THE ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION NORFOLK BRANCH NEWSLETTER NO.205 December 2013

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1 THE ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION NORFOLK BRANCH NEWSLETTER NO.205 December 2013 President: Squadron Leader Paul Bruning (Rtd) Vice President: Squadron Leader Peter Lawrence (Rtd) Chairman: Mr. Paul Rainbird Vice Chairman: Mr. Tony Leonard Secretary: Mr. Colin Clarke Treasurer: Mr. Graham Clarkson The President, Vice President, Chairman and Committee wish all members and their families a Very Happy Christmas, Peaceful and Healthy New year. DEAR MEMBER, OCTOBER BRANCH MEETING A good attendance for an interesting talk by David Morton on Cars with a Difference. Also news that at the Association AGM, our Branch Vice President Peter Lawrence, has been appointed National Association Vice Chairman. Our congratulations Peter. And generous Branch members raised a best ever 69 at the Branch raffle - how about that! That s nice. That s Norfolk! REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY PARADE Again, huge support from the people and youth organisations of Wymondham, with 17 Standards on parade, including ours carried proudly by Tony Leonard, with Peter Lawrence laying the wreath. We may be getting older but us Rock Apes can still march. (With a few creaks, well a lot actually but it s good for the arthritis), Wymondham Abbey was packed out for the Service with a meaningful Sermon by The Reverend Canon Mike Porter on War, Peace and Remembrance. A day to remember. NOVEMBER BRANCH MEETING There was a Full House and a great atmosphere for the talk by Richard Mann on Edith Cavell - A British Heroine. He really is an excellent speaker. Our members again excelled themselves with another branch raffle record of 74. Wonderful. 1 We also welcomed a guest, Colin Lake from Wisbech. Colin served with Lionel Middleton on 75 Squadron at Gilenkirchen, Germany, in the 1950 s and they met up earlier this year for the first time since MY APLOLOGIES The October Newsletter had the very last line missing on page 5. It should have read gave him a handful of V cigarettes. It was on the page when I was checking the Newsletter but somehow - jumped off. It will not occur again. (I hope). NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM This Autumn, the NMA created a new living memorial in the form of a Carpet of Crocuses. Chosen because it is the first flower of spring. The Crocus symbolizes renewal of hope. The mixed crocus bulbs were planted the length of Yeomanry Avenue, on which the Fire & Rescue Services Memorial among others is situated. Planting took place on weekends 28/29 September and 2/3 November Editor: Norfolk Branch have sent a 30 donation for the crocuses. We have had a thank you letter from the NMA. The RAF Regiment Memorial and Garden, fronts onto Yeomanry Avenue. So if you visit the NMA in spring, you will see lovely crocuses in bloom. Over 5,000 of them.

2 WE WILL NEED A TREASURER A sincere thank you to Graham our Branch Treasurer, who will step down at the end of December 2013, after three years of doing an excellent job in keeping the books. We now need a volunteer to take up this honourable post. So just give me call on (01502) Thank you CHRISTMAS LUNCH Just a reminder - Moment s Restaurant, at Scratby, Thursday, 12th December 2013, 12 Noon pm. 34 members will be enjoying lunch. We will of course be having our super raffle. NORFOLK BRANCH 20 YEARS IN 2014 We celebrate 20 years as Norfolk Branch next March. It s your Branch, so any ideas or suggestions, as to how we might mark the occasion will be most welcome. Thank you. ARMED FORCES OPERATIONAL LIST No.41 The following honours and awards to Corps members were published in Armed Forces Operational List No.41 dated 4 October All were awarded for exemplary service on Operation Herrick. Queen s Commendation for Valuable Service. Sqn Ldr J R ROWE - 1 Sqn RAF Regt (now HQ AIR Comd). Cpl S SHARKEY - 51 Sqn RAF Regt. Joint Commanders Commendation. Flt Lt (now Sqn Ldr) K M O BRIEN - RAF FP Centre RAF Honington. Cpl W L EVANS - RAF FP Centre RAF Honington. Cpl D A McINTOSH - FP Trg Flt. RAF Honington. CG Commendations The following individuals have been awarded the C G s Personal Commendations for Mr Sean ALLERTON - For Service related fund raising for disabled servicemen. Sgt Paul BARRETT - Serving Gnr, for his selfless dedication and unswerving commitment to his unit. Sgt Angus J JEFFREY - Serving Gnr, for his outstanding work at the Army s Infantry Trials and Development Unit. Mr Eric PAPPS - Retired Gnr, for his outstanding support to the RAF Regt Assoc. and its Gloucester Branch. Mrs Denise SPEIGHT - for her outstanding