A walk with a secret. This was how my friend Judith described this walk to me - she'd discovered it recently and we took our collection of dogs this morning.
The secret was Tempsford Airfield - used in the Second World War secretly flying into enemy occupied Europe by moonlight, often landing in torchlit fields, to drop SOE agents and supplies to the resistance forces.
This airfield is disused now; just a few concrete runways and access roads among the fields, and this rather dishevelled barn. You could walk past it, thinking it was just an abandoned farm building, but inside is the most poignant memorial; faded photos and wreaths and crosses arranged among the dust and pigeon droppings. This barn was where the agents would be supplied with their equipment before the mission. The stories of the secret agents are extraordinarily moving; many were women not much older than 20, and most didn't make it back. The most famous is Violette Szabo. There is something about the place that is very haunting and unbearably sad.
It was a lovely walk and I'm very glad to have discovered this secret place.
What a very moving and unsung memorial! It's quite something that even you might have passed this by, but by sharing this with us, you've paid homage to those who gave their lives here. Such a touching photo, Helen...
I was directed to this picture by Darrell and he has mentioned you in his commentary today. This looks like a place held in time and as you say unbelievably emotional. Thanks for sharing and I would like to visit some time soon.
Great photo!