Memorial to Battle of Britain Hero Unveiled

A memorial to a Battle of Britain hero, New Zealand-born Cecil Henry Hight has been placed at the location he was shot down when his Spitfire squadron was scrambled to intercept German bombers on 15 August 1940.

During a dogfight over Bournemouth, the 22-year-old’s plane was shot down, and while Pilot Officer Hight managed to bail out from his aircraft, his parachute never opened, and his body was found under a hedge in the grounds of Hambledon.

The house has since been demolished, however owners Alfred and Edith Hoare created a garden of remembrance where they found the body.

In order to mark the heroic airman’s sacrifice, and on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a memorial hewn from Portland stone has been unveiled.

Ward councillor Lynda Price said at the service: “We’re here today to honour a young man who died here, far from home.

“He was a New Zealander determined to fight and do his bit for the war effort, so he joined the RAF. His plane came down around 50 yards from this very spot.”

Original article by The Bournemouth Echo, August 16, 2015.