23 February 2012

For the third time this month we again stood at the Memorial Garden in Carterton to see another brave soul brought home from Afghanistan.  This occasion was brought a little closer to home for the RAFPA members present as the victim was a member of the Royal Air Force Regiment.  Today’s repatriation was held to honour Senior Aircraftman Ryan Tomlin, from II Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, who was shot dead during an insurgent attack while on a routine patrol of the Western Dashte area of the Nad-e Ali district, Helmand province on the 13^th February.  Several hundred people had gathered to show their support and respect to the family of Ryan Tomlin.  A very large contingent of uniformed RAF Regiment personnel, along with an equally large number of members of the RAF Regiment Association, were among those awaiting the arrival of the funeral cortege.  As the hearse approached the waiting crowds, the 29 Veterans Association Standards were lowered in salute, and all those gathered paid their respects.  There was a tangible out flowing of emotion from the many family members and friends who were present as the hearse carrying the coffin stopped for a minutes silence.  A large number of floral tributes were placed on the roof of the hearse which then slowly moved off to the sound of a mixture of sobbing, applause and cheering.  The Association representatives at the repatriation ceremony at Carterton today were David Budd (Wilts Standard), John & Ruth Crosby, Brian Flinn, Kim Hassall, Huw Rees, Jack & Vida Sharp, Vic & Val Smith and Phil Horton, and at the John Radcliffe Hospital were Reg Lamb, Nigel Lacey (National Standard), Mike Lester, Pat Plumridge, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

20 March 2012

Only March and it was the fifth time this year that we had stood at the Memorial Garden outside RAF Brize Norton, although this is better than last year because we had been to Wootton Bassett eight times in this same period, to see the return of more of our soldiers repatriated in coffins from Afghanistan, this was an especially saddening occasion as we were there to see the return of another six soldiers who had so tragically been killed on active service.  These latest six casualties brought the number of military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 to 404.  Repatriated today were Sergeant Nigel Coupe, 1^st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Corporal Jake Hartley, Private Anthony Frampton, Private Christopher Kershaw, Private Daniel Wade and Private Daniel Wilford, all from 3^rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, who were all killed together when their Warrior armoured vehicle was caught in an explosion, thought to have been a very large Taliban bomb, while on patrol in the Lashkar Gah Durai district of Kandahar province on the 6^th March.  This is the biggest single loss of UK life at one time in Afghanistan since a Nimrod aircraft crashed killing 14 personnel in 2006.  As was to be expected, the number of people there to pay their respects was estimated to be in excess of two thousand, which included an extremely large representation of family and friends of those being repatriated.  As the large funeral cortege and police escorts travelled along Norton Way, the 46 ex-Service Association Standards on parade commenced their rolling dip which was completed as the hearses stopped adjacent to the respective waiting families.  A great number of floral tributes were then placed on each hearse during a period of silent reflection, broken only by the expressed grief of family, friends and some of those gathered.  The funeral cortege then slowly departed, to the sound of respectful applause, for the onward journey to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.  Representing the RAF Police Association at Carterton were David Budd (Wilts Standard), Ivan Carey & Frances, John & Ruth Crosby, Brian Flinn, Kim Hassall, Jack & Vida Sharp and Vic Smith & his daughter Michelle, and representing us all at the John Radcliffe were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Roy Laver, Mike & Sonia Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge and friend Gill, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

29 March 2012

Once again we stood at the Memorial Garden in Carterton to pay our respects to three more fallen soldiers who had been brought home from Afghanistan.  This time it was to see the return of Captain Rupert Bowers, 2^nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, who was killed by an improvised explosive device while working alongside an Afghan security patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 21^st March.  Also being repatriated on this occasion were Sergeant Luke Taylor, Royal Marines, and Lance Corporal Michael Foley, Adjutant General’s Corps, who were both shot and killed at the main entrance to Lashka Gar Main Operating Base by a rogue Afghan National Army soldier on the 26^th March.  Several hundred people had gathered along Norton Way to pay their respects at this repatriation ceremony.  Amongst this number were many uniformed personnel representing the three Units from which the repatriated soldiers had come from, as well as some uniformed personnel from RAF Brize Norton, many ex-Service men and women and representatives of various ex-Service Associations were also in attendance.  As the funeral cortege approached the waiting family and friends, the 33 Standards paraded were lowered in salute and flowers were placed on the roof of each of the hearses.  After a minutes silence, the funeral cortege departed to the ripple of applause from the gathered crowd.  This was another very emotional occasion, made even more poignant by the dignified manner in which the bereaved families and friends conducted themselves.  Present at Carterton today to represent the RAFPA was John & Ruth Crosby, Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Jack & Vida Sharp, Vic Smith and Phil Horton, and at the John Radcliffe were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Pat & Maureen Plumridge, Bryan Simmonds and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

