All posts by gregmac

Congratulations Shobha !

Our very own Shobha Earl has been recognised for her outstanding work on both 600 Sqn and as a reservist in general, having been awarded the Queens Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM).

The Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal was created by Royal Warrant of Queen Elizabeth II on 29 March 1999. Only 13 Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medals may be awarded in a year. The medal is presented only to members of the Volunteer Reserves of the British Armed Services for exemplary meritorious service in the conduct of their duties.

Shoba was presented with her medal by Prince William on Friday 15th June ’18.

Congratulations Shoba and thanks for all your hard work for the Auggies !

 

 

600 Sqn Smile when buying from Amazon

The City of London Squadron Central Fund has been registered with smile.amazon.co.uk.  This means that anybody who buys anything from Amazon, provided they do so via smile.amazon.co.uk rather than through any other method of contacting Amazon, can ask Amazon to donate 0.5% of the net purchase price (excluding VAT and shipping) to a charity of their choice, provided that the charity is registered with Amazon.  Our Association Central Fund is now registered with Amazon, so we can benefit.

The donation is made by Amazon and costs neither the purchaser nor the charity anything.

Between 15th June to 29th June Amazon will triple donations from 0.5% to 1.5%.

RAF 100 Centenary Parade – Tuesday 10th July 2018

A limited number of tickets are available for the Service in Westminster Abbey (including reception), or access to the reception only on Horse Guards Parade, from where you will view the flypast.
Applicants should provide the names, addresses, telephone number/email contact details, place and date of birth, Passport or Driving Licence number of individuals wishing to attend. Applications should be made in writing and are to be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Applications should reach Mrs Michèle Small, SO3 RAF Ceremonial Events, RAF Ceremonial Office, RAF Northolt, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6NG before the 3 April 2018. Please clearly mark the rear of the envelope ‘PARADE’.
To assist with the categorisation of tickets, applicants are requested to state which of the following is appropriate: either a member of the general public, or veterans of the Royal Air Force or its Royal Auxiliary Air Force/Reserve Force who should provide their Service number.
Please state if you are a wheelchair user.
Tickets, and a note on dress and timings for the occasion will be issued four weeks before the Service.
Those applicants wishing to attend the Service at Westminster Abbey should plan to be at the Abbey at 0845. Reception guests only should plan to be at Horse Guards Parade no later than 1045.

Jacqui Tennant – Funeral Arrangements **Updated

We have now received details of Jacqui Tennants funeral:

To be held on Tuesday, 28th November ‘17 at 11.00am.

At: Redstone Cemetery, Philanthropic Road, Redhill, Surrey. RH1 4DG.

A wake is being held afterwards at the Reigate Manor Hotel, Reigate Hill, Reigate, RH2 9PF

Dress is to be No.1’s with Medals for Serving Personnel or Smart, Suitable attire for civilians.

Replies are requested from anyone who wishes to attend. Send to [email protected]

If anyone has photos of Jacqui, it would be appreciated if they can be scanned, please then forward to Shobha Earl at [email protected] as soon as possible. Tel No 07866 919726

600 Squadron Annual Memorial Visit to Holland 3-6 May 2017

by Warrant Officer Shobha Earl.

I was very privileged to represent the City of London Squadron Association members and join 600 squadron personnel during the Sqn’s annual memorial visit to Rotterdam.

This visit commemorates the six aircraft of 600 Squadron who on 10 May 1940 were sent to support Dutch forces during the German invasion of Holland. German fighter aircraft to the south of Rotterdam intercepted the mission and five of the six aircraft were shot down resulting in the death of seven 600 squadron aircrew members including the commanding officer.

I met up with 600 squadron personnel at the Harwich ferry port on Tuesday 2 May 2017, we travelled on the overnight ferry and thankfully had a smooth crossing, so slept soundly. It was great to see the familiar faces of the project officer – Flt Lt Alisa Rebbeck, ICT – WO Don Meechan, Adjutant – FS Vicky Bannister, Trg Co-ord – Sgt Derek Jelley and Ops Flt – Sgt Angie Luddington.

The ‘old and bold’ who I know so well from my 10 years serving on 600 Sqn were accompanied by 4 more recent joiners to the squadron. I was delighted to meet with and get to know personnel from Int Flt – SAC Robin T’ung and SAC Steve Wignall, Logs Flt – LAC Eddie Armstrong and Admin Flt – LAC Millie Popova. Media support was provided by photographer SAC Rob Bourne of 7644 Sqn.  The sqn folks were great company, a wonderful mix of characters from different backgrounds and employment in civilian life, their contribution to the visit made this a memorable occasion for me.

