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The Glider Pilot Regiment 1942-1945
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News
This page will carry news of Association-linked events.
Oct 2010
65th Anniversary Reunion
The Ramada
Hotel, Solihull, was the venue for the 65th Anniversary Reunion.
Members, relatives and friends enjoyed an excellent dinner, speeches and Raffle
on the Saturday evening. Amongst the guests was the new AAC Corps Sergeant Major,
WO1 David ‘Bob’ Hope, who was warmly welcomed to his first reunion.
June 2010
66th Anniversary of Normandy Invasion
On 4th June, members and relatives travelled to
Normandy for a weekend of commemoration. They joined in services at St Vaast en Auge and Ranville Cemetery and held their own time of remembrance at
the stones that mark the landing site of the three Horsa
Bridge gliders. Hospitality was provided by Honorary Members Mme Arlette Gondree-Pritchett, at
Cafe Gondree and the adjoining museum, and M and Mme Guy Simonet
March 2010
65th Anniversary of Operation Varsity
On Wednesday, March 24, members, relatives, Army Air Corps
members, local residents and visitors came together for the annual service
of remembrance at the obelisk memorial on the Marks Hall estate, near Coggeshall Essex, the site of RAF Earls Colne.
October 2009
Annual Reunion
Over the weekend of 23-25 October, members and guests gathered at the Cumberland Hotel, in Bournemouth, for our annual reunion. The dinner on the Saturday evening included speeches from our Patron, General Sir John Learmont KCB OBE, President, Brigadier Maurice Sutcliffe OBE, and Brigadier David Shortt, Director Army Aviation. There was also a Birthday cake, and rendition of 'Happy Birthday to you' for 91-years young Arthur Shackleton, who with his wife Margaret had organised the reunion. Whereas most Association members live in the UK, two travelled from their homes in South Korea and Canada to meet up with friends.
September 2009
Airborne Forces in the
Midlands Service of Commemoration
On Sunday, September 20, St Andrew's
Church, Shifnal, Shropshire, was the venue for this
annual service. Church members, veterans, Association members, members of the
Royal British Legion, Shropshire Army Cadets and Air Training Corps Cadets came
together for a time of reflection, reminiscence and remembrance. The
service was led by the Midlands Branch Chairman, Rev Preb
Chris Thorpe, and the Branch Secretary, Mr Steve Wright, who is a Methodist Lay
Preacher. In place of the sermon, several members of the congregation were
interviewed about their wartime work on the Horsa
glider. Their chosen hymns were then sung. It is planned to hold the service on
the same Sunday next year.
65th Anniversary of Operation Market
On Saturday, September 19, Association members, Army Air
Corps members and Elshout residents came together at
the war memorial in the Kerkstraat to remember the 47
glider pilots who were hidden from the Germans. Enjoy the short video of
the event
Double Hills Memorial Service
Sunday September 6 marked the 30th Anniversary of this
service which commemorates and remembers the first victims of Operation Market.
At 10.25am,
on September 17th 1945, Short Stirling, No. LK 148,
of 299 Squadron, took off from RAF Keevil towing Horsa RJ113, which carried twenty-one Royal Engineers. At
approximately 11.05 am, over the village of Farrington
Gurney, an explosion blew the tail off the glider, which crashed into the
fields called Double Hills, killing all
on board. No single reason has been found for the explosion.
Thirty years ago, a memorial overlooking the crash site was unveiled at a
Service of Remembrance. A service has taken place every year since then. Last
year, two statues of a GP and RE were added. There was a huge turnout by
locals, veterans, cadets and regular RE and AAC. Around thirty wreaths were
laid.