support to the RAF Regt Assoc. and its N E London Branch. Mr Pat SWEENEY - Retired WO Gnr, for his outstanding support to the RAF Regt Assoc. and its Catterick Branch. Mrs Ros SWEENEY - for her outstanding support to the RAF Regt Assoc. its Catterick Branch and the Regt Shop. HOMECOMING PARADE OF 11 SQUAD- RON RAF REGIMENT 11 JANUARY 2014 Following their return from the most recent operational tour of duty on OPERATION HERRICK, the Homecoming Parade of 11 Squadron RAF Regiment will take place in the town of Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 11 January Further details will be issued at a later date and available from me on (01502) BRANCH DONATION Stu Kyffin is a former soldier and served 10 years with the SAS. On the 4th October 2013, he was seriously injured in a motorbike accident in Thailand, He suffered severe head and brain trauma and remains in a coma. He will require 24 hour care for life. The family are trying to raise funding to pay for the specialist medical team that he needs to accompany him on repatriation to the UK. His condition is so critical that normal medical travel and care is not an option. Branch members have approved a donation of 50 to the fund. We wish the family well and success in bringing their loved one home. 2

3 LOOKING BACK-BRANCH STANDARD. (Sadly, some of the members mentioned in this article are no longer with us) In 1995, the branch was one year old and members thoughts turned to a Branch Standard. When I say members, it was Owen and Betty Thompson who suggested this. REUNITED Branch member Gordon Todd served in the RAF Regiment 1946 to 1948 on No s 1 and 2 Armoured Car Squadrons in Palestine and Amman, Transjordan. One of his colleagues and good friend was Ted Morgan. In 1948, the Squadron moved to Amman, from where they both returned to England for demob. In 1950, Ted with his fiancé Pam visited Gordon at his home in Norwich. Ted married and moved to Islington, London, and he and Gordon lost touch with each other. In 2012, Gordon s son Gary, was perusing the internet when by chance he came across a message from Ted Does anyone know of Gordon Todd ex RAF Regiment. Gordon contacted Ted by phone and then a few weeks ago with his wife Joyce, Gordon travelled to Fritton, Bedfordshire, to the home of Ted and his wife Pam. They stayed for a lovely weekend and as you can imagine there was much to talk about since Both now 85 years and still very much young at heart. And as Gordon said: It was wonderful to meet up again and the years just rolled away. They now regularly keep in touch. Editor: All those years apart but the bond of Regiment friendship stays strong. Enquiries were made and costs would be in the region of 750. Then we would have a Dedication Service at Wymondham Abbey. So we needed to save our pennies and do some fund raising. Fortunately, we had a good start, thanks to our raffles and generous members. By July 1995, there was 300 in the kitty. To raise more monies we required a stall for a tombola and items of memorabilia. Then we needed venues? Branch Member Derek Kirk lives in Cromer, famous for its Carnival with the Red Arrows and thousands attending. Next thing we know Derek has organised a pitch for us on the main green. So on 16th August 1995, Louise and I arrived with gazebo, prizes for the tombola and Regiment memorabilia, including a full size dummy in RAF Regiment uniform, a copy of the Air Ministry Order setting up the RAF Regiment in 1942, gas masks, bofor shells, literature, photographs and badges, plus thanks to our generous members over 100 prizes. With a giant pander for first prize. All ticketed and arranged attractively by our ladies. Yes, we couldn t do it without you. Jim Stevenson brought along several model WW11 aircraft he had made. Henry Linford came with generator, TV, video of QCS and even an electric fan. Norman Hunt and Shirley brought their caravan for rest and refreshments, tea, coffee and biscuits. It was all systems go! 3

4 There was a huge attendance, weather was fine, a great rapport with the public and our members raised 139. Everyone enjoyed the day. A great start to our fund raising. Twelve days later on the 28th August, we were on parade at Oulton Broad Gala Day, just 10 yards from the Broads, with wind that made it a great day for yachting but not for gazebo s. Ours nearly went into orbit - Regiment measures were needed. Henry Linford and Alec James, our consultant engineers, came to the rescue. With wooden stakes, tow ropes and cable they secured the gazebo to Henry s car and a nearby tree. The wind eased, our display was up and running. No more problems then. Well not until Henry received a message that his wife Nancy, who was driving from Norwich to