3 May 2017 – Day 1

 We arrived early morning at the Hook of Holland ferry port on Wednesday 3 May 2017 and were fortunate to have a smooth traffic free drive to the Marine barracks in Rotterdam.  We unloaded our heavily laden minibuses of kit, No 1 uniforms, shoes, hats, ceremonial gloves & webbing, the boxed wreaths and much more… phew!  Vicky Bannister had brought a kettle and I supplied brew making kit, so, the girls were comfortable knowing we could start the day with a cuppa in the accommodation, which was to be our home for the next 3 days.

Once unpacked, we were quickly organised by Alisa Rebbeck and Don Meechan, they commenced rehearsals for each wreath laying ceremony and the vignette readers had the opportunity to practice the words to be recited over the next few days.

By 1200 on Day 1 we were dressed in ceremonial best blues and departed for our first ceremony at Waalhaven. We visited the site whereby on the morning of 10 May 1940 six Blenheim 1F fighter-cruisers from 600 Sqn had been directed from Manston.  Sadly, they did not reach Waalhaven, German Messerschmitt Bf-110s of 3/ZG1 intercepted the planes over Pernis.  Five of the six aircraft were shot down; the crew killed in the four Blenheims that day were:

Commanding Officer Sqn Ldr Wells and Cpl Kidd
Fg Off Moore and Cpl Isaacs
Plt Off Anderson and LAC Hawkins
Plt Off Echlin.

Surviving to fight another day were:

Sgt John Davis, the navigator on board the Commanding Officer’s aircraft.  He managed to evade capture and escaped on board HMS Hereward.
Flt Lt Hugh Rowe, the pilot on board Plt Off Echlin’s aircraft.  He was badly burned on impact and treated for severe burns before being taken PoW by the Germans.

The 5th Blenheim flown by Plt Off Haine and Plt Off Kramer crashed at Herkingen.

The sixth plane flown by Fg Off Hayes and Cpl Holmes escaped with heavy damage but made it home to Manston.

Our wonderful friend of 600 Sqn and the City of London Squadron Association – Kees Stoutjesdijk will be well known to many of you, he was once again our Dutch host this year and without him working behind the scenes these visits would be a logistical nightmare to organise. Kees was waiting at Waalhaven for our arrival and as per previous visits, he kindly translated and made introductions between us, the local mayor and other dignitaries of Waalhaven district.

Following the wreath laying by Steve Wignall at the Waalhaven plaque. We concluded this ceremony and all the other ceremonies over the next 2 days with an extract from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’

They shall grow not old, As we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, Nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Unfortunately, the UK wet weather had followed us to the Netherlands, so once the memorial ceremony was concluded we were invited to shelter from the rain over a coffee reception with our hosts from Charlois municipality. Don Meechan read a vignette explaining what happened on that fateful day of 10 May 1940 at Waalhaven.

Information Panel Waalhaven

At 1530, we departed for Herkingen Harbour the site where the 5th Blenheim had crashed but the crew members survived and escaped from Holland on HMS Hereward.
At the plaque, Eddie Armstrong laid the 2nd wreath and a vignette was read by Robin T’ung.

4 May 2017 – Day 2

Dutch National Remembrance Day.

This is always the busiest day during these annual visits, so we started early at 0800 and headed for our first wreath laying at Piershil Cemetery, Korendijk District, where PO Robert Echlin is buried. We were generously hosted by the Mayor at the town hall before and after the wreath laying with coffee, cake and some delicious local specialty biscuits. A vignette was read by Steve Wignall and Robin T’ung laid the wreath.

600 Sqn members at Piershil Cemetery

At Piershil we also met the family of Fg Off Moore, his nephew Peter, niece Penelope and great nephew Sam travelled to Holland to participate in all the memorial ceremonies but in particular at Crooswijk Cemetery where Fg Off Moore is now buried. Fg Off Moore and LAC Hawkins were not identified at the time of the crash in 1940 and were buried as ‘unknown British pilots’ near the airfield. The Germans later moved the graves to Crooswijk cemetery due to concern over the reverence being paid to them by the local population. 

Family of Fg Off Moore, Peter, Penelope & Sam

Another long-standing friend of 600 Sqn and local Dutch historian – Hans Onderwater painstakingly researched British archives for many years to establish the identity of the unknown airmen. Once identification was confirmed in 1981 Fg Off Moore and Cpl Isaacs were given new headstones and moved to the Allied War Casualties plot at Crooswijk.

Crooswijk Wreath Laying Party

600 Sqn were invited to participate in another local remembrance ceremony at the Crooswijk Cemetery. The Sqn contingent marched to the Allied War Casualties Memorial and Don Meechan laid a wreath. The cemetery is serene and beautifully maintained for which we are thankful.