03 May 2012

Sadly, after a short respite of five weeks, we were again gathered at the Memorial Garden near RAF Brize Norton to pay our respects at another repatriation ceremony.  Today we paid our tributes to Guardsman Michael Roland, 1^st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who was killed by small arms fire while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 27th April.  Approximately two hundred people had gathered on Norton Way to show their support to the family for the ultimate sacrifice made by Guardsman Roland.  The 20 Royal British Legion Branch and Veterans Association Standards on parade were lowered as the funeral cortege approached the waiting family and friends.  During the minute’s silence, flowers were placed on the roof of the hearse prior to it commencing the sad onward journey to Oxford.  Representing  the RAFPA at Carterton today were Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Ken Ivie, Jack & Vida Sharp, Vic Smith with his daughter Michelle and Phil Horton, while our representatives at the John Radcliffe Hospital were Brian Crossin, Mike Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge with friend Gill, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

10 May 2012

We returned to Carterton again today for the second repatriation ceremony this month.  In excess of three hundred members of the Fijian community, both military and civilian, along with hundreds of other people were at the Memorial Garden to pay their respects to two more soldiers tragically killed in Afghanistan recently.  Being repatriated today were Corporal Andrew Steven Roberts and Private Ratu Manasa Silibaravi, both from the Royal Logistics Corps, who were killed during an enemy mortar rocket attack on their base in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 4^th May.  The 15 Veteran’s Association Standards paraded were lowered in salute as the funeral cortege, bearing the Union Flag draped coffins of the two soldiers, approached the waiting family, friends and colleagues.  Floral tributes were then placed on the hearses during the one minute’s silence.  The hearses had an extended period at the Memorial Garden, after the minute’s silence, to allow the Fijian people to sing a traditional funeral hymn to say farewell to their loved one. The singing made this particular repatriation ceremony an even more emotional and poignant occasion than it normally is.  Those gathered paid their own personal respects to the fallen soldiers before the cortege departed, to a ripple of applause from some of those amongst the crowd, for the journey to the John Radcliffe. The RAFPA representatives at Carterton today were John & Ruth Crosby, Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Jack & Vida Sharp and Phil Horton, while we were represented at the John Radcliffe by Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Pat & Maureen Plumridge with friend Gill, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

17 May 2012

For the third time this month we again went to Carterton for another repatriation ceremony.  After three and a half years, and 127 repatriation ceremonies attended by members of the RAFPA at Wootton Bassett, the John Radcliffe Hospital and Carterton, this is the one that we have dreaded from the very start of our involvement in 2008.  This was a particularly sad and ‘close to home’ occasion, as one of the two military personnel being repatriated was a member of the RAF Police.  The repatriation ceremony today was held to pay respects to Corporal Brent John McCarthy, Royal Air Force Police, and Lance Corporal Lee Thomas Davies, 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards, who were both shot dead by rogue members of the Afghan National Police Force at their base in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province on the 12^th May.  Hundreds of people had gathered at the Memorial Garden for this sad homecoming, among which were, in excess of 250, Serving Royal Air Force Police Officers, Warrant Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers, a large number of ex- RAFP and a large number of RAFP Association members.  Also in attendance were several Serving Royal Military Police personnel and members of the RMP Association.  The AO RAF Police, Air Commodore Nick  Bray and the PM (RAF), Group Captain Mark Sexton were in attendance with the bereaved families at RAF Brize Norton, while the contingents at the Memorial Garden was under the command of Wing Commander Stuart  Logan.  As the funeral cortege approached the waiting families of the deceased, the 25 Association Standards began their rolling dip in salute while the uniformed personnel, veterans and civilians paid their respects.  A one minute’s silence was observed and then flowers were placed on the hearses by the waiting families and friends.  The funeral cortege then departed to the, now customary, sound of applause as a sign of gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made by these two young servicemen.  The RAFPA members at Carterton today were Nigel Bean, George Brookes, Ivan Carey, Tim Clarke, Nigel Cox, Nick Cook, John Crosby, Brian Davies, Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Ted Hellewell, Tony Lake, Bob Levens, Stuart Logan, Stewart McArdle, Ray Orgill, Mel Price, Huw Rees, Roy Rudham, Jack Sharp, Sam Sillet, Vic Smith, Tim Swift, Kevin Thomas, Mike Thornton, Paul Wagstaff, John Walton and Dave Wise.  We were well represented by our members at the John Radcliffe by Nigel Lacey, Reg Lamb, Roy Laver, Mike Lester, Pat Plumridge, Len Rowden, Bryan Simmonds, Bill Sykes (LHC Standard), Brian Tegg and Bill Veazey.  Out of the 89 repatriation ceremonies that I have attended, I can safely say, without a shadow of a doubt, that this must count as the most impressive in terms of numbers of uniformed personnel in attendance. This was predominantly RAF Police personal who were clearly very distinctive, be it in No.1 HSD or DP’s.  I believe that the RAF Police and the RAFPA paid a final tribute to one of our ‘Family’ in the finest traditions of the RAF Police.  As excellent a send-off as any of us could wish for, we pray that we do not have to do it again.  I hope I have identified all those that attended, but please accept my apologies if I did not get you all.