join us had broken down. Henry couldn t assist, his car was keeping the gazebo in place. Just like to say here that the public did comment on how smartly dressed we were in our blazers, with badges and tie. We raised a 108 and after expenses at both events we had a profit of 183 towards the Standard. We had done well but gazebos are subject to the weather, so for 1996, we decided to purchase a market stall and cover. Henry Linford and Cliff Cane made some extra table extensions and wooden tops for the tables. Now we were really ready to go. Over the next 17 years as well as Cromer and Oulton Broad we took our display to Flixton, Watton, Wymondham and Worstead, Alec James would bring his trailer loaded with the stall and equipment. Louise and I the memorabilia, prizes and tickets. Our loyal members and their ladies all helped with the display and giving out prizes and of course the bucket men - selling the tickets 5 for a 1. We never increased our prices and always gave good value. Thanks to all our members and their ladies who helped raise the money in those early days and ever since. By 1998, we had enough money to buy the Standard and organise a Service of Dedication at Wymondham Abbey. The day was arranged for Sunday, 27th September pm at Wymondham Abbey. It was a joint Parade and Service with the RAFA to Commemorate the Battle of Britain. In those days we had the RAF Regiment Association and Comrades Association, so I wrote in all to 34 branches inviting them to attend the Parade, Service and afterwards the Ex-Service men s Club for refreshment. Louise prepared the Order of Service. The real organisation was by Owen and Betty Thompson, they liaised with the Council, Police, Church, Vicar, Organist and arranged the Order of Service plus RAF Honington Band. Then for AVM John Howe (Ret) to take the Salute, accompanied by the Commandant General of the RAF Regiment Air Commodore McNeil and several local dignitaries. I was to be Standard Bearer and was soon to find out why my nomination had ben carried out with such speed. My two escorts were John Mott and Peter Moore and the Branch were indebted for the help and advice from Sergeant Sandle, RAF Honington (Ex QCS), who first travelled to Oulton Broad to put us through our paces as Standard Bearer and Escort and then as Parade Marshal on the day. They don t come any better. The day arrived and early heavy rain had by 10am given way to sunshine. By 2.15pm over 200 men paraded at the Market Place, Wymondham. There were three Flights of RAF Regiment men from all over the country. What support we had. We were ready to march, led by the Band from RAF Honington. 4

5 It was a wonderful Parade and Dedication Service, the Abbey was packed with over 300 present. The March Past, with great pride was first class, especially when the Salute was taken by AVM John Howe. Then to the Ex-Servicemen s Club for refreshment, there was a great atmosphere and comradeship. Must mention the raffle organised by Mark Racher and Jan - raised 233. Wonderful day enjoyed by all. There were many letters of thanks and phone calls received. I conclude with this one from Tom Renshaw - then Chairman of the Comrades Association. 1st October Dear Colin, May I on behalf of all Comrades and myself thank you for a wonderful day on Sunday. The fact that we were invited was a great idea and look forward to many more joint ventures. Everyone I spoke to on the day (and none of them said whether they were Association or Comrades), remarked on what a day it was. I have received phone calls since Sunday from people who were there, all of them saying how they enjoyed it. Please pass on my congratulations for the organisation of the day from the fall in to refreshments. I am fully aware that these functions don t just happen and that a lot of time and energy is put in for no reward except the success of the occasion. One again thank you all and look forward to seeing some of your members on parade at The Cenotaph in November. Best Wishes, Tom Renshaw. REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY As we have just remembered those who have paid the supreme sacrifice, my thoughts turned to the following. THE STORY OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR The Reverend David Railton, a Chaplain at the Front is believed to have had the idea of honouring the unidentified of the Great War. In 1916 he noticed a grave in a garden in Armentieres which had a rough cross bearing the words: An unknown British Soldier. After the War he suggested that Britain honour its unknown war dead officially. Between four and six bodies were exhumed from four battle areas, the Aisne, the Somme, Arras and Ypres. The remains were covered with Union Jack Flags