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As our development in Immingham is drawing to a close, we’d like to unveil the name of the new road and the reason behind its choosing.
As 2025 is a significant year for remembrance, it was only fitting that we looked to honour this in our own way. On further investigations it became apparent that one incident at Immingham Dock during WWII would give us the perfect opportunity to do this……. So, here it is, the new road off Trenchard Close in Immingham will be known as:
Dowland Way.
Why Dowland Way?...... Please let me introduce you to John Noel Dowland GC.
In June 1939 John Noel Dowland was promoted to Flight Lieutenant just prior to the outbreak of World War II. On 11th February 1940 in Immingham, Lincolnshire, the SS Kildare had been hit by two bombs off the coast. One exploded in the grain cargo, which shifted, causing the ship to list heavily; the other lodged in the after-deck cabin but did not explode. The ship had then limped into dock at Immingham. Civil Armament Instructor L H Harrison and Flight Lieutenant J N Dowland, both from RAF Manby, and another civil instructor, W C Thompson, were sent to deal with it. Harrison and Dowland rendered the bomb harmless.
On 7th January 1941, the London Gazette announced the award of George Crosses to both John Dowland and Leonard Harrison. Following his action, John Dowland returned to active duty, and was promoted to Squadron Leader and posted to Malta.
On 13th January 1942 he was piloting a Martin Maryland bomber of 69 Squadron, he took off from Luqa airfield on Malta for a maritime armed recce flight to Pantellaria – Cape Bon – Kerkennah Island, looking for an Axis shipping convoy. He sighted and photographed six merchant vessels escorted by three destroyers then set course for Malta. On his return he noticed the Luftwaffe had scrambled and were heading for Malta, his gunner shot down one Messerschmidt but refused to bale out. Dowland ordered Pilot Officer Arnold Potter to bale out with the photographs taken during reconnaissance. He survived but Dowland, now out of fuel, crashed into the sea off Cambridge Battery, Silema, and was killed along with his Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Pilot Officer Robert Gridley. He was buried in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.
His GC, 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star and War Medal 1939-45 are held by the RAF Museum, Hendon.
