TRIBUTES have been paid to mark the 80th anniversary of the death of Cecil Hight, a Spitfire pilot from New Zealand who died protecting Britain from the Nazis.

The 22-year-old from Taranaki on New Zealand's north island was shot down over Bournemouth on the Royal Air Force’s worst day of the Battle of Britain.

Gordon Forsey, an engineer who worked on Spitfires and tanks during the Second World War, witnessed Pilot Hight falling from the skies in that day in 1940.

He said: “It was obvious that there was a big air battle going on.

“It was cloudy like it was for the service, you couldn’t see anything, but you could the machine-gun fire and planes flying overhead. I should have gone into a shelter, but I was too noisy

“I looked towards Bournemouth and saw a body come through the clouds; his parachute was trailing behind him, but it hadn’t deployed as he must have bailed out too late.

“I didn’t know if it was a German or British pilot but my father who worked in the police force at the time later told me that it was a British pilot.”

Representatives from the Poole branch and Christchurch branch of the Royal Air Forces Association and the Bournemouth, Poole and District Branch of the Royal Tank Regiment Association laid wreaths at Pilot Hight’s military grave in Bournemouth East Cemetery in Gloucester Road.

Mike Davis Chairman of the Poole branch of the RAF Association said: “We had to do it as it is 80 years since Cecil lost his own life defending this part of the world

“It was a fitted tribute which was held on the same day as VJ Day so there are other celebrations for that as well.

“We try out best to remember those who have lost their lives in combat, host and attend as many services like this to pay our respects.”

Veterans who attended the service also used it as an opportunity to remember other comrades who lost their lives in the conflict, as the branch’s 80th anniversary service Battle of Britain service in July was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mike added: We have an annual service for the Battle of Britain which we have been forced to cancel this year because of the situation we are in.

“This service has at least given us a chance to remember those who lost their lives serving for their country. It is a way of remembering, not in our normal way but fitting nonetheless

“This year, 2020, is a year for big milestone anniversaries with 80 years since Dunkirk, 75 years for VE Day and VJ Day, as well as Remembrance Day.”

The Poole branch of the RAF Association later went to Poole Park to lay wreathes to commemorate VJ Day.