This article by Jackie Rickenberg was published in the Thursley Parish Magazine I have been gripped by the tragic and rather mysterious tale of an air disaster over Thursley, in days gone by. The observant amongst you may have picked up a mere whisper of it in the poignant epitaph to Edmund Haviland from The Old Parsonage in last month’s magazine. It would appear that Edmund knew the harrowing tale that explains the existence of one of the memorials in Thursley church’s graveyard. The story begins on Wednesday 27th July 1932. It was a blustery day with storms predicted later on in early evening. A bright young man of 21 years old, already qualified as a pilot, planned an outing for his mother and a friend, visiting from Hanover, Germany – a mere afternoon jaunt to Hamble on the south coast and back to Heston, on the west side of London. The young man in question was Bruce Bayne Bossom, his mother Mrs Emily Bayne Bossom and his friend a rather dashing sounding Count Otto Erbach-Fürstenau, or to give him his full title, Count Otto Adolf Joseph Emich Alexander Graf zu Erbach-Fürstenau (aged 23). Mrs Bossom was the wife of wealthy noted architect and Member of Parliament for Maidstone, Mr Alfred C Bossom (later ennobled as Lord Bossom). Mr A C Bossom had had a renowned career in the US, an early exponent and well-respected pioneer and designer of many of New York’s famous skyscrapers in 1910-20’s Manhattan. He married his American wife, before returning to the UK with their three young sons, in order for them to receive a traditional English education (Eton). It was at this stage that he followed his father into political life in Westminster, only to be succeeded many years later by one of his two remaining sons, Sir Clive Bossom MP for Leominster. Mrs Emily Bayne Bossom Bruce Bossom, who piloted the plane, was a promising and talented airman, who by the age of 21 had passed his parts A and B licences and his blind flying licence and according to his father “had flown for several hundred hours and was capable of flying any type of machine”. He was fully intent on making his name in the still emerging world of aviation and had hopes of being an early adventurer, often talking about breaking flying records across the Atlantic. He had just become engaged, to Miss Odette Herard, although not with the blessing of his parents, who felt he was too young and not yet established in a career, for such a step. The young German prince, who hailed from a distinguished aristocratic family, had been visiting the Bossom family on his first trip to the UK, staying with them as their guest in their rather smart house in Carlton Gardens, Belgravia. The story of the actual crash is perhaps better left to the reporters from The Portsmouth Evening News, dated 28th July 1932, the day after the crash: MYSTERY OF MACHINE SHATTERED IN MID-AIR Mrs Emily Bossom, wife of Mr. A. C. Bossom, M.P. for Maidstone, her son Bruce, aged 21, and Prince Otto Erbach Furstenau were killed last night when the aeroplane in which they were flying to Hamble crashed at Tilford, near Churt, Surrey. The cause of the disaster is a mystery. Is it possible the machine may have been struck by lightning, though there is no sign of it having been burned? Or perhaps another view is that the wind may have torn off one of the wings which was seen to come away from the plane in mid-air? These are among the questions which experts will have to solve when they investigate the cause of the crash. Our Special Correspondent gained a grimly vivid idea of the terrible nature of the tragedy when at dawn today he stood atop the brow of Kettlebury Hill, within a mile of Mr. Lloyd George’s country home at Churt, and looked over the wide valley below. Half a-mile away, in a spinney of young beech trees, was the battered fuselage. Six hundred yards to the east of it was a portion of one wing, and nearly a mile still farther away was the wing which was seen to tear off in the air. Five hundred yards to the west of the fuselage, a policeman on guard marked the area about 100 yards square—in which the bodies were found. A gust of storm force wind, might have turned the machine over and put strain on the landing wires which they could not bear; which in turn could have ripped out the side of the aeroplane hurtling the occupants to their death. It is however, practically impossible to say anything definite at the moment, except that one side of the fuselage seems to have disappeared. The men of the Border Regiment were duo to have left their bivouacs at 3.30 a.m. to-day, to march across the slopes where the wreckage lies, to engage in a mock battle with the Devon’s, but the manoeuvres were postponed on account of the tragedy. It was these men who formed the search party which spread over the heather-clad valley looking for the bodies. This is the air accident investigation details of the crash. Date: 27-JUL-1932 Time: 17:45 Type: de Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth Owner/operator: Brian Lewis & Co Ltd Registration: G-ABDH C/n / msn: 2081 Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Devil's Jump, Hankley Common, Churt, near Hindhead, Surrey Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi Departure airport: Heston Aerodrome, Heston, Middlesex Destination airport: Hamble, Hampshire We continue with the strange tale of the three passengers in a light aircraft, meeting their fate over Hankley Common. As you saw from last month’s photograph, the two members of the Bossom family killed – mother Emily and son Bruce - are buried in our churchyard. And although Alfred, Emily’s husband, went on to marry another American lady, he, along with a further son, are also buried alongside his first wife and son. An inquest into the plane crash was opened in Farnham Police Station on 29th July 1932, two days after the fatal accident. The Coroner, Mr G. Wills Taylor, stated that he proposed to take evidence just sufficient to permit the funerals to take place and would then adjourn, until the 14th September, to allow the air accident report to be made available. Sir Percy Simmons, solicitor, appeared for Mr A. Bossom, who sat next to him. The post mortems