On arrival at Crooswijk Cemetery we conducted wreath laying for Sqn Ldr Wells, Fg Off Moore, Cpl Kidd and Cpl Isaacs. Fg off Moore’s family laid flowers by his gravestone. Vicky Bannister read a vignette retelling the events of 10 May 1940.

Wreath laying Crooswijk

We moved onto our final destination for the Remembrance Day, a Church service at Dorpskerk Spijkenisse followed by a slow march through the town to participate in the Act of Remembrance at 2000 hours. A white floral tribute and the Association wreath were laid at The War Memorial, Vredehofstraat Spijkenisse.

March to PO Anderson & LAC Hawkins graves

Following the Mayor’s speech, we sang the Dutch and British National Anthems and hymn ‘Abide with me’ The last post and a 2-minute silence was concluded with the final wreath laying at the graves of Plt Off Anderson, LAC Hawkins and an unknown Dutch soldier. This was a wonderful poignant occasion and I felt privileged to participate in this ceremony and very honoured to lay the City of London Squadron Association wreath.

Wreath Laying at Spijkenisse Cemetery

 

5 May 2017 – Day 3 Dutch Liberation Day

Allied Forces at the 5 May 2017 Concert

Each year the Dutch hold a concert to celebrate their freedom and this year they wanted to say thanks to the Allied Forces who came to help them during WWII. 600 Sqn were selected to participate in the event and parade alongside representatives from all the other allied nations. It was a proud moment for Robin T’ung to be selected to carry the Union Jack on behalf of all British Military Forces.

King Willem-Alexander & Queen Maxima

This will be an unforgettable visit for all involved,
but the final day especially so for Alisa Rebbeck. As the senior officer, responsible for the 600 Sqn contingent in Holland this year, Alisa was selected to meet King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, an honour few Dutch will have experienced let alone a Brit! So, congratulations to Alisa she deserved to be selected to meet Dutch Royalty in recognition of all the effort she has contributed not only organising the 2017 trip but also many previous visits too.

This visit is a timely reminder as to why it is so important for the City of London Squadron Association to maintain close links with 600 (City of London) Sqn and for squadron personnel to get to know Association members as we have so many shared interests and goals for the future.

600 Squadron maRAFAthon team

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The Formation of No: 600 (City of London) Squadron, RAF Reserves (600 SQN) took place on the 14th October 1925 at RAF Northolt.

2015 is the 90th Anniversary of 600 SQN.

To celebrate this occasion, 600 SQN is organising a number of events to raise money for our chosen charities. The formation of the maRAFAthon team for 2015 is one of those events.

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Our original plan was to have a 600 SQN Marathon Team taking part in the 2015 London Marathon but unfortunatley not all team members were successful in the ballot process. All unsuccessful ballot applicants were offered a guaranteed place in the Edinburgh Marathon, and that is how the team became involved in the Edinburgh event as well as London. RAFA will be represented at both events.

600 SQN maRAFAthon team have 5 team members, 4 taking part in the London Marathon (Sunday 26 April) and 1 taking part in the Edinburgh marathon (Sunday 31 May 2015).

All team members are in Full-Time employment. In addition to their Full-Time work, RAF Reserve commitments, they will have to find the time to train and prepare themselves for the gruelling 26 miles of the Marathon and the weather conditions at the time of the event. This means the team is likely to be covering 60 miles per week training.

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Donations can be made in two ways: –

  1. Click on the Donate button on this page and provide your donation (don’t forget Gift Aid) or
  2. Use JustTextGiving by sending your text to 70070 and the following message RAFA60 £5 (don’t forget Gift Aid).

Please note: The JustGivingText donation can be any of the following amounts: £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 and £10.

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Meet the 600SQN maRAFAthon team: –

Layla Davidson (London) – (03:59:15)

Allan Dillon (London) – (04:46:25)

Fern Gwinnett (London) – (03:59:15)

Richard Needham (London) – (04:12:36)

and

Gary ‘Edge’ Edgerton (Edinburgh)

 

No.1 Maritime Headquarters Unit Old Comrades Association

I write as the Chairman of the above association.

When 600 (City of London) Squadron was reformed in 1999,  serving members of Nos 1 and 3 Maritime Headquarters Units were automatically part of that reformation but No 1

MHU Old Comrades Association was not included.

In 2006 personnel who had served on No 1 MHU were offered individual membership of 600 (City of London) Association and several people took up that offer.  We, however, continued as a separate association holding reunions periodically.

At the 600 (City of London) Association Annual General Meeting on 29th March 2015 our request to a merger was agreed unopposed with immediate effect. My committee and I would like to thank all those who were involved with this decision and hope that we may enjoy a long and happy relationship. No 1 MHU OCA was formed in 1976 and a link will be maintained as I shall become a member of the 600 Association Committee. Thank you to everyone who remembers ʻThe Houseʼ and the good times we had along the way.

