War monument is saved

Kyt · Oct 14, 2008

Henley on Thames - War monument is saved

A WARTIME monument demolished after a car smashed into it could be saved thanks to an anonymous benefactor.

The news will be especially welcomed by nine-year-old Romilly Hryczanek, who every weekend would lay fresh flowers at the concrete piece in Nettlebed in memory of her grandfather.

The model castle was erected by GIs based in the village during the Second World War and the American benefactor has pledged �500 for repairs after reading about the damage in last week’s Standard.

Romilly, who lives in Caversham, wrote to the Standard saying: “I was very upset about the castle because I really liked it and now I have nowhere to put the flowers that I take up to remember my granddad. Please could you get it repaired.”

The American, who lives in Stoke Row, said the monument had sentimental value for him because his father was billeted in Britain during the war.

Romilly’s aunt, Elizabeth Hryczanek, who lives in Crowmarsh, accompanies the girl and her mother, Nina Hryczanek, of School Lane, Stoke Row, when they leave flowers in memory of her father Michael, who lived in the camp after the GIs left.

She said: “I have been amazed at people’s response. A lot of them want to help repair the castle.”

Nina Hryczanek said a lot of people had been upset by the monument’s destruction and wanted to help. Ken Stevens, of Red House Drive, Sonning Common, has offered Mrs Hryczanek a miniature of the monument.

He said: “I was very sad to read your item on the destruction of the memorial. Some years ago I made models of local features, including one of the Engineer Castle.It’s only small but I thought it would make a consolation gift.”
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The earlier story:

Henley on Thames - US wartime monument demolished in car crash

A MONUMENT to American servicemen in Nettlebed has been demolished by a car.

The mini left the road and squeezed through a “gauntlet” of four trees before smashing the work into pieces.

The woman who has looked after the monument for the past two years fears it may never be restored following the crash in the early hours of last Thursday.

Nina Hryczanek, of School Lane, Stoke Row, said: “I am worried that now this has happened the monument might be broken up further or stolen and that will be an end to it.

“It has survived for 60 years and is a well-known local landmark. It would be terrible if it just disappeared.”

The monument was built in 1948 by Jack Sharp, an American serviceman who was billeted in a camp at Nettlebed along with 2,000 other GIs during the the Second World War.

The camp was later taken over and used by Polish refugees before being demolished in the late Forties.

Stan Nowak, of The Ridgeway, Nettlebed, regularly painted the monument until a few years ago.

His wife Brenda’s sister Joyce was married to Mr Sharp and the couple went to live in Iowa.

Mr Nowak, 81, said: “Every two years since the war up until he died in 1988, Jack would return to Nettlebed to clean and repaint the monument in memory of his war buddies.”

When he died the task passed to Mr Nowak but when it got too much for him, Mrs Hryczanek took over.

She said: “After my husband Michael died two and a half years ago, I decided to keep it clean and have been putting fresh flowers on it regularly. Michael was Polish and we lived here after the Americans in the camp.”

Mrs Hryczanek visited the monument with her daughter Elizabeth and sometimes her grand-daughter, nine-year-old Romily.

Hazel Stevens, of Holly Close, Highmoor, said: “I think it means a lot to the villagers around here.

“It has always been here. I remember it as a child. It would be such a shame if it were to disappear.”

The small concrete monument is known as The Engineer Castle. The US Army adopted the castle to appear on the Corps of Engineers epaulets and belt plate as far back as 1840.

Although its design has changed many times since its inception, the castle has remained the symbol of the Corps of Engineers.
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