A stone cairn with an inscription plaque.
Close up photograph of the memorial courtesy of Barry J Antell.

In February 1945 an RAF Glider Pick-up Unit occupied RAF Zeals, an airfield to the north of Zeals village, next to the village of Stourton. The Dakota TS436 was assigned to the Glider Pick-Up Training Flight, whose role was to train crews in the 'snatch take-off method' for retrieving gliders. Aircraft were fitted with a hook and winch and, flying low, would snatch up the glider's tow rope allowing it to be retrieved from the landing ground.

On 19 February, at the completion of the first training course , the Dakota was returning to home base at RAF Leicester East when the aircraft struck cloud-covered trees on the top of Beech Knoll, killing all on board, except the pilot who died later.

The memorial sits on top of Beech Knoll and commemorates the 21 Australian, British and Canadian air and ground crew who lost their lives

The building of the memorial was undertaken by the Wiltshire Historical Military Society who gained permission from The National Trust, who owns Beech Knoll, for the memorial to be erected on the top. Relatives and former colleagues of those who died, together with the local community, funded the project. The memorial was unveiled by Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell GBE, KCB, KCVO RAF. The RAF was represented by Wg Cdr John Barras OC 30 Squadron, RAF Lyneham. The Royal Australian Air Force by SqnLdr Greg Shaw and the Royal Canadian Air Force by Capt Kirk Bennett.

Top Lane, Stourton, England.

Beech Knoll is 1 mile southwest of the village of Stourton, northwest of Zeals and approximately 28 miles west of Salisbury.