The Exbury Junkers: A World War II Mystery - Part IX
By: John Stanley
A couple of years ago I mentioned to Helmut that I had visited Exbury and attended the Remembrance Sunday service, at which the names of the seven young casualties of the German bomber crash were remembered alongside those of fallen British servicemen. Helmut was very touched by this and said:
"Thank God we have learned in the last fifty years that war is the biggest tragedy for us all".
And I think we would all agree with that.
When all is said and done, the Exbury Junkers affair could be considered as just one of countless wartime incidents, whose circumstances have never been fully explained, and perhaps never will be. At the same time, the fact that it has captured the imagination of so many people over the years, including a famous novelist, surely makes it quite remarkable and unique.
Much of this story, and my research, has obviously revolved around Exbury. I was trying to work out the other day how many visits I have made to Exbury since I embarked on my research. It's something like eleven times. I can honestly say that I have been made to feel very welcome every time I have been here, and it has been very reassuring to have received so much support and interest from everyone at Exbury.
I am extremely grateful to the Rothschilds, Mr Edmund and Mr Nicholas, for their hospitality and support over the years, and would particularly like to thank them for their generosity in hosting today's event, and for giving the book such a good send-off. I should also like to thank Mr Edmund for writing the Foreword to the book. I am also very grateful to Angus Harley, Managing Agent for the estate, Nigel Philpott, Commercial and Marketing Manager, Annie Bullen the Press Officer and Jennifer Chaplin, Mr Edmund's PA. I'm sorry to have made you so much extra work over the last few years, but I'll soon be out of your way.
I am also grateful to the Exbury Veterans Association for taking such an interest in my research, and for its hospitality in inviting me to various functions, including its annual reunion. I am very grateful to several members of the Association for their support and their friendship, but I must just single out the secretary, Marion Loveland, ably supported by her husband Stuart. Thank you Marion for your overwhelming support and kindness. I won't forget it.
This has been a long journey, and at times it has felt like something of a rollercoaster ride. I have experienced the elation of tracking down each of the German relatives. I have also derived a sense of achievement from dusting down my erstwhile skills in French and German . And I would like to thank my near neighbour Marion Pollard for helping me with my German translation. It was vital that my letters to the German relatives did not come across as being insensitive or ambiguous, and Marion saw to that.
