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Roll of Honour Memorial Day
A new memorial to honour the 126 airmen who lost their lives while flying from or serving at RAF Hunsdon during the Second World War was unveiled and dedicated on 23rd June 2012.
About 300 people attended the
service, including relatives of some of the 126 airmen commemorated on the
memorial.
The service was taken
by Reverend Mark Dunstan and Reverend Jim Ledger, a wartime pilot himself. Ware
Brass Band played before and during the service.
Sawbridgeworth ATC band
headed the march on and the Standards of the RAF, the RAFA and the Royal
British Legion took station at the memorial.
Former Mosquito
navigator Fred Cawley said an opening prayer and after the first hymn Air
Commodore Gary Waterfall gave an address.
The memorial was
unveiled by Hugo Townsend, son of RAF Hunsdon's first CO Group Captain Peter
Townsend, Trevor Edwards, who’s help in raising funds was invaluable, and Vera
Hitching, co-author of ‘The Royal Air Force at Hunsdon 1941- 1945’.
A bugler played The Last Post and Fred Sewell of RAFA
Nazeing branch read the Ode of Remembrance –
They shall grow
not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not
weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down
of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember
them.
Following
the two minutes silence, wreaths were laid by the four Commonwealth Air Forces
representatives - Air Commodore Gary Waterfall (RAF), Colonel Paul Keddy
(RCAF), Wing Commander Nick Olney (RNZAF) and Group Captain Peter Wood (RAAF).
Further
wreaths were laid by Fred Sewell for the RAFA and Jim Cosgrove on behalf of the
Hertfordshire Airfields Memorial Group. A representative of the Royal British
Legion also laid a wreath and flowers were laid by Master Sergeant ‘BJ’ Jobling
on behalf of the USAF in remembrance of 1st Lt Bertram Chaiet who
died while attached to 21 Sqn RAF in January 1944. BJ’s grandfather was P/O
Bernard Jobling, who died while serving at RAF Hunsdon in August 1943 with 157
Sqn,
Relatives
and local schoolchildren placed 126 wooden crosses at the base of the memorial
as The Airman’s Hymn played.
After
the National Anthem, Giles Townsend gave a closing address.
Sadly
the planned flypast by the BBMF’s C-47 Dakota was cancelled due to high winds
at RAF Coningsby.
(The Airman's Hymn can be heard HERE )
Thank you to Caroline Karsten and helpers for supplying refreshments in the marquee and to Nikki Orsini and husband who supplied cakes, all free of charge.
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