Glider Pilot Regiment Association Annual Reunion - October 2013

On Friday 11th of October I represented Chalk and commenced the long drive down to Bournemouth for the Annual Reunion of the Glider Pilot Regiment Association in my capacity as a 'Friend of the Eagle'. I'd agreed to take down a selection of weapons, uniforms and kit to display on for Saturday evenings dinner.

Poor weather and traffic turned a long journey in to a nightmare but by 18.30hrs I was on site to meet up with Steve Wright and by 18.45hrs I was sipping a pint and in deep conversation with the daughter of a former Glider Pilot who had attended in order to find out more information about her father. I was then introduced (by Steve, a true godsend) to several veterans before taking dinner in the main dining room of the hotel followed by a good chin wag before sloping off to bed only to find that my excitement (and below par matress) prevented much sleep!

After breakfast on the Saturday morning, Steve showed my around some of Bournemouths sights, the most outstanding of which was the Russell Cotes museum, simply a superb way to spend the morning.

Then a quick lunch back at the hotel, accompanied by more chatting and 'interviews' of the veterans, all the time pinching myself; as I chat to Hugh Martin about his involvement in Operation Dingson over his shoulder is Arthur Shackleton cracking jokes and in the corner is Peter Clarke and so on and so on... marvellous stuff.

At 18.30 I started to set up the display in the main dining room, the tables already set with GPRA menus and a large pair of Glider Pilot wings are positioned above the top table. The hotel staff are helpful and intrigued by my collection in equal measure, a few of them posing for photographs with the Sten and Colt .45!

At 7.30 dinner begins and I find myself sat with Peter Clarke, Des Page, Steve Wright and Associate guests. Good food and better conversation followed, I even won a box of Swiss chocolates in the raffle. After eating I dashed over to man the display which went down very well amongst all the guests so my journey was not wasted.

However, the absolute highlight of the weekend has to be that my membership position of 'Friend of the Eagle' has been promoted to Associate Member (a position normally reserved for family members of former Glider Pilots), I'm absolutely over the moon with this and drove home with a real smile on my face! I can only hope that Chalk's association with the GPRA can grow and that we can always do them and the Regiment justice.

Thank you.

The top table (photo courtesy of Steve Wright).

The Glider Pilot Wings (photo courtesy of Steve Wright).

A relaxed Jim Hooper, ex B Squadron, 20 Flight (photo courtesy of Steve Wright).

A Tug and Glider Pilot still attached 69 years later! Flight Lieutenant Doug Coxell ex 296 Squadron RAF with Laurie Weeden of 14 Flight F Squadron. Both were at Arnhem with Doug flying his Albemarle from Manston on the 17 September (photo courtesy of Steve Wright).

The Chalk display (and raffle prizes).

Double Hills Arnhem Memorial Service, Paulton, Somerset

On Sunday 1st September I represented not only Chalk but had the honour of also representing the Glider Pilot Regiment itself when I attended the Double Hills Memorial Service at Paulton in Somerset. I had been invited down by the organiser of the event Peter Yeates who had seen our website and thought we'd be an ideal addition to the service which has run annually since 1979.

The memorial was established by a local committee headed by Peter to honour the men of Horsa glider Chalk 389 which carried men of 9th (Airborne) Field Company Royal Engineers which crashed on its way to Arnhem as part of Operation Market garden. All 21 men of the RE and the two glider pilots were killed in the crash at Doublehills Farm on the outskirts of Paulton in Somerset.

Link: Paradata Double Hills Article

I travelled down to Paulton on Saturday night and stayed in a very nice local B&B before meeting up in the village and marching to the memorial along with six Victorian policemen who are guard for the Lord Mayors Mace, a detachment of 9 Sqn Royal Engineers, a detachment of the Army Air Corps, the British Legion and a piper!

I had pride of place standing to one side of the Glider Pilot figure on the memorial and was asked by Glider Pilot veteran SSgt Arthur Shackleton to lay a wreath on behalf of Sgt Arthur Underwood who sadly passed away shortly before the service.

The day and the duties I was asked to carry out were a great honour for myself and Chalk and we'd like to thank Peter and the committee for inviting us to take part.

Having a chat with Arthur Shackleton (middle) and another Airborne veteran before the service.

Unveiling the Airborne Pegasus, a new addition to the Memorial.

Arthur Shackleton lays a wreath on behalf of the Glider Pilot Regiment Association with Chalk in the background.

Chalk and Double Hill committee members being inspected by Arthur Shackleton and Colonel Peter Eadie the Commandant Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop.

Chalk at RAF Shawbury Assault Glider Trust

On Friday 26th July, we displayed at RAF Shawbury's Families Open Day as guests of the Assault Glider Trust. We were given an excellent spot right under the tailplane of their Horsa glider!

Our day was extremely busy answering the questions of young, old, veterans, serving soldiers and airmen and their families. We put faces to names, met old friends and made new ones. After leaving Leeds at 3.30 am we had a long journey but it was more than worth it, how often do you get the chance to have an actual Horsa glider as your display backdrop?

I'll post more photos if I get them in but for now please enjoy the ones below, or if you were there and you have any you'd like to share then please get in touch.

Cheers

Chalk at the BBC! 'Last Heroes of D Day'

Last September (2012) Chalk were invited to take part in a new documentary for the BBC; 'The Last Heroes of D-day' which was aired on BBC1 on Sunday 9th and Monday 10th June this year.

We first travelled down to Margate in Kent for the night time scenes of the attack on Pegasus Bridge and the Piat attack on the Panzer IV (which finally took place just before daybreak).

A week or so later we made the journey to RAF Shawbury to film the glider sequences. This was a fantastic opportunity for Chalk as we got to sit in the pilot seats of the superb replica Horsa which is being built by the Assault Glider Trust. We also took part in scenes of paratroopers in the back of a Dakota as well as being filmed watching training films.

In all, the experience of filming was extremely interesting, tiring but interesting non the less. And the final product was brilliantly put together I'm sure you'll agree.

The downloadable e-book is also very good with more veteran interviews.

Link: Last Heroes of DDay

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

More Duxford IWM!

Photo courtesy of Tolleys 2013

Photo courtesy of Tolleys 2013

Photo courtesy of Tolleys 2013

Chalk at Duxford IWM - June 15/16 2013

All members of Chalk were able to attend the MVT weekend at Imperial War Museum Duxford over the weekend of 15/16th June.

The weather was hot, cloudy, rainy, cold, hot and windy! With everyone getting burnt pink on the Sunday. There were far more British Airborne groups than last year which looked absolutely superb, we were also joined by two very good Amercian Airborne groups and one Polish!

Highlights for me were meeting Johnnie Peters of 1st Border and veteran of Arnhem and also Neil Barber author of 'The Day The Devils Dropped In'.

See the photo's below and when I get more I'll be sure to update. Cheers.

Photo courtesy of Airborne Assault Museum, IWM Duxford 2013

Photo courtesy of Airborne Assault Museum, IWM Duxford 2013

Photo courtesy of Airborne Assault Museum, IWM Duxford 2013

Photo courtesy of Airborne Assault Museum, IWM Duxford 2013

REMEMBER! Chalk will be displaying at Duxford IWM!

Remember folks, we'll be displaying at Duxford IWM this weekend (15-16th June) as part of their Airborne Forces Weekend.

We'll be joined by other living history groups displaying British and American airborne uniforms and equipment.

Why not come down and take a look for yourselves? There's also the museum itself to look round of course so come early! If you do decide to visit then drop by the Chalk display (look for the blue banner) and say hello.

Cheers