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

21 June 2012

For the second time this month we were again at the Carterton Memorial Garden to pay our respects to two more soldiers brought home from Afghanistan.  This repatriation ceremony was held to honour Lance Corporal James Ashworth, 1^st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who was killed by a grenade blast while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 13^th June and Corporal Alex Guy, 1^st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment, who was killed by enemy action in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province on the 15^th June.  A couple of hundred people had gathered on Norton Way to pay their respects at this ceremony,  many of which were relatives, friends and colleagues of the two soldiers who were being repatriated today.  The now very familiar routine was followed, and as the funeral cortege approached the waiting family and friends, the 22 Association Standards on parade were lowered in salute and flowers were placed on the roof of each of the hearses carrying a coffin.  A minutes silence was observed, after which the funeral cortege departed to the applause from many of those gathered.  At Carterton today to represent the RAFPA were Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Jack & Vida Sharp, Vic Smith and Phil Horton, and representing the Association at the John Radcliffe were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Mike Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge with friend Gill, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

Final Turn in Headley Way, Oxford.

05 July 2012

After a short respite of two weeks, we once again returned to Carterton for another repatriation ceremony for three more fallen British soldiers.  These latest casualties have brought the number of British Service personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 422.  Today’s repatriation ceremony was held to honour Warrant Officer Leonard Thomas, Royal Corps of Signals, Guardsman Craig Roderick and Guardsman Apete Tuisovurua , both from 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards, who were all shot and fatally wounded by a rogue Afghan policeman as they left Checkpoint Kamparack Pul in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 1^st July.  The Royal British Legion and various Veterans Association Branches showed their support by parading 27 Standards in preparation to pay their own tribute salute as the funeral cortege approached the Memorial Garden.  Hundreds of people gathered on Norton Way for this ceremony, with approximately one hundred being from the Fijian community to say their farewells to a loved one.  This was done, in the now familiar way, with Fijian funeral hymn singing.  Sadly we have witnessed this on numerous occasions, both at Wootton Bassett and Carterton, however, it is never any less emotional irrespective of how many times it is heard.  There were many uniformed personnel representing, not only the Welsh Guards and Corps of Signals but other Units as well.  A large number of family, friends and colleagues were among those waiting to say their farewells.  A bell tower and recently dedicated bell has been erected on Norton Way opposite the Memorial Garden and this was used today for the first time.  This emulates the tolling bell of St Bartholomew’s Church, Wootton Bassett when repatriations were held there.  The bell tolled as the funeral cortege approached the waiting crowds and then fell silent while floral tributes were placed on each of the three hearses.  There was a great outpouring of grief, which only served to make the occasion even more emotional than it already was.  After a short period of silence, the funeral cortege departed to the tolling of the bell and the sound of applause.  The RAF Police Association was represented today at Carterton by Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Jack & Vida Sharp, Vic & Val Smith and Phil Horton, and our representatives at the John Radcliffe Hospital were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Mike Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge with friend Gill, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

13 Sep 2012

A year on from the first repatriation ceremony at Carterton, we once again gathered there today for the 22^nd repatriation to take place at the Memorial Garden.  Today’s ceremony was held to honour Sergeant Lee Davidson, The Light Dragoons, who was killed when his armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 9^th September.  Between two and three hundred people were in attendance at this repatriation ceremony, which included a large number of uniformed personnel from The Light Dragoons.  There were 13 Royal British Legion and ex-service Association Standards paraded and these were lowered in salute as the funeral cortege approached the Memorial Garden.  The family and friends of Sergeant Davidson placed their flowers on the hearse during the minute’s silence, after which the funeral cortege departed to a polite dignified applause from many of those gathered.  RAF Police Association members in attendance at Carterton today were Will Barrow, Brian Flinn, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Vic Smith with his wife Val and Phil Horton.  Our members at the John Radcliffe Hospital were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Pat Plumridge and wife Maureen with their friend Gill, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

20 Sep 2012

For the second time this month we returned to Carterton for another repatriation ceremony.  Today we paid our respects to Lance Corporal Duane Groom, 1^st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who was killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 14^th September.  Also repatriated today were Sergeant Gareth Thursby and Private Thomas Wroe, both from 3^rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, who were both shot dead at a checkpoint in the Nahr-e Saraj district by a rogue Afghan policeman on the 15^th September.  As the funeral cortege approached the Memorial Garden, the 23 Association Standards paraded were lowered in salute, the Fijian family and friends of Lance Corporal Groom sang traditional hymns and the hundreds of civilian and uniformed personnel present paid their respects to the latest three soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. Floral tributes were placed on the hearses while they were stopped during the minute’s silence, which proved to be a very emotional time for many of those gathered.  The now usual round of applause commenced as the funeral cortege proceeded onwards to the John Radcliffe Hospital.  The RAF Police Association members in attendance today at Carterton were Flight Sergeant Will Barrow, Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Vic Smith and Phil Horton.  Our members representing us at the John Radcliffe Hospital were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Mike Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge with their friend Gill, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

At Carterton yesterday at 15.30hrs those present at the memorial garden held a minutes silence for the two officers killed. The Wiltshire branch Standard was paraded by Brian Flinn and dipped in salute with 22 other standards. K.H.

