Paul Nash - Dead March Dymchurch 1940

    Image courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.

Before it could be catalogued this work was 'lost due to enemy action'. However Nash's early war works seem to be based on incidents occuring around June 1940 and it seems reasonable to match this work to the event below. This work is unique in that he has moved the geographical location from Norfolk to Kent and quoted the spurious location in the title. Dymchurch was a favourite subject of Nash when he lived in Rye before the war.

On the night of 18th/19th June 1940, KG4 was briefed to attack the bomber airfields of Mildenhall and Honington.

One of the attackers from StabII/KG4 (aircraft 8747 5J+DM) based at Merville was shot down by a Blenheim of 23 Squadron flown by F/Lt. R Duke-Woolley with gunner AC Derek Bell. It came down in shallow water off Cley next the Sea, Norfolk. Major D von Massenbach (Group Commander), Oblt. U Jordan, Oberfw. M Leimer and Fw. K Allenberger were taken PoW.