Battle of Britain heroes remembered at Wheatley Chase

A lasting tribute to three Calderdale men involved in the Battle of Britain has been unveiled.

Roads at Redrow’s Wheatley Chase development have been named after local men Pilot Officer Walter Beaumont, Sergeant Geoffrey Garside and Pilot Officer Kenneth Manger.

It follows an appeal from Calderdale Council for ideas of how a permanent tribute could be paid during the 70th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain.

Families of the brave airmen attended a special reception at the development on Saturday (February 26) when the road signs were revealed for the first time.

Margaret Beaumont, from Hebden Bridge, sister-in-law of Walter Beaumont, commented: “We’re delighted that Calderdale Council and Redrow have organised this tribute to these brave young men. It’s lovely to know that they are still valued and will be remembered for generations to come.”

The roads will be known as Manger Gardens, Garside Drive and Beaumont Chase, with an apartment building on the latter called Walter House.

Councillor John Hardy, Deputy Mayor of Calderdale, who attended the road naming reception, said: “More than 100 Yorkshire men were involved in the Battle of Britain and we are all proud of the bravery displayed by Pilot Officer Walter Beaumont, Sergeant Geoffrey Garside and Pilot Officer Kenneth Manger in fighting for our country. Naming the roads in honour of these men is not just a tribute to their efforts, but also serves as a lasting memory to all servicemen involved.”

Patsy Aicken, sales manager for Redrow Homes (Yorkshire), commented: “It’s a great honour for the roads at Wheatley Chase to be named after three men who are without doubt local heroes. It was a pleasure to be able to meet their families and celebrate what they did for their country.”

Two of the men died in the conflict and their names are on the RAF Runnymede Memorial and the Battle of Britain Monument.

All three have been remembered with school memorial plaques from The Battle of Britain Historical Society.

Remembering local history in the street names is in keeping with the ethos of the homes being built at Wheatley Chase. The two, three and four-bedroom homes are taken from Redrow’s New Heritage Collection, which features traditional looking, ‘Arts & Crafts’ influenced homes with exteriors reminiscent of times gone by.

To reserve an address on one of these newly named roads or find out more about the homes available at Wheatley Chase, see: Redrow.co.uk