27 Sep 2012

We were again at Carterton today for the third time this month for yet another repatriation ceremony.  Being repatriated today were Captain James Townley, Corps of Royal Engineers, and Sergeant Jonathan Eric Krups, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.  Captain Townley died at the Forward Operating Base Shawqat in the Nad Ali district of Helmand province on the 21^st September and Sergeant Kups died at Camp Bastion, also on the 21^st September.  Neither of the deaths are thought to have been the results of hostile action.  Investigations continue into these deaths.  Irrespective of the cause of these deaths, they are still the result of British service personnel being plunged into a war by our Government with little or no chance of anything changing in Afghanistan at the end of it all.  The 27 Association Standards on parade at Carterton were lowered as the funeral cortege approached the Memorial Garden where floral tributes were placed on the hearses by the family and friends of those being repatriated.  Approximately 70 uniform personnel were present to represent both the units from which the two soldiers had come.  At the conclusion of the Minute’s silence, the funeral cortege departed to respectful applause from many of those gathered.  The death of Captain Carl Manley, Royal Marines, believed to be as a result of natural causes, at Bagram Air Force Base on the 24^th September brings the total number of British personnel who have died in Afghanistan since 2001 to 433.  RAF Police Association members attending today’s repatriation ceremony were Brian Crossin, Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Phil Horton, Mike Lester, Bryan Simmonds,  Bob Strachan (LHC Standard)  and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

30 October 2012

We were again at the Memorial Garden at Carterton today to pay our respects to two more fallen soldiers being repatriated from Afghanistan.  This sad home coming was for Corporal David O’Connor, 40 Commando, Royal Marines and Corporal Channing Day, 3 Medical Regiment.  Both personnel were fatally wounded during a firefight while on patrol near the village of Char Kurlsa in Helmand province on the 24^th October.  These latest deaths have brought the number of British military personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 435, with Corporal Day being the third British female to have died while serving in this conflict.  Hundreds of people gathered in the area of the Memorial Garden to pay their personal respects to these two brave soldiers.  A large uniformed contingent was evident, with a noticeably large presence of serving female personnel from a variety of different branches of the military.  As the funeral cortege approached the waiting family and friends, the Memorial Bell tolled and the 21 Association Standards were lowered in salute.  Floral tributes were placed on the hearses while halted for the silent reflection, after which the cortege moved off to the respectful applause from many of those gathered.  Representing the RAFPA at Carterton today were Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Phil Horton, Sam Samuel, Jack & Vida Sharp and Vic Smith.  Our representatives at the John Radcliffe were Brian Crossin, Mike Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge, Bryan Simmonds and Bob Strachan (LHC Standard).  Sadly we will be returning next week as two more soldiers from The Royal Gurkha Rifles were killed on the day of this repatriation.

Brian Flinn

08 Nov 2012

Another repatriation ceremony was held today to pay respects to another two casualties of the conflict in Afghanistan.  Being repatriated on this occasion were Lieutenant Edward Drummond-Baxter and Lance Corporal Siddhanta Kunwar, both from 1^st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, who were killed at a checkpoint while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform on the 30^th October.  Hundreds of people had gathered on Norton Way for this repatriation, many of whom were Gurkha soldiers wearing their smart green blazered civilian attire, with a large gathering of family and friends from various Gurkha communities.  The funeral cortege approached to the tolling of the Memorial Bell, whereupon the 17 Association Standards were lowered in salute.  Many flowers and personal tributes were placed on the stationary hearses while stopped for a minute’s silence.  There was a strong outpouring of family grief during this period which made the occasion even more emotional than it already was.  The funeral cortege then departed to the sound of respectful applause.  At Carterton, to represent the RAFPA today, were Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Phil Horton, Sam Samuel and Jack & Vida Sharp and our representatives at the John Radcliffe were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Mike Lester, Pat  Plumridge, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

17 January 2013

After a two month respite from repatriation ceremonies, the longest period without one since a six week period in April/May 2011, we sadly found ourselves returning to the Memorial Garden at Carterton to pay tribute to the first fatal victim of 2013.  On a bitterly cold afternoon, approximately 200 people gathered to show their respects and support to the family of Sapper  Richard Reginald Walker, 28 Engineer Regiment, who was shot and killed by a rogue member of the Afghan army at Patrol Base Hazrat in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 7^th January.  The tolling of the Memorial Bell warned of the approaching funeral cortege and the 14 Association Standards paraded were lowered in salute.  Family and friends placed their flowers on the hearse before the cortege moved off to polite applause from many of those gathered.  Representing the RAFPA at Carterton were Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Phil Horton, Jack & Vida Sharp and Vic Smith.  Representing us at the John Radcliffe were Brian Crossin, Pat & Maureen Plumridge, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