revealed some very odd results. It was confirmed that all three victims had died of multiple injuries, wholly consistent with falling heavily through the air. However, injuries which were indicative of burn marks or electrocution, caused before death, were present on all three bodies. Does this imply the lightening theory, rather than mechanical failure was more likely? Possibly, but never confirmed. Remember, they were flying through a thunderstorm at the time of the crash. The Western Daily Press of 30th July 1932 reported that “the funeral of Mrs Bossom and her son will take place at Thursley Churchyard, at the foot of the famous Hindhead Ridge, today at 2 o’clock”. The bodies were released from Farnham and went on immediately to Thursley. The body of Count Erbach Furstenau was conveyed to London to prepare for it to be taken across the Channel for interment at the family’s castle in Hanover. His brother was present at the Inquest and made the necessary arrangements. However, before rushing back to Germany, he paused briefly in Thursley to attend the funeral of Mrs Bossom and Bruce. The Scotsman newspaper reported on Saturday 1st August “In the secluded churchyard of Thursley, Surrey, about three miles from where they met their deaths on Wednesday evening, Mrs E Bossom and her son, Bruce were buried today. There were only two family mourners, Mr A C Bossom, MP for Maidstone and his elder surviving son Mr Clive Bossom. Other mourners were Count Alfred Graf zu Erbach Furstenau, brother of Count Otto, who was also killed in the crash and Sir Percy Simmons (solicitor). The officiating clergy were the vicar of the parish, the Rev. H G French and the vicar of Maidstone, Canon T K Sopwith. Mendelssohn’s “O for the Wings of a Dove” was played on the organ as the bodies were carried into the church. The only other music was the tune of the hymn “Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past” played as the coffins were borne to the grave. The bodies were laid side by side in a double grave. There was a wreath of Lilies of the Valley from Miss Odette Herard, to whom Mr Bruce Bossom was engaged. It was inscribed “Je t’adore, Odette” “. It was, it would seem, a very desolate and intimate affair. More about Odette. At the time of the accident, she was on a Mediterranean cruise with her mother, reported as being a Knightsbridge dressmaker, although reading between the lines, she was more likely a French dress designer, as she had a personal secretary and they lived in Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, one of the best-preserved set pieces of Georgian architecture in London. The Daily Herald rather dramatically reported as follows: AIRMAN'S LOVER WHISPERS, "I KNOW" - MONTE CARLO The news of the death of her young fiancé, Mr. Bruce Bossom, in an air crash at Farnham (Surrey) a fortnight ago, was made known to Miss Odette Herard by her mother, to-day, in the hospital at Monaco, where she is ill with scarlet fever. Miss Herard seemed to divine the nature of her mother's mission. " I know, mother. It is Bruce," she whispered, almost before her mother had spoken. Then, in spite of all her courage, Miss Herard. already weak and exhausted from the effects of her severe illness, broke down completely. Her mother said afterwards that her daughter had had a presentiment of impending disaster ever since she left England for her Mediterranean cruise. In parting from her fiancé on the quayside as she left England, she had had to turn away from him with tears in her eyes as she felt certain she would never see him again She had given him a little gold cross for luck in exchange for a ring. Ill in hospital, Miss Herard often said she heard the noise of aeroplane wings, and had feverishly asked when Bruce was coming to see her. A box of chocolates given by Mr Bossom has been kept by Miss Herard's mother as a pathetic souvenir. Only a week before Mr Bossom was killed, his parents had objected to his engagement on the grounds that it would interfere with his career as a pilot. During the research for this article, it was often implied that the flight itself may have had a more sinister raison d’etre, instead of the joyride that it first appeared. Some reports talked about a reward being offered for the return of money or jewels that the plane may have been carrying. That spurned all the local children onto Hankley and surrounding areas, in a vain search for the “illicit” stash. The truth was much more sentimental and believable. Mr and Mrs Bossom had travelled extensively throughout their time together, and rather charmingly, he bought her a pearl from everywhere they visited. This became a four-string set of pearls held together with a precious diamond clasp. When her body was recovered, forty of the sixty rare and highly valuable pearls were missing and her poor distraught husband offered a reward for any pearls recovered. Unfortunately, it was reported on 13th September, some two months later, that none of the missing jewels were ever traced. Finally, interestingly, to this day there are two little known memorials to the Bossom’s on Hankley Common. These mark the spots where their bodies fell. Of course, the bracken and heather will have grown up around them in the intervening years, but if anyone is interested in following up this mysterious tale, the co-ordinates of Emily’s memorial, as seen below, are N 51° 09.023 W 000° 44.760. Bossom aircrash 90th anniversary memorial (From an article written by Jackie Rickenberg in the Parish Magazine in September 2022) Some of you may remember the tragic tale of the Bossom air crash that I retold in the May and June 2021 articles. The crash, on Hankley in 1932, of a light aircraft, killed Lady Emily Bossom, her pilot son, Bruce Bossom and his friend, an aristocratic German Count. By another strange quirk of fate, it transpired that a villager who read it, knew a direct relative of the Bossom’s – both of whom are buried in our churchyard. This in turn led to a delightful meeting with Lady Barbara Bossom, whose late husband Sir Clive, younger brother of Bruce and son of Lady Emily, is also buried in the family plot in Thursley. As this July 27th was the 90th