By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

RAYMOND — To see other people moved to emotion by stories of a family member, who died a lifetime ago, registers to the human brain as quite amazing.

David Gill traveled from Great Britain to Raymond, Maine, to be part of a ceremony to unveil a monument that honored his father’s cousin, Vaughn Reginald Gill.

The other pilot being remembered is Sub. Lt. Raymond Laurence Knott. The pair of British pilots perished when their Corsairs crashed into Big Sebago Lake during combat training for World War II on May 16, 1944.

Following the ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park alongside Sebago Lake, David held in his hand the folded British flag that had been presented to him. He felt awestruck.

“Reggie’s sister and brother only died recently, a few years ago. They mourned his loss for the rest of their lives,” David Gill said. “They would have been so pleased to know that there was a service for their brother. They would have been touched that the local community came out to pay their respects. I think they would be amazed actually.”

Raymond Town Manager Sue Look commented on the reaction of the family who had traveled from England.

“I think what I will remember are two things — first, the gratitude of the family. They were both amazed by the respect shown and the variety/importance of the attendants in honor of their relative,” Look said. “Second, I’ll remember the eagle flying over on such a beautiful day just as ‘Taps’ was being played.”

Additionally, as “Taps” was performed, a cloud momentarily blocked the sun and the wind switched directions, blowing toward the lake instead of coming off the water. 

On May 17, 2024, people gathered at the site, on the shore of Sebago Lake to remember the two young pilots who died eight decades ago. The British and American armed forces, Town of Raymond officials, the British Consulate General to New England Dr. Peter Abbott, Maine State Senator Tim Nangle and State Representative Jessica Faye came together to honor the two pilots.

The reason all of this was organized: The British & Commonwealth Remembrance Project. The non-profit is “dedicated to maintaining and educating [the public] regarding the British war graves in New England. We fund the construction and erection of memorial stones and remembrance storyboards throughout New England.”

James Normington runs the project. He acted as the master of ceremonies for the event.

“This day is of some great significance. Eighty years ago, yesterday, upon this very lake that we see, these two young men perished. Eighty years ago, today, the lakeside was a hive of activity as a search and recovery mission commenced,” he said. “As we know, the recovery mission did not succeed and those two young men remain in the lake to this date.”

The British government declared the underwater site a war grave. Therefore, it cannot be disturbed.

Rep. Fay shared her thoughts with the crowd.

“What a privilege to be able to participate in honoring Sub  Lt. Gill and Sub Lt. Knott as we dedicate this memorial to them and to recognize the sacrifice they and their families made. It is right that we take the time to remember these men who were too young, so young, Navy pilots training to fight for their country, to face an existential threat to freedom in Europe and across the globe,” she said.

Another speaker would point out that Sub. Lt. Knott was 19 and an only child. Knott had excelled at flying, winning awards in his unit. Gill was 24. Having grown up in India before moving to England, he ventured to the United States to become a pilot and was stationed at Brunswick Air Force Base.

Rep. Fay expressed wishes that the monument would draw people to the space and that some people would appreciate the sacrifice that cannot be diminished by time.

“Sebago Lake is a place where so many people vacation and enjoy all that the Maine outdoors has to offer,” Faye said. “I hope this memorial will cause locals and visitors alike to stop and take time to reflect on the lives of these young pilots and what led them to be in this place, to reflect on their tragic loss, but also the partnership between our two countries and the cause for which they were fighting.”

Commanding Officer Carne Livingstone, PCU John Basilone, spent some time talking about the military partnership between America and Great Britain.  

“Today, we honor the Royal Navy Pilots. Today is a solemn occasion to honor the memory of those lost during preparation for combat, and to acknowledge our alliance with our greatest ally,” he said.

“May 16 and May 17 are significant dates. May 16, marking the day of the accident when two pilots were lost, and the subsequent search. Today is the day to commemorate the lives that were lost and the bravery that was displayed during the trainings for those combat preparations.”

“As United States sailors, as the United States as a whole, we enjoy a special relationship with our British allies. As I prepared for today’s dedication, I was reminded of that close relationship we share with our British allies. It is a great testament to the teamwork and support that our nations have provided each other. During the war, the U.S. hosted and trained many pilots. The U.S. Navy took a lot of its practices, uniforms and tradition from the Royal Navy. Dates back to the dates of the early days of the American Revolution,” he said.

“Despite the early days of conflict between our two countries, our alliance has grown into one of the most powerful partnerships in war and conflict that world has ever seen,” Livingston said.

“During WWI, when it seemed the war had no end in sight, U.S. and British Navies worked together to protect the convoys that would bring troops and equipment to Europe. Those troops and that equipment was necessary to end the war,” he said. “Our two nations would team up again on June 6, 1944, at the beaches of Normandy, France.”

“Continuing that practice forward in recent years, our two Navies have relentlessly worked together as we fought in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Today, as we speak, our Navies are working together to protect shipping traffic and air space in the Red Sea.”

He wrapped up his comments by turning the attention back to the memorial’s honorees.

“Let’s take a moment to remember and honor Sub. Lt. Knott and Sub. Lt. Gill who lost their lives in that tragic crash of two Corsair aircraft. Their sacrifice will be forever etched into our hearts, into our memories,” he said.

For more information about the non-profit, the British & Commonwealth Remembrance Project, go to the website bcrpusa.org.