Heroine and Civilian Casualty of WWII. Elizabeth was killed in a heroic attempt to save the lives of the crew of a Douglas A-20 Havoc American bomber which had just taken off from the US airbase at Little Walden, North-West Essex,England.It crashed in a field by her home at Puddle Wharf Farm, after colliding with an American fighter plane.She ran to the crash site and managed to extract one badly burnt airman who survived,S/Sgt Angelo A Mattei
but on her return to the burning aircraft to try to save the rest of the crew, the bombs on the plane exploded killing her and the remaining crew members along with another US airman, Sgt John P.Hartman who had been cycling through the village and who also had rushed to the scene.
The crew members killed were:
Captain Roger D Dunbar,
First Lieutenant William B Jones
and First Lieutenant Norman W Merrill.
The pilot of the fighter plane was also killed; he was Second Lieutenant Robert L Dickens.
She was a nurse and the widow of Reginald George Everitt, a farmer who had died the year before.She was 38 and the daughter of Elizabeth Ann Moralee, of London Road, Great Chesterford, and of the late Nicholas Moralee.
An extract from The London Gazette dated 21 July 1944, records the following:-"The King has been pleased to approve that the Albert Medal be awarded posthumously to Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Everitt, in recognition of the conspicuous gallantry which she displayed in her efforts to rescue the crew of a burning aircraft which crashed, loaded with bombs, into a field near her home. Two of the bombs subsequently exploded, killing her instantly."
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognize the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.It was first instituted by Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971. The medal was named in memory of Prince Albert (Consort of Queen Victoria) and was originally awarded to recognize saving life at sea.The bronze Medal was received on her behalf by her five year old son, Anthony Charles ("Tony") Everitt and his uncle at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. She is the only civilian to be named on the village war memorial and one of the 16 women to be awarded the Albert Medal for gallantry.
Elizabeth Everitt was the 4th child of 11 born to Nicholas Moralee and Elizabeth Ann Woodley. She was born at Blackhill in Co. Durham. Elizabeth was a twin and her twin was named Amos. They appear to have been named after their maternal grandparents. Her parents are buried at Ashdon.
but on her return to the burning aircraft to try to save the rest of the crew, the bombs on the plane exploded killing her and the remaining crew members along with another US airman, Sgt John P.Hartman who had been cycling through the village and who also had rushed to the scene.
The crew members killed were:
Captain Roger D Dunbar,
First Lieutenant William B Jones
and First Lieutenant Norman W Merrill.
The pilot of the fighter plane was also killed; he was Second Lieutenant Robert L Dickens.
She was a nurse and the widow of Reginald George Everitt, a farmer who had died the year before.She was 38 and the daughter of Elizabeth Ann Moralee, of London Road, Great Chesterford, and of the late Nicholas Moralee.
An extract from The London Gazette dated 21 July 1944, records the following:-"The King has been pleased to approve that the Albert Medal be awarded posthumously to Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Everitt, in recognition of the conspicuous gallantry which she displayed in her efforts to rescue the crew of a burning aircraft which crashed, loaded with bombs, into a field near her home. Two of the bombs subsequently exploded, killing her instantly."
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognize the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.It was first instituted by Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971. The medal was named in memory of Prince Albert (Consort of Queen Victoria) and was originally awarded to recognize saving life at sea.The bronze Medal was received on her behalf by her five year old son, Anthony Charles ("Tony") Everitt and his uncle at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. She is the only civilian to be named on the village war memorial and one of the 16 women to be awarded the Albert Medal for gallantry.
Elizabeth Everitt was the 4th child of 11 born to Nicholas Moralee and Elizabeth Ann Woodley. She was born at Blackhill in Co. Durham. Elizabeth was a twin and her twin was named Amos. They appear to have been named after their maternal grandparents. Her parents are buried at Ashdon.