anniversary of the crash, a small memorial service was recall family held in the churchyard and attended by interested parties, Lady Barbara and her eldest son Sir Bruce (I know, a confusion of names!). Rev Hannah delivered a short reflective service and Sir Bruce read an apt poem (see below). Afterwards lunch at Hedge Farm provided an apt opportunity for the Bossom’s to recall family memories from that time. It was a sunny but overcast day and the graveyard was peaceful and tranquil, all very fitting for the occasion. The churchyard working committee had done a tremendous job of clearing around the impressive Bossom headstone and it seemed appropriate for Thursley to remember this part of its past in such a contemplative way. Impressions of a pilot by Gary Claude Stoker:read by Sir Bruce Bossom Flight is freedom in its purest form, To dance with the clouds which follow a storm; To roll and glide, to wheel and spin, To feel the joy that swells within; To leave the earth with its troubles and fly, And know the warmth of a clear spring sky; Then back to earth at the end of a day, Released from the tensions which melted away. Should my end come while I am in flight, Whether brightest day or darkest night; Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain, Secure in the knowledge that I’d do it again; For each of us is created to die, And within me I know, I was born to fly. The report below is from Surrey History: Above scans courtesy Dr John N Bennett Report of Accidents Investigation Branch dated 27 July 1932 Report by Aviation Safety Network, updated 4 July 2021 de Havilland DH80 Puss Moth, photographs courtesy Dr John N Bennett

There is no obvious connection between John Freeman, the poet, and Thursley, but he is buried in our churchyard. He must have visited the village, liked it and somehow obtained permission to be buried here. His friends, probably the circle of Georgian poets, including Walter de la Mare and Alice Meynell, bought the field next to the churchyard and gave it to the National Trust in his memory. From Allpoetry.com: John Freeman was a poet whose work reflects the asethetic principles of the Georgian era in British literature. This period, which roughly spanned the first two decades of the 20th century, was marked by a renewed interest in traditional forms and a focus on rural life and themes of nature. From A Dictionary of Methodism: Poet and critic, born into a WM family at Dalston, Middx on 29 January 1880. His health was permanently impaired by scarlet fever in early childhood. At 13 he joined the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society as a junior clerk and spent the rest of his life in its employ, rising to become Secretary and Director in 1927 and a leading figure in the insurance world. He was a local preacher. But he was more widely known in the literary world, where he contributed to Edward Marsh's Georgian Poets anthologies and enjoyed the friendship of such figures as Alice Meynell, Walter de la Mare and J.C. Squire. His friend Edward Thomas called him 'a sort of angel' and Eleanor Farjeon described him as a 'quiet poet ... gentle, with a fine sensitive mind, and qualities which made his plain features lovable.' After Thomas's death, she collaborated with Freeman in seeing Thomas's first volume of poems through the press. His own first book of poems, published in 1909, was followed by several others, marked by his 'grave and quiet rhythms' and including Stone Trees (1916) which gained him recognition. Poems New and Old (1920) won him the Hawthornden Prize for imaginative literature. His Collected Poems appeared in 1928. He wrote on literary matters for the New Statesman, The Bookman, the Quarterly Review,and the London Mercury and his prose works included a Portrait of George Moore (1922), English Portraits (1924), Herman Melville (1926) and a play Prince Absalom (1925). He died on 23 Sept. 1929 and his funeral service at Anerley WM Church was conducted by his fellow poet, Andrew Young, then a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. He was interred at Thursley, Surrey, where a field adjoining the churchyard was given to the National Trust in his memory. 'Meanwhile de la Mare came to know a poet friend of Roger Ingpen's … John Freeman, who like himself was in business - a great deal more successfully than de la Mare. He had begun life as an office boy at thirteen, and became in time the Secretary of his insurance company, the Liverpool Victoria. Like de la Mare, he would come home at the end of an eight- or nine-hour working day in the City, to write verses late into the night. He was also a copious correspondent and very well read. Tall, gangling, ugly, solemn, punctilious, there was in him an endearing quality about these very attributes; Edward Thomas referred to him as "a kind of Angel", and de la Mare, after his death, described even his physical appearance in phrases that suggest beauty - "beautiful brows", and ruminative eyes "of a peculiarly ardent blue".' Theresa Whistler, Imagination of the Heart: the life of Walter de la Mare (1993), pp.127-8 A later photograph of John Freeman taken from the frontispiece of "John Freeman's Letters", edited by Gertrude Freeman and Sir John Squire, Macmilland & Co Ltd 1936. This delightful extract which describes Thursley and mentions John Freeman is from "Solo and Duet" by Sir John Squire: (But I was still on the bench at the Thursley Cricket Ground.) It was almost too hot to move, but very pleasant up there with the commons below, ridge after ridge of hills fading behind them and, in the other direction, the red roofs of the village outskirts. It would have been pleasant to stay there, or to tread again the old street of cottages and climb to churchyard and church and Rapley's farm which has King John walls in it. The church has newly discovered Saxon windows with the original wooden frames in them; it has also a magnificent lot of oak supporting roof and tower. And in the churchyard by the wall, above the steep declivity, there is a tombstone bearing the inscription "John Freeman, Poet", for there lies there, within sight of Crooksbury Beacon and in the heart of the country of Cobbett, whom he loved one of the strongest, most delicate, most profound, and most neglected of poets of our time. But I had set myself a long Journey that day; I wanted to get as near Winchester as I could; I should have to stop for lunch; and it was already half-past eleven. So I rose, and marched off to rejoin the main road, which climbs for three miles or so until it reaches Hindhead, the Punchbowl, and the monument of the murdered sailor. This letter also appeared in the book: Monday. 