Brian Flinn

Please see the attached tribute produced by Mr John Tierney in preparation for the Repatriation of Cpl Brent McCarthy RAFP later this afternoon. I think it is an excellent piece and very well written. I won't blame him for mis-spelling the RAFP motto as I understand the Latin allows both a 'T' or a 'C'; I didn't do Latin at school so am no expert!

Mr John Tierney lives in the north of the country and although he is now 82 has attended the 'Final Turn' at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on many occasions. He does though produce a written tribute for each member of HM Forces who has fallen whilst on active service and has been doing so for most of the last 4 years that the good people of Oxford have been parading at the 'Final Turn'.

He served in the Royal Dragoon Guards . A copy is usually placed on the church door at the 'Final Turn'. It was sent to me by Mr John Walker, ex-Royal Dragoon Guards, who co-ordinates the arrangements at the 'Final Turn'. I e-mailled him the other day to request that any further e-mails he sent out styled Cpl McCarthy as either Royal Air Force Police or RAF Police, rather than just Royal Air Force as in the official MoD release. John has readily agreed to do so.

Bill Veasey

Here is one courtesy of the Oxford Mail and a picture taken by my wife Sonia of our representatives at the Final Turn at Oxford,

letter from the RAFPA Vice President - Gp Capt Mark Sexton

For the fourth time in a month members of the RAF Police Association gathered at Norton Way, Carterton and the entrance
to the John Radcliffe Hospital to support the Family, Friends and Service Colleagues of yet another member of our Armed
Forces killed in Afghanistan. On this occasion we met to pay our respects and honour Captain Stephen Healey, aged 29
from Cardiff. Capt Healey, of the Royal Welsh, was killed by an IED whilst on vehicle patrol in the Nahr - Saraj district of
Helmand Province.

Representing the RAFPA amongst a gathering of approximately two hundred people at Carterton were Veda and Jack Sharp,
Val and Vic Smith, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake and Phil Horton and at the John Radcliffe Reg Lamb, Mike Lester, Brian Crossin,
Bill Sykes, Pat and Maureen Plumbridge with Jill and Bob Strachan with the London Home Counties Standard.
At 1610 hours silence fell as the cortege entered Norton Way, twenty one standards were dipped in salute and the hearse
stopped alongside the the family at the Memorial Garden, During the one minutes silence numerous floral tributes, mainly
single long stemmed roses were place on the hearse. Then to a subdued ripple of applause the cortege left Norton Way to
continue its journey to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

As I write this I learn of the death in Afghanistan of two more British Servicmen bringing the death toll to 417

Tony Lake 3rd June 2012

On a cold, very wet and windy Thursday afternoon more reminiscent of November as opposed to June the Association was represented
by seven members at the John Radcliffe Hospital and three members at the Memorial Gardens in Norton Way, Carterton. Present at the
Hospital were Reg Lamb, Brian Crossin, Mike Lester, Brian Simmonds, Bill Sykes, Pat Plumbridge and Bob Strachan with the London
Home Counties Branch Standard. At Carterton we were represented by Jack and Veda Sharp, Kim Hassall, and Tony Lake and our
ex RN Colleague Phil Horton.

We gathered for the fifth consecutive week to support the Families, Friends and Service Colleagues of two young soldiers killed in Afghanistan; They were Corporal Michael Thacker, 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) who was fatally shot whilst on duty at observation post Tir in the Helmand District of Nahe-e Saraj. Cpl Thacker was aged 27 and lived in Coventry but originally came from Cwmbran in South Wales.

The second was Private Gregg Thomas Stone, aged just twenty, who came from Hull. He was shot and fatally wounded as he and colleagues rescued Afghan policeman Abdul Walid who had been captured by the Taliban insurgents in Helmand Province.

At 1610 hours the cortege slowly entered Norton Way and and stopped alongside the Memorial Gardens where several hundred relatives, friends, service personnel and ex-servicemen saluted or bowed their heads and the thirteen standards dipped in salute as the one minute's silence was stretched to nearly nine minutes while numerous floral tributes were placed on the hearses and relatives and friends vented their grief as they gathered round the hearses.

After about ten minutes the cortege slowly departed Norton Way to continue its sorrowful journey to the John Radcliffe leaving a very wet gathering to contemplate the deaths of the 416th and 417th British Military deaths in Afghanistan since the current conflict started.

Tony Lake 10th June 2012