A Life Remembered

Sub Lieutenant Walter Charles Lewis-Lavender of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was called to action in the Parish of Lambourne on Saturday 28th September 1940. His task that day being to defuse and make safe two German type C magnetic mines which had fallen close to Lambourne Church.

The mines were adapted sea mines each containing about 700 KG of high explosive. The bomb fuse mechanism on this type was controlled by a clock, which was normally timed to explode the mine about 22 seconds after its fall. If it failed to do so, it might be restarted by the slightest movement, even a footstep. The amount of the clock already run off could not be known, and once it was restarted time for escape could not be more than a few seconds.

Magnetic mines were first dropped over London in September 1940. Several bomb disposal officers had been killed whilst attempting to defuse this new type. Being aware of this fact Lieutenant Lewis-Lavender came forward without hesitation for the perilous work of making them safe.

After successfully defusing the closer of the two mines Lieutenant Lewis-Lavender retired to take tea with Mr and Mrs Stephen Padfield of Lambourne Hall.

Shortly after beginning work on the second mine Lieutenant Lewis-Lavender was killed by its explosion.

He was survived by his widow Frances and five children.

A memorial to this brave officer can be seen in Lambourne Church.