1928 Dear Jack I am tired and so, casting up my Sins, I remember I've not said a word (more than hasty "saying") of thanks to you for your part in my Selected Poems. You know they are due this Spring, and that I've actually had a spoonful of money from the divine Macmillans on a/c? I ought to have told you before: I ought to have typed you a letter in Capitals, all in Red, with a huge "thanks" at the top; but being uncivilized, though nor forgetful, I didn't. And thinking I must write I remembered that for fourteen or fifteen years you've printed my verse with suh blind and incomprehensible readiness as no editor has ever shewn to another poet. They are dozens, scores, hundreds-short and long, rhymed and rhymeless: you must be horrified to look back and remember. If at the end of a long life you have to make your peace with the Recording Angel (a malicious fellow, he!) and other virtues are dismissed with contempt and other charities declared folly, if then you speak of these many wise and kind indulgences, that Angel will be convinced you are the kindest of friends-and the best of critics. O rare conjunction! This is nonsense: I am tired, as you will see. Ever J.F. From Wikipedia: John Frederick Freeman (29 January 1880 – 23 September 1929) was an English poet and essayist, who gave up a successful career in insurance to write full-time. He was born in London, and started as an office boy aged 13. He was a close friend of Walter de la Mare from 1907, who lobbied hard with Edward Marsh to get Freeman into the Georgian Poetry series; with eventual success. De la Mare's biographer Theresa Whistler describes him as "tall, gangling, ugly, solemn, punctilious". He won the Hawthornden Prize in 1920 with Poems 1909-1920. His Last Hours was set to music by Ivor Gurney. From a newspaper article dated 27th November 1987 He died on 23rd September 1929 and probate was granted to his widow, Gertrude Frances Freeman, on 14 January 1930 leaving £3,745. John Freeman's headstone in Thursley Churchyard: John Freeman's gravestone with 'bird bath' exposed. This stone, set into the wall of the churchyard and juxtaposed to John Freeman's headstone, has this inscription: THE ADJOINING FIELD WAS PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL TRUST IN 1931 FOR PRESERVATION AS A MEMORIAL TO JOHN FREEMAN BORN 29 JAN 1880 DIED 23 SEPT 1929 The view across the National Trust field with John Freeman's grave, and the inscribed stone in the wall, in the foreground John Freeman's poetry: Here are two examples of his verse: from MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD AND OTHER POEMS; published 1919 by Selwyn and Blount of London. Snows Now the long-bearded chilly-fingered winter Over the green fields sweeps his cloak and leaves Its whiteness there. It caught on the wild trees, Shook whiteness on the hedges and left bare South-sloping corners and south-fronting smooth Barks of tall beeches swaying 'neath their whiteness So gently that the whiteness does not fall. The ash copse shows all white between gray poles, The oaks spread arms to catch the wandering snow. But the yews--I wondered to see their dark all white, To see the soft flakes fallen on those grave deeps, Lying there, not burnt up by the yews' slow fire. Could Time so whiten all the trembling senses, The youth, the fairness, the all-challenging strength, And load even Love's grave deeps with his barren snows? Even so. And what remains? The hills of thought That shape Time's snows and melt them and lift up Green and unchanging to the wandering stars. The Wren Within the greenhouse dim and damp The heat floats like a cloud. Pale rose-leaves droop from the rust roof With rust-edged roses bowed. As I go in Out flies the startled wren. By the tall dark fir tree he sings Morn after morn still, Shy and bold he flits and sings Tinily sweet and shrill. As I go out His song follows me about ... About the orchard under trees Beaded with cherries bright, Past the rat-haunted Honeybourne And up those hills of light: As up I go His notes more sweetly flow. Or down those dark hills when night's there Full of dark thoughts and deep, A thin clear soundless music comes Like stars in broken sleep. When I come down All those dark thoughts are flown. And now that sweetness is more sweet, Here where the aeroplanes Labouring and groaning in the height Lift their lifeless vans:-- Sweet, sweet to hear The far off wren singing clear.

A memorial service in September 2023 in the churchyard of St Michael & All Saints, Thursley, saw the placement of a memorial stone on the unmarked grave of Joan Pearl Wolfe, the victim of the 'Wigwam Murder' in 1942. Her murderer, August Sangret, was tried for the crime in 1943 and was hanged in Wandsworth Prison in April 1943. This article written by Jackie Rickenberg was published in the Thursley Parish Magazine November 2023 The complete article is in the pdf below: Memorial Service booklet:

Photographs only: see separate entries for: Street House; Wheelers Farm; Opening of Wheelers Farm Granary; Wild Goose; The Lodge; Boxalls; Vine Cottage; Sunset Cottage; Prospect Cottage; Streetfield; Little Green; A Walk Through Old Thursley: * denotes separate entry. HATCH COTTAGES Hatch Cottage, the extension was built on for the Hacks. According to Ann Levy there had been a village shop at the other end No 1 and No 2 Hatch Cottages. Surnames of previous owners include: No 1 - Court; Williams; Knight; Thompson; Dupont; Knight - No 2 - Court; Hack; Hockley; Campbell; Ashley; Boyd Bert and Nellie Williams outside No 1 Hatch Cottages Hatch Cottages were sold in 1952 as part of the break-up of the Cosford Estate. The entries below are from the auction catalogue. 1 Hatch Cottages, from estate agent's particulars June 2026 https://seymours-estates.co.uk/property/the-street-thursley-surrey-gu8-has260130/ THE COTTON HOUSE, formerly RACKS CLOSE Racks Close is an unmade road on the left immediately after Hatch Cottages Racks Close in the early 1990s It has now been extensively modernised and renamed 'The Cotton House'. View from Racks Close from a postcard posted in 1910. The two large deciduous trees are no longer there and on the left is the granary of Hill Farm Barns, then Hill Farm House, The Old Parsonage, Hatch Cottages and St Michael & All Angels. Sisterly angst on the rear of the postcard! THE LODGE* Wheelwrights and The Street. John Goble and his wife moved to Wheelwrights in Thursley in 1902 to become the village blacksmith and wheelwright. Cruiser Mk IV tanks of 5th Royal Tank Regiment, 3rd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, drive down The Street in July 1940 WHEELWRIGHTS Wheelwrights (HM Land Registry Map below) Mr Goble and son Robert Jean and Arthur Moss Previous owners of Wheelwrights include: Goble; Kentish; Moss Sale particulars in September 2025: https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gbgursgus260083 SUNSET COTTAGE* WILD GOOSE* PROSPECT (formerly THE INSTITUTE)* HARVESTERS From a 2008 sales brochure June 2026 THE GRANARY, WHEELERS FARM* WHEELERS FARM* LITTLE GREEN STREET HOUSE*

In addition to the extensive paper archive (which we are continuing to catalogue and publish), there is also a collection of artefacts collected over the past many years. They are illustrative both of their period and life in the village of Thursley over the past many decades. We will be adding to this post as we catalogue more items so, if you are interested, remember to log back in from time to time. This is the content of a box of artefacts numbered 3: 1. Wooden carved wall plaque: About x”square. Stuck on back: "Carved by late George Warner of Thursley about 100 yrs old". No date given, but George Warner lived in Church Cottages and worked for the Fishers at Rock Cottage in the 1920s. In padded envelope addressed to Parish Clark, The Barrows, Seddle Road, Elstead. Elaine Felton? She may know more? 2. Plastic folder with notebook: Inside front printed: Regent (fuel), F. J. Barnard, "Half Moon", Thursley, Godalming 5883. 3. Tagged A 14 Box 3: Orange/red velvet handbag/purse containing intact sewing kit given as a 21st birthday present in 1903 to Edith Warner (Keen), daughter of Mary Keen of Pitt (Punch Bowl Farm). Stored in a maroon box. 4. Clothes brush: Backed on faux red leather. Regent (fuel) "With Compliments From F. Barnard, Half Moon, Thursley” 5. Tagged A 56: Flour scoop, Butter Pat, Pestle, Wooden Halter weight – smooth inside from use. 6. Labelled Box 3 397: Framed certificate: Surrey Fed of WI Drama Festival 1935 in Class Costumed Plays (Novice). 7. Labelled Box 36: Frame containing this necklace of Mrs Mays. Label in frame incorrect as George Mays (Mayes?) lived at Highcombe Farm that was, but it may have been called Boom Squires Cottage. Need to clarify. Delivered by Marg Hall. 8. Labelled Box 3 40**: Musket Ball. Found in a part of the timber frame of Dye House Granary. Donated by Charles Weedon. 9. Shoebox labelled A Box 3 8**: Containing dress, petticoat + bonnet for very young children made in the 1880s & worn until 1893 by Baker family of Upper Highfield Farm. Donated by Betty Weeden (née Baker). Also old ladies cotton cap worn by Elizabeth Keen of Upper Ridgeway Farm. Donated by Betty Weeden (nee Baker). 10.Patinated brass or bronze? plaque from The Clump + 1 screw**: "This Acacia tree was presented by Lieut-Col. W P H.Rushbrooke, and planted by the Chairman of the Surrey County Council on Saturday, December 15th, 1934, in memory of William Cobbett". 11.In blue striped paper bag marked 395 Box 3**: Mary Anne Smither's Work Book signed 1830. She married James Baker April 14th 1855. In brown envelope marked 396 Box 3: Plus James Smither's blank work book cover written on 1864. All pages photographed. This is the content of a box of artefacts numbered 2: 1) Tagged A 177 Box 2. Lump of oak: joint from Elizabethan Granary at Wheelers Farm during restoration in 1996. 2) Tagged A 209 Box 2. Mitton Challenge Trophy. Croquet Champion. 1985 M. F. Smart – Freda lived at Hilldown - Anne-Marie Emersic’s mother - 1986 GLJ Nightingale – John, Four Winds - 1987 Lady Stevens – Jane, Hill Farm - 1988 Mrs. J. Hawland - Jane, Hill Farm (same person! ) - 1989 Mrs P. Coles - Patricia, Upper Ridgeway Farm - 1990 Dr. J. Stoneham - John, Rack Close now Cotton House - 1991 J. R. Nightingale - Ruth, Four Winds Trophy donated by Dick Milton, plumber at Homefields, emigrated to Brazil. Tournament held on previous winner's garden so no one wanted to win! 3) Double frame containing cap badge of Lorne Scots Regt Canada. Other side photo of SR Barber & Lorne Scots Church Parade 1942. 4) Tagged 32 Box 2. Very small jam jar containing (& labelled). "Old china doll's head found in the village". SS's writing. 5) Small glass bottle labelled "This old ink bottle was found on the track leading into the Devil's Punch Bowl from Highfield Lane". SS's writing. 6) Stone ginger bottle, Stranafield Bros, Riply Surrey. Labelled "The Stone bottle was probably by day-trippers resting on the bank bay a field of Punch Bowl Farm". SS's writing 7) Stone ink bottle. 8) Set of old keys to current Village Hall. Large metal tag: Village Hall, return to Post Office, Main Hall N/W Door, Western Rear Doors. Communicating Door Hall/House, Club Room VH 5, Committee Room (Front). Village Hall *Soot Doors. Village Hall M L Jupe The Well House 9) Miscellaneous Bottles & Labels: - Wine Bottle (?) - Wine Bottle (?) - Dinneford's Magnesia Bottle - Boots The Chemists Bottle - Goodall Backhouse & Co Yorkshire Relish & Bottle - Squared medicine Bottle with stopper (may not be for that bottle) Above labelled “Variety of Bottles found at Punch Bowl Farm. 10) Rusty Hurricane Lamp: Fever Hand. Made in W Germany, so post war. 11) Old broken bottle (very old) hand blown base in green glow. Labelled "Old Broken Bottle Found Deep in the theant of a Hazel Tree at Punch Bowl Farm", Wrapped.

