Battle of Britain Commemoration 2023
Recollections from Terry and Jacqui Giles
03 September
The Battle of Britain events started in Kent for Jacqui and I at Chart Sutton with the RAFA Headcorn Branch Memorial service for Pilot Officer Robert Shaw whose Hurricane crashed in a nearby Orchard eighty-three years ago on that day.
There were seven members of the Shaw family there as Uncle/Great-Uncle Bobby still features in the family history. They were pleased to meet a local woman who saw the aircraft come down. She said that he was a local hero as there was a fear that it would hit the school but veered away at the last moment. Pilot Officer Shaw gave up a last chance to save himself to save the children in the playground. The village will always honour his sacrifice. Two other aircraft crashed on nearby farms during the Battle of Britain. This quiet corner of Kent was truly part of the frontline of the epic battle raging overhead. The service continued at the crash site in the orchard but the fly over by a BBM aircraft was cancelled. A pity as it would have stamped an indelible memory in the minds of the younger Shaw family members.
After the long walk back from the orchard with ripe apples on the trees and in hot autumn sunshine, the cup of tea in the school hall was most welcome. The Mayor of Maidstone said that it was a day that he would never forget. As always Jacqui and I tried to talk to interesting people attending. The Senior Officer was Air Commodore Simon Harper, Director of Grants, Services and Programmes, RAFBF. He said that he does intend to be at Southport for the Reunion, subject to any major matters at HQ. I hope BFLOs and Members will speak to him to highlight the needs of former members and their immediate dependants in their Group/Area as I hear little to feedback.to the RAFBF
I have and will continue to try to encourage all members to attend local events. This has not been totally successful across the country but it is a chance to talk to local dignitaries helping to raise our profile and integrate us into the community.
The Battle of Britain events started in Kent for Jacqui and I at Chart Sutton with the RAFA Headcorn Branch Memorial service for Pilot Officer Robert Shaw whose Hurricane crashed in a nearby Orchard eighty-three years ago on that day.
There were seven members of the Shaw family there as Uncle/Great-Uncle Bobby still features in the family history. They were pleased to meet a local woman who saw the aircraft come down. She said that he was a local hero as there was a fear that it would hit the school but veered away at the last moment. Pilot Officer Shaw gave up a last chance to save himself to save the children in the playground. The village will always honour his sacrifice. Two other aircraft crashed on nearby farms during the Battle of Britain. This quiet corner of Kent was truly part of the frontline of the epic battle raging overhead. The service continued at the crash site in the orchard but the fly over by a BBM aircraft was cancelled. A pity as it would have stamped an indelible memory in the minds of the younger Shaw family members.
After the long walk back from the orchard with ripe apples on the trees and in hot autumn sunshine, the cup of tea in the school hall was most welcome. The Mayor of Maidstone said that it was a day that he would never forget. As always Jacqui and I tried to talk to interesting people attending. The Senior Officer was Air Commodore Simon Harper, Director of Grants, Services and Programmes, RAFBF. He said that he does intend to be at Southport for the Reunion, subject to any major matters at HQ. I hope BFLOs and Members will speak to him to highlight the needs of former members and their immediate dependants in their Group/Area as I hear little to feedback.to the RAFBF
I have and will continue to try to encourage all members to attend local events. This has not been totally successful across the country but it is a chance to talk to local dignitaries helping to raise our profile and integrate us into the community.
12 September
The invitation from RAFA Medway Towns to their Service of Thanksgiving for Deliverance in Battle of Britain was at St Barbara’s Garrison Church with about 120 Air Cadets (and their parents) from six Squadrons of RAF Cadets. No 1 Group Standard carried by Jacqui, was there to support the RAFA Standard ahead of the six Cadet Banners. The service was led by one of the Cadet Squadron Chaplains and started with a history lesson. “Following the defeat in France and the heroics Of the Dunkirk evacuation there was only the English Channel between conquering German Forces and this country. On June 18th 1940 Churchill commented, what General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation .... Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and the Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say `this was their finest hour," High above the warm summer fields of Kent Churchill's `Few' fought with unsurpassed courage and skill. The air crews, including those from a defeated Europe and the Commonwealth, inevitably suffered dreadful losses. But this intense battle in the skies could only have been won with the total support of all those Service and civilian personnel on the ground. Whilst we give thanks today to God for the victory of the `Few' we should also spare a moment or two in grateful memory of all those who have served our nation so well in the Royal Air Force and the Air Forces of the Commonwealth. To them, under God's mercy, we owe our lives as a nation, and the liberties that make our lives worth living” This is also our story where our forefathers earned our Royal title,
The readings were by Cadets and the Mayor of Medway, Councillor Nina Gurung. She is the first female Mayor of Nepalese and British Gurkha heritage in the country to be elected. She is also Medway’s first Buddhist Mayor. Cllr Gurung first came to the UK in 1999 to join her British Gurkha husband, Taikaji Gurung, who was serving with the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, based at Invicta Barracks in Maidstone. In 2005 Cllr Gurung and her family moved to Medway where she raised her two daughters Yasmeen Rani and Jasmine Rani who attended local schools and sixth form before going to university. Nina Gurung has a first-class honours degree in social work and a Master’s degree in international relations and social policy, both from the University of Kent. Cllr Gurung is also a published researcher, whose seminal research on Gurkha settlement and integration process in the UK was instrumental in promoting community cohesion, and the study’s recommendations were noted by the Department for Communities and Local Government to aid the integration process of Gurkhas in the UK. After the Service she talked with the cadets who responded to her warmth and praise for their performance, saying how moved she had been by the service. Later at Gillingham Squadron’s HQ I had a chance to speak with her and her husband. She highlighted the stress of being married to a serviceman especially when he was serving in Kosovo, circumstances that Jacqui could relate to.