J Jarvis ex Flt Sgt No 1 MHU

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NO 1 MARITIME HEADQUARTERS UNIT

Current members of 600 (City of London) Squadron may be interested to learn a little of the history of No 1 MHU.

In November 1959 the intention of forming three new units of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force was announced in Parliament. They were to provide backing for the Operations Rooms and Communication Centres that controlled RAF Coastal Command and the Royal Navy.

The new units would be No 1 Northwood, No 2 Edinburgh and No 3 Plymouth and many of the first volunteers were members of disbanded RAF Fighter Squadrons.

Volunteers, men or women, between the ages of 17 1/2 and 45 need have no previous service experience, as full training facilities existed in whatever trade they wished to enrol.

Training periods, apart from the 15 day annual exercise, were one evening a week and one weekend a month, all of which merited full pay and allowances.  Travelling allowances were also paid and there was an annual tax-free bounty between £10 – £15.

The Headquarters of No 1 MHU were in Valency House, Northwood – the old Chateau de Madrid Hotel once famed for country-club recreation. The site is now occupied by luxury housing but, driving by, I believe the House itself remains at the centre of the gated estate.

To answer a question raised at the recent AGM. The Worshipful Company of Butchers adopted 2600 (City of London) Squadron, then No 1 MHU and subsequently 600 (City of London ) Squadron. Thus the tradition is being maintained.

 

Mystery Stained Glass Window Panel

Mystery Stained Glass Panel – Wheatsheaf Pub, Hever Road , Bough Beech , Kent

600 (2)

On a recent trip to Kent, one of our members called into the Wheatsheaf, and spotted Mounted in the wall behind the bar, a 20” square panel of leaded glass. It is the 600 Squadron AAF Crest. It is illuminated from behind.

The owner of the pub said;

“We found the panel last year when we were renovating the pub, it was such an interesting piece that we decided to have it professionally repaired and to use it as an illuminated centre piece for the bar. I am afraid that I don’t have any more information about the window but would be very interested to know more about its history.

We will be delighted to offer a warm welcome to any members of your Association who would like to come and see it, the Wheatsheaf is a beautiful old pub which dates back to the 14th century and is reputed to be the former hunting lodge for Heaver Castle”.

Given it is an AAF (Auxiliary Air Force) window, referring to 600 as a Bomber Squadron (600 Squadron formed 14 October 1925 as a unit of the AAF and designated a Day Bomber Squadron, and remained so right through until we moved to a Fighter Squadron designation in July 1934), this puts the panel somewhere in between.

So, does anyone have any idea as to its origin?

Please let us know……….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard Richard Moore died 09/01/15 aged 92

Leonard Richard Moore died 09/01/15 aged 92

Len1

Born in Fishbourne, West Sussex in 1922 into a family of merchant seaman, it was whilst he was at Leeds University, where he was studying for the Priesthood, that Leonard was called up to join the RAF in 1942, aged 20.

He trained at Portage Le Prairie In Manitoba, Canada as an Air Navigator in Bomber Command. On his return to England along with a group containing a lot of newly trained pilots, they were asked to volunteer but not told what for. Leonard volunteered, passed more aptitude tests and was told to pair off with a pilot as they were going to be retrained as Night Fighters crews. He and his pilot, Gordon Hammond, passed the training and were sent to 600 City of London Squadron. He saw active service in North Africa and Italy.

One of their exploits can be read about in the January 2004 edition of the 600sq Association Newsletter under the storyline ‘The Last Kill’, where Leonard describes he and his pilot’s part in the downing of the last German aircraft by tsecond FW when they were on their own after their escort’s plane commanded by F/O Les Martin ran into engine trouble at take off on 13th April 1945.

At the end of the war he became acting Intelligence Officer of the Squadron.

After the war, Leonard returned to Leeds and the College of the Resurrection to complete his studies, where he met his wife Barbara to whom he was married for 62 1/2 years and who died last year. He was ordained and became curate of St Mary’s Hendon followed by a move to Stevenage until 1960, when he then went on to be vicar of All Saints in Queen’s Park, Bedford where he and his family settled. Since 1968 to his retirement in 1987 Leonard taught in Secondary Schools in Hendon and Kempston, Bedfordshire whilst also continuing with his ministry up until shortly before his death. He leaves behind two sons and a daughter.

Len2

My father is at the end on the left.

Len3

He is on the right with the cap at a very jaunty angle.

Len4

The formal shot he is front row kneeling on the end at the right. He had red hair!