After official notification had been received – that their 21 -year-old son. Pilot Officer Eric Plumtree. had been wounded while in action. Mr. and Mrs. Plumtree. of Plumbley Lane, Mosbro’ learned that he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He is the first in North-East Derbyshire to receive this decoration. Writing from hospital in the South of England Pilot Officer Plumtree states:
‘I am slightly wounded in action, and if you haven’t been informed by the RAF, I have some great news for you’.
Everybody here is very good, especially since the adjutant ‘phoned through this morning tell them I had been awarded the DFC. and my air-gunner. Kinsey. has got the D.F.M. I have had people ‘phoning me up all day. and everybody in the place from the owner down to the orderly have expressed congratulations.
The action took place Sunday morning week at Den Holder, and his injuries. which he makes light, of consist of lots of slight peppering his left- side, with tiny bits of shrapnel. ‘Nearly all of it just broke the skin and has been got out.” he states: “but l’ve penetrated my left wrist and knee * Pilot Officer Plumtree continues, I have got my arm in a sling and my knee in splints, and have at present got to stay in hospital.”
When seen by a representative The Derbyshire Times representative this week. Mr- Plumtree said: “We were worried about Eric alter the notice late last week, but on Saturday his letter made all us feel really proud ” Pilot Officer Plumtree celebrated birthday in March this year He was born Brimington. where is mother was staying, while her husband was serving in France, and that time were residing at East Moor Tidshelf. He came to Mosbro* at the age of two years and attended Mosbro Endowed School until the age of 11 years. He gained a scholarship to County Secondary School, where he was a student for six years before taking Civil Service examination, then he secured a post as a clerical at the Post Office Savings Bank, London.
Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald – Friday 07 March 1941
Seaman Hero to Receive Gift Mosbro’ and Halfway Legion Aires’ decision.
At a meeting of Mosbro’ and Halfway branch of the British Legion and ex- Servicemen on Sunday it was decided to make a presentation to Leading Seaman Arthur Stones, only son Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Stones, of 62. Lightwood Road. Marsh Lane, in recognition his being decorated with the D.S.M. for effective action against enemy submarines. The branch arrived at this decision on the ground that he is a Mosbro’ hero, as from the age of 18 months he lived with his grandparents in High Street. Mosbro’ The honour has also been brought to the notice of the Mosbro’ Troops’ Welfare Committee which, like the British Legion and ex-Servicemen’s movement, made presentations to Pilot Officer Eric Plumtree, D.F.C., in recognition of his gallantry.
MOSBRO’ D.F.C. WINNER
Presentations to Pilot Officer E. Plumtree
Ald E Peat making the presentation Standing (left to right) Captain O Sitwell, Pilot Officer, Eric Plumtree DFC. Aid E Peat J P and Coun H Clayton. Seated: Miss Edith Sitwell and Mrs H Large (secretary to the Mosbro Troops Welfare Committee
Pilot Officer Eric Plumtree (21), of Mosbro’, who was recently awarded the D.F.C. for his gallant exploits against the enemy, was on leave during the week-end, and opportunity was taken of the occasion to make a number of presentations in recognition of the honour he has brought to the district. Pilot Officer Plumtree, while flying over the North Sea, sighted eight vessels in an enemy port and eight outside, and he dived from 3,000 to 800 feet to attack the vessels in face of intense anti-aircraft Are. He machine-gunned an Army camp from almost ground level and then climbed to seek cloud cover out at sea, but three Messerschmltts riddled the aircraft with bullets and shells and wounded all members the crew. Pilot Officer Plumtree brought the aircraft safely back to an aerodrome in England.
LEGION CLUB CEREMONY On Boxing Day Pilot Officer Plumtree visited the Mosbro’ and Halfway British Legion headquarters to receive a gift from the Legionnaires and ex-Servicemen. He was met and escorted to the gathering by ex-Sergt. P. Marper, D.C.M., Croix He Geurre, and ex-2nd- Lieut. C. Munday, who introduced him to the President of the branch (Mr. J. Drabble), who later presented him with a hide suitcase suitably inscribed and complimented him on his brave deed and devotion to duty. Mr. Drabble inquired about the airman’s injuries, and, behalf of all the subscribers, wished him luck and success when he returned to duty. Pilot Officer Plumtree expressed warm thanks to the subscribers for the gift and for all that had been done his behalf. Mr. E. Turner (branch secretary) endorsed the good wishes the President, and thanked Pilot Officer Plumtree for his attendance. Later Pilot Officer Plumtree attended Mosbro’ British Oak Hotel, where he was the recipient of a cheque for £5, the gift of customers and friends. The presentation was made Mrs. C. A. Havenhand, who was responsible for the subscription fund. She congratulated Pilot Officer Plumtree on his gallant feat and the honour it had brought to the district. Pilot Officer Plumtree said the cheque came great surprise to him and he thanked all subscribers. He yielded to numerous requests for his autograph and was accorded musical honours. Mr. C. H. Louth (licensee) was the host.