Our presence was especially appreciated as the RAFA Branch is threatened with closure due to falling membership
The invitation from RAFA Medway Towns to their Service of Thanksgiving for Deliverance in Battle of Britain was at St Barbara’s Garrison Church with about 120 Air Cadets (and their parents) from six Squadrons of RAF Cadets. No 1 Group Standard carried by Jacqui, was there to support the RAFA Standard ahead of the six Cadet Banners. The service was led by one of the Cadet Squadron Chaplains and started with a history lesson. “Following the defeat in France and the heroics Of the Dunkirk evacuation there was only the English Channel between conquering German Forces and this country. On June 18th 1940 Churchill commented, what General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation .... Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and the Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say `this was their finest hour," High above the warm summer fields of Kent Churchill's `Few' fought with unsurpassed courage and skill. The air crews, including those from a defeated Europe and the Commonwealth, inevitably suffered dreadful losses. But this intense battle in the skies could only have been won with the total support of all those Service and civilian personnel on the ground. Whilst we give thanks today to God for the victory of the `Few' we should also spare a moment or two in grateful memory of all those who have served our nation so well in the Royal Air Force and the Air Forces of the Commonwealth. To them, under God's mercy, we owe our lives as a nation, and the liberties that make our lives worth living” This is also our story where our forefathers earned our Royal title,
The readings were by Cadets and the Mayor of Medway, Councillor Nina Gurung. She is the first female Mayor of Nepalese and British Gurkha heritage in the country to be elected. She is also Medway’s first Buddhist Mayor. Cllr Gurung first came to the UK in 1999 to join her British Gurkha husband, Taikaji Gurung, who was serving with the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, based at Invicta Barracks in Maidstone. In 2005 Cllr Gurung and her family moved to Medway where she raised her two daughters Yasmeen Rani and Jasmine Rani who attended local schools and sixth form before going to university. Nina Gurung has a first-class honours degree in social work and a Master’s degree in international relations and social policy, both from the University of Kent. Cllr Gurung is also a published researcher, whose seminal research on Gurkha settlement and integration process in the UK was instrumental in promoting community cohesion, and the study’s recommendations were noted by the Department for Communities and Local Government to aid the integration process of Gurkhas in the UK. After the Service she talked with the cadets who responded to her warmth and praise for their performance, saying how moved she had been by the service. Later at Gillingham Squadron’s HQ I had a chance to speak with her and her husband. She highlighted the stress of being married to a serviceman especially when he was serving in Kosovo, circumstances that Jacqui could relate to.
Our presence was especially appreciated as the RAFA Branch is threatened with closure due to falling membership
15 September
On Battle of Britain Day, we drove across Kent following the route of Squadrons flying from Biggin Hill to the forward airfields on the coast ready for what was to be the hardest day. Our mission was to attend the service at the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel le Ferne. The site overlooks the English Channel with France visible just twenty-three miles away emphasising the proximity of the enemy. The ferries were busily carrying freight and people between Dover and France it wasn’t difficult to imagine the trepidation of Observers as they manned up their Posts not knowing how busy they would be that day. There were four Standards - RNA Folkestone, The Queens Regiment Association, RAFA Coningsby (the Standard Bearers father had flown from West Malling during WWII and he wanted to be where it all happened) and the No1 Group Standard carried by Jacqui, with me acting as the Standards Marshall. There was a good turnout of the public including a man from New Zealand who wanted to know all about the ROC. Another knew about UKWMO but didn’t know the ROC provided all the information with which they worked. We were all entertained by a Hurricane doing aerobatics before the Service and at the Remembrance a Spitfire flew over. An evocative day out in the warm sunshine
On Battle of Britain Day, we drove across Kent following the route of Squadrons flying from Biggin Hill to the forward airfields on the coast ready for what was to be the hardest day. Our mission was to attend the service at the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel le Ferne. The site overlooks the English Channel with France visible just twenty-three miles away emphasising the proximity of the enemy. The ferries were busily carrying freight and people between Dover and France it wasn’t difficult to imagine the trepidation of Observers as they manned up their Posts not knowing how busy they would be that day. There were four Standards - RNA Folkestone, The Queens Regiment Association, RAFA Coningsby (the Standard Bearers father had flown from West Malling during WWII and he wanted to be where it all happened) and the No1 Group Standard carried by Jacqui, with me acting as the Standards Marshall. There was a good turnout of the public including a man from New Zealand who wanted to know all about the ROC. Another knew about UKWMO but didn’t know the ROC provided all the information with which they worked. We were all entertained by a Hurricane doing aerobatics before the Service and at the Remembrance a Spitfire flew over. An evocative day out in the warm sunshine
17 September
Battle of Britain Sunday saw us at Westminster Abbey amidst the pomp and pageantry of the formal service for the great and the good (including Air Marshall Cliff Spink) and a sizeable contingent of ROCA members. Thirty Standards were on Parade including four ROCA Standards - the National, No 1 Group, No 3 Group and No 7 Group.
