The village of Templeton lies just over a mile south of Narberth, and is a long, straggling village, thought to be named after the Knights Templar’s. The village is home to a disused Second World War airfield, which was a satellite base for RAF Haverfordwest (Please see the Pembrokeshire RAF Bases page for more details). A new war memorial has recently been erected in the village which commemorates the men of the village who died in both World Wars, plus commemorates the crew of a Bristol Beaufort which crashed near Sodston on 1 April 1943. The aircraft, Beaufort I, Serial DX124 belonged to 306 Ferry Training Unit, based at RAF Templeton.
Bristol Beaufort DX124 Casualties
Vivian James Ackroyd, Sergeant, 415510, Royal New Zealand Air Force. Vivian was the son of Herbert Ackroyd and Edith Emily Ackroyd (Nee Thomas), of Temuka, Canterbury, New Zealand. He enlisted into the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and was posted to Britain to train as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner with 306 Ferry Training Unit, Royal Air Force. Vivian was stationed at RAF Templeton during the war. He was killed when his Bristol Beaufort crashed near Sodston on 1 April 1943. He was 21 years old, and is buried in Robeston Wathen Churchyard.
Stewart Colclough, Sergeant (Pilot), 1236367, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Stewart was the son of Richard and Lucy Colclough, of Oak Hill, Stoke-on-Trent. He served as a Pilot with 306 Ferry Training Unit, Royal Air Force. Stewart was stationed at RAF Templeton during the war. He was killed when his Bristol Beaufort crashed near Sodston on 1 April 1943. He was 20 years old and is buried in Stoke-on-Trent (Hartshill) Cemetery.
John Henry Norman, Sergeant, 405765, Royal Astralian Air Force. John was the son of William Henry and Kathleen Norman, of Townsville, Queensland. Australia. He had worked for the Kodak Company in Australia prior to enlisting into the Royal Australian Air Force. He was posted to Britain and joined 306 Ferry Training Unit, Royal Air Force. He was killed when his Bristol Beaufort crashed near Sodston on 1 April 1943. He was 23 years old and is buried in Wallasey (Rake Lane) Cemetery, Liverpool.