Heroine and Civilian Casualty of WWII. Elizabeth was killed in a heroic attempt to save the lives of the crew of a Douglas A-20 Havoc American bomber which had just taken off from the US airbase at Little Walden, North-West Essex,England.It crashed in a field by her home at Puddle Wharf Farm, after colliding with an American fighter plane.She ran to the crash site and managed to extract one badly burnt airman who survived,S/Sgt Angelo A Mattei
but on her return to the burning aircraft to try to save the rest of the crew, the bombs on the plane exploded killing her and the remaining crew members along with another US airman, Sgt John P.Hartman who had been cycling through the village and who also had rushed to the scene.
The crew members killed were:
Captain Roger D Dunbar,
First Lieutenant William B Jones
and First Lieutenant Norman W Merrill.
The pilot of the fighter plane was also killed; he was Second Lieutenant Robert L Dickens.
She was a nurse and the widow of Reginald George Everitt, a farmer who had died the year before.She was 38 and the daughter of Elizabeth Ann Moralee, of London Road, Great Chesterford, and of the late Nicholas Moralee.
An extract from The London Gazette dated 21 July 1944, records the following:-"The King has been pleased to approve that the Albert Medal be awarded posthumously to Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Everitt, in recognition of the conspicuous gallantry which she displayed in her efforts to rescue the crew of a burning aircraft which crashed, loaded with bombs, into a field near her home. Two of the bombs subsequently exploded, killing her instantly."
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognize the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.It was first instituted by Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971. The medal was named in memory of Prince Albert (Consort of Queen Victoria) and was originally awarded to recognize saving life at sea.The bronze Medal was received on her behalf by her five year old son, Anthony Charles ("Tony") Everitt and his uncle at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. She is the only civilian to be named on the village war memorial and one of the 16 women to be awarded the Albert Medal for gallantry.
Elizabeth Everitt was the 4th child of 11 born to Nicholas Moralee and Elizabeth Ann Woodley. She was born at Blackhill in Co. Durham. Elizabeth was a twin and her twin was named Amos. They appear to have been named after their maternal grandparents. Her parents are buried at Ashdon.
but on her return to the burning aircraft to try to save the rest of the crew, the bombs on the plane exploded killing her and the remaining crew members along with another US airman, Sgt John P.Hartman who had been cycling through the village and who also had rushed to the scene.
The crew members killed were:
Captain Roger D Dunbar,
First Lieutenant William B Jones
and First Lieutenant Norman W Merrill.
The pilot of the fighter plane was also killed; he was Second Lieutenant Robert L Dickens.
She was a nurse and the widow of Reginald George Everitt, a farmer who had died the year before.She was 38 and the daughter of Elizabeth Ann Moralee, of London Road, Great Chesterford, and of the late Nicholas Moralee.
An extract from The London Gazette dated 21 July 1944, records the following:-"The King has been pleased to approve that the Albert Medal be awarded posthumously to Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Everitt, in recognition of the conspicuous gallantry which she displayed in her efforts to rescue the crew of a burning aircraft which crashed, loaded with bombs, into a field near her home. Two of the bombs subsequently exploded, killing her instantly."
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognize the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.It was first instituted by Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971. The medal was named in memory of Prince Albert (Consort of Queen Victoria) and was originally awarded to recognize saving life at sea.The bronze Medal was received on her behalf by her five year old son, Anthony Charles ("Tony") Everitt and his uncle at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. She is the only civilian to be named on the village war memorial and one of the 16 women to be awarded the Albert Medal for gallantry.
Elizabeth Everitt was the 4th child of 11 born to Nicholas Moralee and Elizabeth Ann Woodley. She was born at Blackhill in Co. Durham. Elizabeth was a twin and her twin was named Amos. They appear to have been named after their maternal grandparents. Her parents are buried at Ashdon.
Inscription
In loving memory of Reginald George Everitt who died October 23rd 1943 aged 45 years also of his wife Elizabeth Ann who died May 27th 1944 aged 38 years .
Gravesite Details
Granite headstone, and kerb. Lead lettering.
