Inside the church.

A wooden triangular, nowy-topped wooden board with crucifix relief on the top with war years followed by dedication message and World War I names. A separate lower section shows WW2 names and at the very bottom reference to Charles Gumm Jr of the US Army Air Forces. The plaque was unveiled on September 12, 1920.

Lt. Charles F. Gumm was the first pilot to down an enemy aircraft in a P-51B on December 16, 1943.  On the mission to Bremen, Lt. Gumm came home with a claim of one JU 88 damaged and one BF 109 shot down at 1330 hours.  A little over 2 months later on February 21, 1944, Lt. Gumm becomes the first ace of the 354th Fighter Group by downing a BF 110 over Brunswick at 1430 hours. 

Lt. Gumm's career would end very unexpectedly on March 1, 1944, as the P-51 he was on developed engine trouble on take-off.  He realized he was over the town of Nayland and realized if he bailed out to save himself his plane would crash in the English town and claim innocent lives.   He decided to stay with his plane and force landed it hitting a tree which threw him from his plane killing him.   At the time Lt. Gumm died he was the leading ace for the group with 7 1/2 victories to his credit.

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, 354thfightergroup.homestead.com, www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

Source of photo: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

IN HONOURED MEMORY OF

THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO

GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR

(Names)

"THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE."

AND OF THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR

(Names)

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS

AND ALSO OF CHARLES GUMM Jr, USAAF WHO LOST HIS LIFE

IN AVOIDING DAMAGE TO THIS VILLAGE 1944