and brought to the chapel at St. Pol. Brigadier General L. J. Wyatt, who was the commander of British troops in France and Flanders then selected one. The officers placed the body in a plain coffin and sealed it. The other bodies were then taken away for reburial. Placed in a coffin made of oak from Hampton Court, the body was transported to Dover on the destroyer HMS Verdun. On the morning of November 11th 1920, the second anniversary of Armistice Day, the Unknown Warrior was drawn through crowd-line streets on a gun carriage where King George V placed a wreath on the coffin. At 11.00am the nation observed The Two Minutes Silence and then the body was taken to Westminster Abbey and buried at he west end of the naïve. The grave contains soil from France and is covered by a slab of black Belgian marble. Inscribed upon the marble are these words from the Bible: They buried him among the Kings because he had done good towards God and towards his house. Within the first week an estimated 1,250,000 people filed past the Unknown Warrior to pay their respects to all the unidentified war dead. It is now one of the most visited war graves in the world and is the only part of the Abbey floor that is never walked on. 5

6 GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE Photograph of the RAF Regiment Garden of Remembrance in London, by Branch Member Lionel Middleton when he attended the Remembrance Service at The Cenotaph IN MEMORIUM Founder Member- Former RAF Regiment Flight Sergeant John (known as Singapore Sam) Haddon born 9th September 1921, died on 20th October 2013 aged 92. He enlisted on his 18th birthday 9th September 1939, as a Ground Gunner and was assimilated into the RAF Regiment on its formation in He enjoyed active wartime service, serving on 781(D) and 232 Squadrons, 293, 190 and 1324 Wings in Karachi, Jessore and Secunderland. RAF REGIMENT SECRETARY DATES FOR DIARY Jan - Homecoming Parade for 11 Squadron RAF Regiment. 30/31 Jan - Corps Operation Review - RAF Honington. 31 Jan - Corps Formation Review - RAF Honington. 1 Feb - 72nd Anniversary of the Formation of the RAF Regiment. 3/4 May - Ex ALTCAR CHALLENGE International Reserve Forces Military Skills Competition. 10 May - Disbandment Parade of 6 RAF FP Wing and 58 Squadron RAF Regiment - RAF Leuchars. 17 May - Annual RAF Regiment Commemoration - St Annes Church, Catterick. 6 June - RAF Regiment Officers Annual Reception (Celebrating D-Day) House of Lords. 6 June - D-Day 70th Anniversary Nationwide. 24/27- Oct RAF Regiment Association AGM and Annual Reunion (Provisional). 31 Oct - RAF Regiment Officers Dinner Club, Annual Dinner, RAF Club, London. In the post war years he served on 19 and 31 (LAA) Squadrons, 7 Wing, 63(F) and 16(F) Squadrons RAF Regiment, in Sennelar, Laarbruch, Wunstorf, Malta, Felixstowe, Khormalksar and Nicosia. He was awarded a Mention in Despatches while on 63(F) Squadron RAF Regiment in Cyprus in He was discharged on 26th March 1964 and in later years a member of Suffolk Branch RAF Regiment Association. The funeral was held on 5th November 2013, at Felixstowe. He is survived by his step-son John Haddon-Silver, 17 The Croft, Bandwell, Bury St Edmunds 1P31 1AW, to whom the Corps extends its sincere condolences. Editor: Sam Haddon was one of the Characters in the RAF Regiment. He commanded respect from both officers and men. I had the pleasure of knowing him in the 1950 s when he was Acting SWO 31 LAA Squadron at RAF Wunstorf. He was a broad, thick set man with a square jaw - like Winston Churchill and he had a powerful voice. He got the name Singapore Sam when he was in Singapore on a Guard of Honour. He dropped his rifle and the Officer i/c said Pick up thy rifle Sam. The name stuck and that is how he was always known. 6

7 NO BALLS What would we do without a ball? No Golf, no Tennis, not much at all. Football and Cricket would have to go, Snooker and Billiards, oh what a blow. Rugby just would be allowed, The only game to draw a crowd. No Football stars on Saturday night, No one around to pick a fight. And on the other side of town, No Rupert Bears to wear a frown, No talk of par of hit how far, No handicap or 19th jar. The cricket match would have to change, No fielders there to re-arrange. No ball to hit, oh what a shame, They ll have to find another game. And what a Racquet there would be, On Court no Love of Fault to see. What would two people do all day, If bat and ball they could not play. Such a world would be a fright, With sportsmen wandering day and night, To find a game that they could play, They d get in everybody s way. Eric Robinson. WHAT AM I BID FOR MY MISSUS? A Navvy, living at Tunstead Mill, Stacksteads, determined to get rid of the partner of his joys