Easby Moor#Captain Cook's Monument

File:Aircraft Crash Site, Easby Moor - geograph.org.uk - 195066.jpg

The moor was the scene of an air crash during the Second World War. At 4:10 a.m. on 11 February 1940, a Hudson aircraft took off from Thornaby airfield, to search for German minesweepers operating off the Danish coast. Five minutes later the plane crashed on Easby Moor, killing three of the four crewmen and injuring the fourth. As ice had formed on the wings, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient height to clear the hill. The aircraft ploughed through a larch plantation before coming to rest. The gap in the plantation corresponds exactly with the Hudson's wingspan of 65.5 feet.

The aircrew who died were Flying Officer Tom Parker, Sergeant Harold Berksley and Corporal Norman Drury. Leading Aircraftman Athol Barker survived but was later shot down whilst flying over Germany. The four unexploded bombs that the Hudson carried were later detonated by the RAF, resulting in a pond.Pearce, Ian (2003); Lost on Easby Moor: The Last Flight of Hudson NR-E. Great Ayton Community Archaeology Project. Printability Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1872239408}}

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File:Captain Cooks Monument - geograph.org.uk - 5387.jpg

Erected on Easby Moor in 1827 by Robert Campion, a Whitby banker, the {{convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on}} high monument bears a plaque with the following inscription:{{cite book |title=Ramblers Short Walks in The North York Moors |year=2011 |page=17 |publisher=Collins |isbn=978-0007395415}}

:In memory of the celebrated circumnavigator Captain James Cook F.R.S. A man of nautical knowledge inferior to none, in zeal prudence and energy, superior to most. Regardless of danger he opened an intercourse with the Friendly Isles and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere. He was born at Marton Oct. 27th 1728 and massacred at Owythee Feb. 14th 1779 to the inexpressible grief of his countrymen. While the art of navigation shall be cultivated among men, whilst the spirit of enterprise, commerce and philanthropy shall animate the sons of Britain, while it shall be deemed the honour of a Christian Nation to spread civilisation and the blessings of the Christian faith among pagan and savage tribes, so long will the name of Captain Cook stand out amongst the most celebrated and most admired benefactors of the human race.{{cite web |url=http://www.great-ayton.org.uk/tourism/cook/cook_monument |title=Captain Cook's Monument |website=Great Ayton |access-date=18 March 2014}}

This inscription was added later and written by George Young (Presbyterian minister) also from Whitby.{{cite web |title=Easby Moor, Great Ayton, Yorkshire |url=https://www.captaincooksociety.com/home/detail/easby-moor-great-ayton-yorkshire |website=Captain Cook Society |access-date=19 June 2020}} Young died in 1848 so the current inscription must have been placed on the monument between 1827 and 1848. Campion died in 1866 so would have approved the new inscription.{{cite web |title=The Gentleman's Magazine (London, England), Volume 142 1827 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=930dAQAAMAAJ&q=campion+easby&pg=PA501 |website=Google Books |year = 1827|publisher=F. Jefferies |access-date=19 June 2020}} The [https://books.google.co.uk/books/content?id=930dAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA501&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U2kWo2y7p5elAmkAY87-7gqpPayAA&ci=72%2C1099%2C399%2C200&edge=0 Original inscription] read:

:The foundation stone of this Monument was laid by Robert Campion esq of Whitby lord of the manor of Easby on the 12th day of July 1827 being his birthday in commemoration of that celebrated circumnavigator Captain James Cook who was born at Naston (sic) in the neighbourhood October 27 1728 and who served his apprenticeship to sea from Whitby{{cite web |title=The Gentleman's Magazine (London, England), Volume 142 1827 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=930dAQAAMAAJ&q=campion+easby&pg=PA501 |website=Google Books |year=1827 |publisher=F. Jefferies |access-date=19 June 2020}}

In 1895 after a campaign by the North-Eastern Daily Gazette the monument was fully restored by repointing and the fitting of a lightning conductor.{{Cite web |first=Keith |last=Crabtree |title=Easby Moor, Great Ayton, Yorkshire - Captain Cook's Monument |publisher=The Captain Cook Society (CCS) |access-date=1 March 2021 |date=9 November 2017 |url=https://www.captaincooksociety.com/home/detail/easby-moor-great-ayton-yorkshire}}

The monument's lightning conductor was stolen, and in 1960 the monument was struck by lightning occasioning severe damage, splitting it the height of the stonework. Work was quickly carried out to restore the monument.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Carolyn |title=Captain Cook' Monument |publisher=North York Moors Association |access-date=1 March 2021 |url=https://www.nyma.org.uk/_webedit/uploaded-files/All%20Files/History%20Tree/4%3A%20Captain%20Cook%E2%80%99s%20Monument.pdf}}

• Listed buildings in Easby, Hambleton

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{{Hills and moors of the North York Moors}}

Category:Mountains and hills of North Yorkshire

Category:Moorlands of England

Category:North York Moors