The Battle of Britain Roll of Honour was borne through the Abbey by Officers of No 32 Squadron and six Air Cadets who were step perfect and glowed with pride in their duty.
No 32 Squadron was based at Biggin Hill during the Battle and deployed daily to Hawkinge airfield, near Dover. There was no Royal presence this year with the King represented by ACM Sir Stephen Dalton a former Chief of the Air Staff
Jacqui enjoyed being in the congregation whilst I was part of the Standards Party. As the service ended a Spitfire and Hurricane of the BBMF flew over the Abbey. We were both pleased that the rain held off until we were on the train going home.
Click on images for full size
Battle of Britain Sunday saw us at Westminster Abbey amidst the pomp and pageantry of the formal service for the great and the good (including Air Marshall Cliff Spink) and a sizeable contingent of ROCA members. Thirty Standards were on Parade including four ROCA Standards - the National, No 1 Group, No 3 Group and No 7 Group.
The Battle of Britain Roll of Honour was borne through the Abbey by Officers of No 32 Squadron and six Air Cadets who were step perfect and glowed with pride in their duty.
No 32 Squadron was based at Biggin Hill during the Battle and deployed daily to Hawkinge airfield, near Dover. There was no Royal presence this year with the King represented by ACM Sir Stephen Dalton a former Chief of the Air Staff
Jacqui enjoyed being in the congregation whilst I was part of the Standards Party. As the service ended a Spitfire and Hurricane of the BBMF flew over the Abbey. We were both pleased that the rain held off until we were on the train going home.
Click on images for full size
Battle of Britain Sunday - Llandudno
Clare Forrester - 17 Group
For the past few years on Battle of Britain Sunday I've layed a wreath for the ROC as it was a big part of our history.
As a member of RAFA I layed their wreath first and then had a personal moment to lay the ROC wreath.
As a member of RAFA I layed their wreath first and then had a personal moment to lay the ROC wreath.
Bentley Priory Commemorations - Sat 16 September
Recollections from Martin Benson
On Saturday, 16th September, myself and my wife Di, Jenny Morris (Nat Sec) and Alan Lawley (Southern Area Rep) had the pleasure of joining Edwina Holden (National Heritage Officer), John Shere and Simon and Nicky Craine (Heritage Team) at Bentley Priory for the Commemoration Day.
The museum was brought alive by numerous guest speakers who gave presentations on subjects ranging from The Dowding System, Radar and the role of women in World War II. Among the displays was of course our Heritage Team presentation on the role of Special Constables in the Observer Corps and the uniformed Observer which followed. The Post Instrument and other equipment was on display. The display attracted a lot of interest and also resulted in some enquiries regarding membership of the Royal Observer Corps Association.
The entrance to the bunker at Bentley Priory has been preserved although the bunker itself was completely demolished. At the entrance to the bunker, you can listen to our President, AM Cliff Spink, L/Obs Jim Barnes and L/Obs Margaret Parsons relate their tales of life at Bentley Priory.
The day concluded with a flypast by a Spitfire, the sounding of the last post and lowering of the RAF Ensign
Click on images for full size
The museum was brought alive by numerous guest speakers who gave presentations on subjects ranging from The Dowding System, Radar and the role of women in World War II. Among the displays was of course our Heritage Team presentation on the role of Special Constables in the Observer Corps and the uniformed Observer which followed. The Post Instrument and other equipment was on display. The display attracted a lot of interest and also resulted in some enquiries regarding membership of the Royal Observer Corps Association.
The entrance to the bunker at Bentley Priory has been preserved although the bunker itself was completely demolished. At the entrance to the bunker, you can listen to our President, AM Cliff Spink, L/Obs Jim Barnes and L/Obs Margaret Parsons relate their tales of life at Bentley Priory.
The day concluded with a flypast by a Spitfire, the sounding of the last post and lowering of the RAF Ensign
Click on images for full size