and sorrows by offering her for sale by auction, the highest bidder to take the lot. On Tuesday last the sale took place at the husband s house, but, despite Solomon s testimony as to a woman being more precious than rubies, and not withstanding that the spectators were numerous, the highest offer was only 4d, at which low figure the wife was eventually knocked down to another navvy, who, by-the-by, lived next door. The seller wanted to throw in three children, but the buyer objected, the bairns were left on hand The wife, however, went joyfully to the home of her new owner, and seemed to be quite as glad to get away from her late liege lord as he was to part with her. The occurrence has caused quite a stir in the locality. Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, July YES, MEN ARE GOOD FOR NOTHING Brace yourselves, chaps. You may have long suspected that your better half had a somewhat jaundiced view of your general usefulness but now the truth is here. It s worse. From buying clothes, to remembering birthdays and dancing, women reckon men aren t good for much at all. Indeed there are few area s of modern life where men do excel, and they re hardly that surprising, let alone sought after skills. According to a survey of 1,000 adults, 60% of women said men were good at getting rid of spiders, 56% rated men s barbecue skills, 73% said men can change a tyre. Just over half rated men s ability to drink alcohol. Only 10% of women thought men could iron a shirt, 4% that they could dance. Men are also pretty useless at buying gifts, choosing home fixtures and furnishings and cooking anything complicated. However, they can still do DIY, although 46% of men admit they have hurt themselves while doing so. Men can also be relied upon to buy the wrong sized clothes for their partner and to get drunk at family functions, the survey found. The list of ten things men do poorly was: Buying clothes for women, remembering anniversaries/birthdays, dancing, ironing, cooking, domestic chores, buying gifts, multi tasking, keeping up with fashions and picking furniture. Editor: Guilty as charged. 7

8 PARISH NOTICE No Laying up of the 3rd Queen s Colour and Squadron Standards and HAC Succession Parade. The 3rd Queen s Colour for the RAF Regiment, together with the retired Squadron Standards of 1, 16, 27, 37 and 48 Squadrons RAF Regiment, was laid up in a bespoke Military Ceremony in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on Thursday 21st November Readings were given by Air Commodore M. S. Witherow RAF Regiment (Retd) and Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns. The Colour Standards were received into the care of the church by The Very Reverend Dr. Frances Ward, Dean of Edmundsbury. Following on from the Cathedral Service a ceremonial Succession Parade was held at RAF Honington, at which Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns handed over to the appointment as Honorary Air Commodore RAF Regiment, formally to Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton. QCS. (63 Squadron RAF Regiment) provided the Half Guard and the Band of the RAF Regiment provided the music. Editor: Branch members attended and enjoyed the day. A memorable Service at the Cathedral and then to RAF Honington where they received a really warm welcome from serving members of the squadrons. QUOTES: Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. Children may close their eyes to advice, but they keep their eyes open to example. Doctor, I think I m a bottle of gin. Don t worry, you just need a little tonic. No one will ever win the battle of the sexes. There s just too much fraternising with the enemy. A woman s mind is cleaner than a man s, she changes it more often. If you ve got half a mind to go into politics, that s all you need. There s nothing wrong with the younger generation that becoming taxpayers won t cure. JUST A REMINDER There is no December Branch Meeting. WHAT IS CHRISTMAS? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. (Agnes Pharo) AND FINALLY Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are separated from their families and loved ones, especially those serving in H. M. Forces in Afghanistan and other trouble spots in the world. That they may return home safely and 2014 will see an end to hostilities and that peace my prevail. That s all for now folks! Louise and I wish you and your families a Happy Christmas and Healthy and Peaceful We look forward to the pleasure of your company at the Branch Lunch, Thursday 12th December 2013, at Moments Restaurant, and Branch Meeting on Tuesday, 21st January pm Feathers Inn, Wymondham, when it s Henry s Quiz, always good fun. Best wishes, Colin Clarke. Branch Secretary. (01502)