummond’s wife, Marcelline Thorne, his son Mark, representatives of the Royal Air Force and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Roger who delivered the eulogy.
After the final blessing a piper played Flowers of the Forest, a Scottish lament honouring the fallen.
Marcelline said: “Roger has opened up such a wonderful insight into Drummond’s father that he never really knew an awful lot about.
“So when Matthew had spoken with Drummond and asked whether he wanted some of his ashes scattered with his father's; he said ‘yes’ and felt that would be the right thing to do.
“That was many years ago, but Matthew remembered that conversation and so after Drummond’s passing, he got the ball rolling. Roger was the man of the moment, and through his love of the story he was able to bring all of these people together to celebrate their union.”
Through Roger, Marcelline was able to contact Godmanchester stonemason AJ Mills who crafted a memorial plaque for the family. William Peacock Undertakers in Huntingdon have since volunteered to recess the plaque free of charge.
Following a visit to the Godmanchester Stirling Memorial, where the family laid a wreath in memory of Squadron Leader Matthew Drummond Henderson Wilson, Marcelline and Mark were taken to Wilson Drive on the Romans Edge Estate newbuild.
Wilson Drive was named in honour of ‘Jock’ by Godmanchester Town Council in 2022.
Six other roads are also named in memory of other crew members.
Roger said: "How many fathers never got to meet their sons and daughters because of the war, many thousands I'm sure.
"Although Drummond Thorne never knew his father, he loved him deeply nevertheless.
"It seems the perfect end, in a way, to their story, father and son now together after over 80 years. For all of us there, it was a moving and unforgettable moment. One we'll never forget."
Marcelline added: “It was a wonderful celebration of their lives. It was very emotional and seemed like the right thing to do for someone who never met his father and a father who never met his son.
“The service was just amazing, it was just a perfect moment in time and I get a lot of comfort from that.”
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