AJEX, The Essex Regiment and the RBL attended a small but meaningful service along side air field personal and the local community. Brian Bloom, AJEX VP, was honoured to represent AJEX as shown in the photo above.
Leonard Stern, who served part of his RAF service at North Weld in 1953, wrote to us reflecting on this event: “I am a vice president of AJEX. We received an email from Paul Standing of “Hero Legends” who operate Spitfires from North Weald Airfield. It was to remember an incident that occurred early in World War 2. The German Luftwaffe were bombing all the British airfields, and North Weald was hit particularly hard, being within easy reach of the bombers. Over 200 bombs were dropped on the airfield and near by village. Of course, when the siren sounded, everyone took to the shelters, but a direct hit with a large bomb destroyed one of the shelters and killed all nine of the airmen in it. The oldest was 19 years old and the youngest 17. They had only just arrived the day before to take up their posts.
“There was to be a service at the local church to note this sad occasion, which happened at the beginning of the war in 1940. Eight of the airmen are buried in the local churchyard. But one being Jewish was not. Paul was anxious that he was not to be forgotten. Stephen Shuster is buried in Rainham Cemetery. At this time of the year, when we traditionally visit the graves of our departed, may I ask anyone visiting Rainham to stop off at Section A, Row 9, grave 34. And lay a Pebble At the grave. of Stephen. The son of Israel and Millie Shuster of Stoke Newington, who lost their beloved 19 year old son so tragically.”
