Memorial unveiled to Presteigne Battle of Britain pilot

Wednesday 22nd June 2011, 11:48AM BST.

With the memorial plaque in honour of pilot officer Jack Hamar DFC at John Beddoes School in Presteigne are, back left to right, Sargeant Mitch Mitchell, Flight Lieutenant Andy Wright, Flight Lieutenant Neil Talbot, High Sherriff of Powys Colonel John Brunt, who presented the plaque to Glyn Richards, head teacher of John Beddoes School, Councillor Barry Thomas, chairman of Powys County Council, John Morgan, Mayor of Knighton and John Kendall, Mayor of Presteigne and Norton and chairman of governors for John Beddoes School. Front left to right are pupils who spoke at the service Seb Barrett, 14, Rachel Evans, 14, Ella Harris, 13, Bethany Mills, 14, Owen Powell, 14 and Joe Hayward,14.

A Mid Wales soldier who died in World War Two has been honoured with the unveiling of a plaque in his honour at the school he attended as a boy.

Pilot Officer Jack Hamar, from Knighton, attended John Beddoes School in Presteigne as a child, which unveiled the plaque in his honour at a special ceremony yesterday.

The plaque, which was the idea of the Battle of Britain Historical Society was presented to the school by the High Sherriff of Powys, Colonel John Brunt.

Pilot Officer Jack Hamar DFC

Clive MIllman, of the Battle of Britain Historical Society, said: “Jack Hamar was a well loved and respected young man within the Knighton community.

“He was born in 1915 to parents Arthur and Sarah Hamar who were well known in Knighton for the family business that they ran and for their public service.

“Jack attended the John Beddoes School at Presteigne and after leaving he went to work in the family business.

“He loved car and motorcycle racing. It was no surprise, therefore, when in 1938 he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

“In 1939 with war declared Jack was drafted into the RAF and posted to 151 Squadron.

He left for France in the Spring of 1940. After the fall of France he returned to England with his squadron.

“In July there were two events on successive days that would give the Knighton community great pride and then bitter sadness and grief.

“On July 23, 1940, Jack was awarded the DFC medal. On July 24, Jack and other pilots from 151 Squadron took off from North Weald in bad weather to identify an airplane seen in the Felixstowe area.

“Jack and his colleagues returned to base but just as Jack was about to land, as a result of a manoeuvre, his plane stalled and crashed fatally injuring Jack.

“The Battle of Britain Historical Society is presenting a memorial plaque in honour of him to the school where Jack was educated.

“The plaque not only honours a brave former pupil of the school but it provides a focus for current and future pupils to help them understand the significance of the Battle of Britain.”

View more: Knighton news, Powys news, Presteigne news.