Alan Karn's baker's cart driven by Drew Milton, the roundsman. Jim Christmas's father was the baker. Alan Karn married Mary Barnard on September 18, 1902. Mary lived in Hindhead Nursery (now Upper Ridgeway Farm), but everyone knew her as "Auntie Jum" as in Jumbo. Betty Karn From the 1936 Register of Electors This brief history of Karn's store (continued below) was published in the Parish Magazine in May 1978 and in 'Lives of the People of Thursley' by The History of Thursley Society in 1996 Karn's Grocery shop. You can see the poplar tree which was a major landmark especially from the common. Alan and Sid Karn in the third photograph Karn's shop with Mrs Karn outside Karn's Grocer shop, 1897 The Christmas family including Jim as a young boy From Thursley Today, 1965 (see separate entry) Year unknown, illustration by Salli Tomlinson The Old Stores in 2009 The Old Stores c2020 from sale particulars

From British listed buildings: Hall House. Early C16 core, refaced in C17. Timber framed, clad in sandstone rubble with brick patching and dressings, hipped plain tiled roof. Two storeys with corbelled stack to left of centre and stack to left end. Two 3-light, gabled, casement, on-eaves dormers to centre and one 3-light window to either end of first floor. Five windows to ground floor, irregularly spaced, under-cambered heads. Door to left of centre in large, open, gabled porch with arched entrances to front and sides with carved spandrels. Interior:- Some framing visible. Grade II, 29th April, 1986 Smallbrook Farm 1897 Cart Shed, footpath up to Church Cuts. Maria and Ann Levy, 1897. The sisters are in their milking gear, the hats, we decided, were to protect their hair from being dirtied by the cows, or to stop them getting ringworm. They rose at 5:30am for the milking - the rest of the family rising at 6:00am. Mrs W Levy of Smallbrook, Uncle Lancelot from Petersfield and their sister, Mrs Woods, from Hedge Cottage. Miss Maria Levy Ann Levy on her milk round in Thursley village, 1908. She and her sister, Lucy, ran the farm together. They managed the farm and the lodgers with the help of the carter and the cowman until 1931. The picture was taken outside Wheelers Farm. Smallbrook Farm, 1897 - the second row of trees are the elms of Highfield Lane which blew down. The second 1897 picture shows the added windows. The Granary, 1897, was pulled down by LadyThomas, you can still see the back wall and the steps. 1905 wedding of Edward Baker (Ted) of Upper Highfield Farm and Maria Levy of Smallbrook Farm. The photographs below are from Betty Weeden's album Betty Weeden In 1994-95, the History of Thursley Society (as it was then named), published Betty Weeden's brief history of the farm 1876 - 1939 in four parts. The first is reproduced below and the rest can be downloaded from the pdf: Mrs. G. G. R. Boon, of Smallbrook Farm, Thursley, with her 4-year-old chestnut gelding,Cetus, which won 25 first and two reserve championships at shows in the South of England during the past season. Mrs. Boon bought Cetus in Sweden in the spring of last year. It wasthen an unbroken 3-year-old. She schooled and trained the animal herself and rode it to win the fine array of trophies in the picture. Both Major and Mrs. Boon—the former is an Old Farnhamian—are well-known show jumpers. Stewart and Faith Wagner, 1996 Previous owners of Smallbrook Farm include: Levy; Wagner, Daw Sale details in February 2024: https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gbgursgus230100

The RAF station next to Hindhead was envisaged as part of a short-range, blind-landing system to improve safety during night operations. However, during the course of development by the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) near Swanage, the range was found to be far better than expected. It then developed into a long-range, general navigation system. There is also a report of a tragic air accident at RAF Gibbet. Hill during the closing stages of WW2. This article was kindly provided to the Thursley History Society by Dr John N Bennett. Photo from the Imperial War Museum These are just two pages of the 11 page report written by Dr John N Bennett The complete report is in this pdf: Sadly, there was a tragic air accident at RAF Gibbet Hill during the war, we are grateful to Paul McCue for this information as in his book, Dunsfold: Surrey's Most Secret Airfield 1942 - 1992, Paul wrote: "...[other former PoWs].....managed a lift to England in a Curtis Commando of the USAAF on 6th May 1945. As the aircraft headed for the American airfield at Membury [RAF Membury - USAAF Station AAF-466, station code ME] in Wiltshire [there's still a little of the airfield left but it is better known today as the location of Membury Services on the M4], it collided with the aerial of an RAF radio station on Gibbet, Hill, Hindhead. Although Dunsfold's medical services raced to the scene, all 31 men on board were found dead on impact, along with a Canadian officer from the radio station'. Here is the report: Date:Sunday 6 May 1945Time:12:54Type: Curtiss C-46D-10-CU CommandoOwner/operator:United States Army Air Force - USAAFRegistration:44-77839MSN:33235Year of manufacture:1945Fatalities:Fatalities: 30 / Occupants: 30Other fatalities:1Aircraft damage:DestroyedCategory:AccidentLocation:Hindhead - United Kingdom Phase:En routeNature:MilitaryDeparture airport: Newbury-Greenham Common RAF Station (EWY/EGVI) 8/10 cloud coverage at 600 feet caused the pilot to fly very low. The C-46 entered a valley where it struck the Gee tower about 1000m south east of the Gibbets Hill Gee tower. The airplane lost its right wing and crashed. Date & Time: May 6, 1945 at 1254 LT Type of aircraft: Curtiss C-46 Commando Operator: Registration: 44-77839 Flight Phase: Landing (descent or approach) Flight Type: Ambulance Survivors: No Site: Mountains MSN: 33235 YOM: 1945 Location: Hindhead Surrey Country: United Kingdom Region: Europe Crew on board: 2 Crew fatalities: 2 Pax on board: 28 Pax fatalities: 28 Other fatalities: 1 Total fatalities: 31 Circumstances: The crew was completing a flight to the US, repatriating wounded US soldiers. It was scheduled to make a stopover at RAF Greenham Common near Newbury, Berkshire. Starting the descent, the crew encountered low visibility with clouds to 600 feet. While flying in a mountainous area, the twin engine aircraft hit a radar antenna, lost its right wing and crashed in flames on a hut located on Mt Gibbet located near Hindhead, Surrey. All 30 occupants and one person in hut were killed. Crew: 2nd Lt John N. Boyce Jr., 1st Lt Herbert R. Chickering. Probable cause: It was determined that the crew started the approach in visual mode in IMC. The aircraft hit a 70 meters high radar antenna that was not visible because it was not equipped with lights. Also, the crew was unaware of the presence of the antenna as it was not showed on any charts. Here is a newspaper report: Evening Telegraph & Post, May 9, 1945 OVER 30 KILLED IN PLANE CRASH An aeroplane accident which occurred at Hindhead on Sunday afternoon resulted in the death of over 30 service personnel. An American transport plane, returning from the Continent, passed over the Punch Bowl flying low and afterwards collided with one of the tall pylons at the RAF radio station at Gibbet Hill. It was raining at the time and there was low mist over the district. The plane crashed on two huts in the station grounds and one of the station personnel was killed. The machine burst into flames and was practically destroyed. Of the 32 occupants of the plane – crew and passengers – not one survived. Life in the RAF at peacetime is captured here by AC1 Peter Hocking and we are grateful to his son, Steve Hocking, for the donation of his father's papers and the Signal Office Diary illustrated below: Illustration of the Diary and some pages to follow AC1 Peter Hocking at RAF Gibbet Hill RAF Gibbet Hill, June 1950: Watch List, Operators and Mechanics AC1 Peter Hocking's National Service Record Page 1 of Peter Hocking's recollections. The full account can be found in the pdf below. Peter Hocking's Discharge Papers