VILLAGE TESTIMONIAL The village testimonial in recognition of Pilot Officer Plum tree’s award took the form of 50 National War Savings Certificates and a suitably inscribed fountain pen, which were presented to the airman in Mosbro’ Trinity Methodist Schoolroom pm Monday, in the presence of a large gathering subscribers and friends. Pilot Officer Plumtree was warmly greeted as took his seat on. the platform. Councillor H. Clayton, who was hon. secretary to the fund, presided and spoke of the important part played by the R.A.F. during the present war. Speaking of the Great War. he stated that Mosbro’ men earned a number of distinctions with the Army, including the D.C.M. and Croix de Gurre gained Sergt. P. Marper, who was present at that gathering. but the decoration, of the D.F.C. Pilot Officer Plumtree was the first air distinction the district, and the testimonial fund had met with a splendid response. Aid E. Peat. J.P. of Halfway, president of the Mosbro’ Troops’ Welfare Committee. made the presentation and congratulated Pilot Officer Plumtree the wonderful achievement. There had been some 600 subscribers to the fund-8 tribute from practically every home in the village. Continuing, Aid. Peat remarked: “I can assure you we are grateful for the deeds you have done, and what you are going to do. and we hope you will not leave the R.A.F. until the Germans have been beaten.” While we have such brave and daring men as Pilot Officer Plumtree in the R A.F. we have an assurance of the enemies’ defeat. Pilot Officer Plumtree. when acknowledging the gift and congratulations the subscribers, said “I would rather into action than make a speech,” and added: “Although it may take a time, we shall certainly, wipe the Germans off the earth ” (Cheers.) Capt. Osbert Sitwell. who was accompanied his sister, Miss Edith Sitwell of Renishaw Hall, in voicing a vote of thanks, remarked that it would be impossible to find more local patriotism than that shown to Pilot Officer Plumtree and he expressed his thanks for the part the residents had played.
TROOPS’ WELFARE FUND The Chairman later announced that the Mosbro’ Troops’ Welfare Committee, now near the end of its first year of activities, had sent a large number of parcels to Mosbro’ men serving the Forces, but funds were getting Tow, and it had been agreed to take a collection at that meeting. The collection realised £4 13s. 01/2 d
Pilot Officer Plumtree, who was a former pupil at Eckington County Secondary School, had previously been the recipient of a wallet containing £9 in notes, subscribed by the staff and past and present scholars of the school. The gift was forwarded to Pilot Office Plumtree by the Headmaster (Dr D M Walmsley) owing to the Christmas vacation at the school. Another gift received by Pilot Officer Plumtree was a leather dressing case from the domestic staff of Eckington County Secondary School.
After official notification had been received – that their 21 -year-old son. Pilot Officer Eric Plumtree. had been wounded while in action. Mr. and Mrs. Plumtree. of Plumbley Lane, Mosbro’ learned that he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He is the first in North-East Derbyshire to receive this decoration. Writing from hospital in the South of England Pilot Officer Plumtree states:
At a meeting of Mosbro’ and Halfway branch of the British Legion and ex- Servicemen on Sunday it was decided to make a presentation to Leading Seaman Arthur Stones, only son Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Stones, of 62. Lightwood Road. Marsh Lane, in recognition his being decorated with the D.S.M. for effective action against enemy submarines. The branch arrived at this decision on the ground that he is a Mosbro’ hero, as from the age of 18 months he lived with his grandparents in High Street. Mosbro’ The honour has also been brought to the notice of the Mosbro’ Troops’ Welfare Committee which, like the British Legion and ex-Servicemen’s movement, made presentations to Pilot Officer Eric Plumtree, D.F.C., in recognition of his gallantry.
