This memorial is on an old, by-passed section of the A283 road from Petworth to Pulborough, slightly south of Stopham bridge. It is in memory of William Masefield who was the Rector of Stopham and Hardham.
The local story of the incident, to which the memorial refers, is that, on 4th Oct. 1940, during World War 2, a German aircraft attempted to straffe a number of children on this road. Mr. Masefield ushered them into a nearby ditch but in doing so was fatally shot himself. All the children survived.
The full facts of this story we are not, as yet, assured of, but are investigating.
The inscription on the memorial, which although hidden from immediate view, is obviously tended and bears the remains of remembrance poppies and crosses, holds some creedance to the story. The fact that the memorial was erected leads one to believe that some memorable incident occurred.
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