This article was written by Rosemary Stockdale for the Parish Magazine and includes accounts of life there written by Weis and Zen Rogalski. In 2012, the Rural Life Centre in Tilford mounted an exhibition, "Polish Exiles, Surrey's Hidden History, and this pamphlet complemented the exhibit: Here is a simpler 2pp version of the above: In addition, Weis and Zen Rogalaski also wrote this for the Rural Life Centre in Tilford:

Cosford Mill, a Grade II listed building (19th June 1991) is part of the 70 acre Milhangar Estate once owned by Queen drummer Roger Taylor. The Mill is set in large grounds adjacent to a stream and mill pond. The Vale of Cosford - from a print dated 1812 Cosford Mill and the Bakehouse Richard Budd or Bodd, installed a new waterwheel made at a foundry in Reading. When Cosford Mill ceased to work, Budd moved to High Salvington in West Sussex. Many other photographs of the mill can be found here: https://catalogue.millsarchive.org/informationobject/browse?topLod=0&sort=relevance&query=cosford+mill The lane of beech trees near Cosford Mill in 1990's COSFORD MILL (From an undated sales brochure) Set in an idyllic, private location, a detached Mill House offering spacious accommodation, abundant natural light and a warm atmosphere in a peaceful setting with easy access to London Sitting room with Inglenook fireplace, large entertaining room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom ensuite, three further double bedrooms, family bathroom, gardens, mill pond & stream, woodland Cosford Mill is situated in between Bowlhead Green and Thursley. It is positioned offering excellent access to the A3 and mainline train station without compromising the peaceful environment. A detached Mill House set an idyllic, private location. The property itself has been refurbished to a very high standard of finish, with generous accommodation and exceptional features. The property overlooks beautiful, calming views. Tiled porchway leading to:- Kitchen - Tiled floor, electric oven, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, washing machine/dryer and ample wall and base units. Reception 1 - Wooden flooring, large open fireplace, ample lighting. Reception 2 - Stone flooring with under floor heating, spacious room with the added feature of the Mill workings, ample lighting. Reception 3/Breakfast room - Leading to kitchen. Bathroom - W/C, wash hand basin, bath. Main bedroom - A generous double bedroom with built in wardrobe, access to balcony, added feature of Mill workings, plus en suite containing, heated towel rail, under floor heating, W/C, wash hand basin, bath, ample wall units. Bedroom 2 - Spacious double bedroom Bedroom 3 - Double bedroom, attic access in airing cupboard. Bedroom 4 - Spacious double bedroom with beautiful views Spacious landing area which could be used as a study area or open plan living area. The stairs and entire first floor have wall to wall carpeting. Large gardens with large pond and river feature. Tenure: Monthly Situation: Cosford Mill is situated in between Bowlhead Green and Thursley. It is positioned offering excellent access to the A3 and mainline train station without compromising the peaceful environment. Directions: Starting out at Savills Guildford, Quarry Street, turn right at the traffic lights onto Millbrook. At the Friary Bridge roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Farnham Road - A31. Continue on Farnham Road up the hill and turn left onto Down Lane. Merge onto the Guildford and Godalming By Pass Road and come off at the Thursley and Bowlhead Green junction. Turn left heading back on yourself and the property can be found down the second track on the right.

WORK IN PROGRESS: See separate entries for The Old Parsonage, St Michael & All Angles, Upper Highfield, Lower Highfield, Hedge Farm, Hall Farm Barns, Hill Farm House: *denotes separate entry Photograph by Sean Edwards THE OLD PARSONAGE* ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS* Photograph by Andrew Kaplanovsky HILL FARM HOUSE* Photograph by Sean Edwards Highfield Bungalows and Cottages. Photograph by Jill Fry Photographs by Sean Edwards HIGHFIELD BUNGALOWS 1 Highfield Bungalows, the home of Adrian, Teresa and George Linegar in 1997 2 Highfield Bungalows, this photograph of Ray and Peggy Stokes was taken in 1993 4 Highfield Bungalows, Eddie Gale photographed in 1997 Eddie Gale Mr & Mrs Arthur Gale on his son Jim's motorcycle outside Highfield Bungalows. Nos 3 & 4 Highfield Bungalows. Surnames of previous owners of No3 include: Winter and Dobson; of No4 include Avis, Woodger, Grant and Gale These, more recent photographs, were taken by Sean Edwards: HILL FARM COTTAGES HILL FARM BARNS* Photograph by Sean Edwards COPPER BEECHES Sale particulars in September 2025: https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/highfield-lane-thursley-godalming-surrey-gu8/gld012456244 HOMEFIELDS Homefields is a cul-de-sac off Highfield Lane and consists of six 4-bedroom semi-detached houses that we built between the wars (1918 - 1939) with the majority being finished in 1937. An example of a house in Homefield that was marketed in 2025 Dick Winter and wife, Homefield Cottages THREE ACRES Thursley born and bred at Three Acres HALCYON FIELDS, formerly THE BRIARY Information to come Brian and Mary Sharp, The Briary, 1997 Halcyon Fields in June 2026 AMBLESIDE Sale particulars in September 2025: https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/highfield-lane-thursley-godalming-surrey-gu8/gld012510005 FOUR WINDS Taken from 2018 sale particulars. View of Four Winds from Highfield Lane HILL HOUSE Hill House was purchased over 20 years ago and has since been demolished. In its place (photographs and other information to follow) are a timber framed farmhouse style property and some magnificent oak framed barns for cattle, pigs and other livestock. David and Catherine Phillimore, 1997 Surnames of previous owners of Hill House include: Middleton; Drewery; Edwards; THE WOODLARKS, formerly THE RONARY Ronary Bungalow was built in 1994 and named after Mary Rapley's original home nearby Mary Rapley, 1994 HILLDOWN Home of the Smarts and the Emersics in 1997 Anne Marie Emersic lives there now LOWER HIGHFIELD FARM* UPPER HIGHFIELD FARM* UPPER HIGHFIELD COTTAGE Sale particulars prepared by Knight Frank in 2024: LITTLE COWDRAY FARM COWDRAY CROSS Cowdray Cross under construction.