 04 April 2013

For the first time since January, we once again gathered at the Memorial Garden at Carterton for the repatriation of another soldier killed in Afghanistan.  Being repatriated today was Lance Corporal Jamie Webb, 1^st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who died from injuries received in an attack by insurgents in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province on the 26^th March.  In the region of a hundred people had gathered, in freezing weather conditions, to pay their respects to Lance Corporal Webb and his family members who were in attendance.  The 19 Association Standards on parade were lowered as the funeral cortege approached the waiting family.  Floral tributes were placed on the hearse before departing on the final part of the journey to the John Radcliffe Hospital.  The RAFPA was represented at Carterton by Brian Flinn, Kim Hassall, Phil Horton, Jack & Vida Sharp and Vic Smith and at the John Radcliffe by Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Pat Plumridge, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard), Bill Sykes and Bill Veazey.

Brian Flinn

 09 May 2013

On a cold, wet and windy afternoon, approximately 200 people gathered at the Memorial Garden, Carterton for another sad repatriation ceremony.  We were there to pay our respects to three more soldiers recently killed in Afghanistan, they were Corporal William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint, both from 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.  Our thoughts were also with Private Robert Hetherington, 7^th Battalion, 51^st Highland Fusiliers, The Royal Regiment of Scotland who was also killed alongside his two comrades.  His coffin was not in the funeral cortege to pass through the Memorial Garden at the request of his family.  All three soldiers were killed when their armoured vehicle was blown up by a roadside improvised explosive device in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the 30^th April.  A strong contingent of uniformed personnel saluted  as the 18 Association Standards were lowered at the arrival of the funeral cortege, floral tributes were placed on the hearses during the one minute stop adjacent to the family and friends of the repatriated soldiers.  The cortege then moved off to a quiet, polite ripple of applause from some of those who had gathered to pay their respects.  Representing the RAFPA at Carterton today were John & Ruth Crosby, Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Phil Horton, Ken Ivie, Tony Lake and Jack & Vida Sharp.  Representing the RAFPA at the John Radcliffe were Brian Crossin, Reg lamb, Mike Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge with friend Gill and Bob Strachan (LHC Standard).

Brian Flinn

Members of the London Home Counties Branch joined veterans and members of the public at the Final Turn in Headley Way Oxford to pay their respects at the Repatriation of Corporal William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint, both from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Our thoughts were also with Private Robert Hetherington, 7th Battalion, 51st Highland Fusiliers, The Royal Regiment of Scotland who was also killed alongside his two comrades. His coffin was not in the funeral cortege to pass through the Memorial Garden at the request of his family.


Mike Lester

22 October 2013

For the first time since May, we again sadly found ourselves attending another repatriation ceremony at the Memorial Garden at Carterton.  Approximately 250 people had gathered on this occasion to pay tribute to Lance Corporal James Brynin, 14^th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), who was shot and subsequently died from his injuries while on patrol in the Kakaran area of Helmand province on the 15^th October.  The tolling of the bell signalled the arrival of the funeral cortege and the 19 Association Standards were lowered and both serving personnel and veterans saluted as the hearse carrying the coffin paused in front of the waiting family and friends of James Brynin.  Flowers were placed on the hearse and the funeral cortege then departed for Oxford.  This latest death brings the total number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 445.  The RAFPA representatives at Carterton today were David Budd, Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Phil Horton, Tony Lake, Jack & Vida Sharp and Vic Smith, whilst representing us at the John Radcliffe Hospital today were Brian Crossin, Roy Laver, Mike Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge with friend Gill, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn

14 November 2013

The repatriation ceremony today was held to honour the return of Warrant Officer Class 2 Ian Michael Fisher, 3^rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, who was killed as a result of an explosion during a vehicle-borne suicide attack while on patrol in the Kamparack area of Helmand province on the 5^th November.  26 ex Service Association Standards were paraded and then lowered in salute as the funeral cortege approached the Memorial Garden were relatives and friends waited to pay their respects.  Family and friends floral tributes were placed on the hearse during the ‘Minutes’ silence. WO2 Fisher is the 446^th member of the British Armed Forces to be killed in Afghanistan since 2001.  Representing the RAFPA at Carterton and the John Radcliffe Hospital today were John & Ruth Crosby, Brian Crossin, Brian Flinn (Wilts Standard), Kim Hassall, Phil Horton, Tony Lake, Roy Laver, Mike Lester, Pat & Maureen Plumridge with friend Gill, Bryan Simmonds, Bob Strachan (LHC Standard) and Bill Sykes.

Brian Flinn