Thursley School occupied the building that is now Thursley Village Hall. Here are plans of the Master's Residence dated February 1911 The file below contains correspondence and documents dating back to 1853 as well as a newspaper cutting dated 16th April 1960 about the village fighting for the recently closed school building to become the village hall in the face of Surrey Education's desire to turn it into a 'youth camp house. Thursley School, approximately 1880 Thursley School 1885 - 1890 (taken from a photocopy) Thursley School, approximately 1895. Edith Keen, sister of Jack, from Pit Farm (now Punch Bowl Farm), third row, third on the left. Edith married George Warner and lived at Sunset Cottage until their children grew up, when they moved to one of the Church Cottages. George Warner had a Kitchener moustache and had looked after the horses during the Great War in France. He took life easily although he had a good deal of work at Rock Cottage for the Fisher family. He ran the engine; groomed, harnessed and drove the ponies, cleaned the shoes and knives (not being of stainless steel, they were put into a sort of round box with a handle that turned); brought in the anthracite for the black stoves which heated the house and the coal for the kitchen range; milked and tethered the goats and looked after the field and garden. He was a very kind man and Mrs Warner, Mary Bennett remembers as a woman of uncommon goodness and sweetness. After her husband's death, Edith Warner lived with her daughter Dorothy (Issy) Messenger at Streetfield. Thursley School 1896 Thursley School, approximately 1900 Thursley School c 1900. Annie Cunningham of Bowlhead Green is 2nd row from back and 5th from right in braided dress. Thursley School, approximately 1904. Aileen Rapley, second row fourth on the left, in a 'chorus boy collar. Aileen was the daughter of Maurice Rapley who farmed at Hill Farm. Aileen became a school teacher. This undated photograph is from the same era judging by the boys' collars. On the back is inscribed, "Mary Ann Karn - Polly - Mrs Good's aunt". Thursley School, about 1914. Bottom row, third from the left, is Jim Gale, brother of Eddie. Miss Price is also in the picture. Miss Price married Jack Baker, brother of Annie, from Upper Highfield Farm and they lived initially at Hedge (now Rawdon) until they took over Wheelers Farm. Miss Price became a farmer's wife and had three children. Same male teacher as above but year unknown. Thursley School, about 1920. Betty Weeden née Baker, can be seen second row, third on the right. The headmaster was Leonard Moulding, Sidney's brother. Thursley School, about 1918-19, Aileen Rapley was the school teacher. Thursley School, about 1920. Third row, first on the right is Margaret (Mag) Cooper née Gale. Miss Price is also in the picture. Thursley School Group c1923 (I wonder who Me is?!) Thursley Church of England School 1924: Group 1 Stds IV - VII Thursley School 1926. Back Row: Cyril Boxall, Ron Wassel, Fred Boxall, Ron Volleer, Harry Aldridge, Erny West Second Row: Sid Doy, Vi Smith, Ivy Ford, A N Smith, Gladys West, Ivy Dixon Third Row: Harry Swallow (Headmaster), M Gale, D Cooper, M Upfold, G Lillywhite, Issy Warner, E Hater, Rose Boxall & Maggy Doy. First row, first on the left, Marg Hall née Warner from Sunset Cottage (Marg was Edith Keen and George Warner's daughter and Issy (Dorothy Messenger), Marg's sister, is also there in the second row, fifth from left), Olive Winter, Phyllis Beavan, Dorris Voller, Bill Keen, N Harris, Jean Milton & Kath Lawrence December 1926, pupils include Reg Fosberry and Albert Rapley Thursley School 1928. Back row, L - R, Vi Smith, Ivy Dixon, Flo Ridout, Mabel Upfold, Olive Winter. Middle row, L - R, Eileen Rapley, Hilda Doy, Grace Edwards, Lizzie Keen, Marg Smith, Kath West, Margery Warner, Nancy Harris, Phylis Beavan, Harry Swallow (Headmaster). Front Row, L - R, Lois Swall, Nancy Farmer, Minnie West, Ada Laurence, Daisy West, Kath Laurence. Gardening Photos 1937 Thursley School c 1947. L- R, Wendy Cooper, Ruth Monnery, Dorothy Harman, Ann Sharlon, Michael Bates, Edward Bates. Teacher's name is unknown. Thursley School 1950 Two photographs, and newspaper cutting, of the Revd H G French attending the school's open day in 1952 Probably c1952