Battlegroup North Show - Elvington Air Museum 2012

Chalk attended the annual Battlegroup North Show (formerly Wings and Wheels) again this year, and the weather was HOT! Braving the almost unbearable heat without shade, four of us manned the display showing items pertaining to the GPR and also our ever popular German weapons, mines and explosives section.

Although the public visitor numbers felt to be lower than last year (we put this down to our new trial location and the heat) we were still rushed off our feet at points throughout the day as two of us also took part in some training exercises on the two 25 Pdr field guns which were also at the show. All in all it was a good event and we had chance to blow the dust of some kit which hadn't been on display since the end of last season along with meeting up with old friends and making some new ones.

Here's just a few photo's of the display for those of you that couldn't make it. Matt

Our next event will be at Duxford IWM for their Airborne Forces weekend in June, check our events list for details.

Searching For Teddy Norris

Back in February we posted an article by Paul Fiddian regarding his grandfather Bernard Osborn of the Glider Pilot Regiment.

Last week during one of my regular lunchtime GPR Google searches, I came across a Youtube film concerning Bernard's co-pilot; Teddy Norris! The film (in two parts) was made by Teddy's son Andrew Norris. I was able to contact Andrew and he's very kindly allowed us to post a link to his films here on the Chalk blogsite, many thanks Andrew!

Please watch both films, as they are well worth it and contain not only interviews with colleagues of Teddy's but also photographs and a monologue written and narrated by Andrew himself.

Matt.

Link: Searching For Teddy Norris Pt1

Link: Searching For Teddy Norris Pt2

Link: Bernard Osborn's Story

Staff Sergeant George Allison GPR

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to win a book in an Ebay auction. The book was entitled 'The Complete Flying Course' by N. Roy Harden DFC. It belonged to one Ssgt George Allison of the Glider Pilot Regiment and contained his personal training notes along with airfield circuit sketches and an aerial map of the S.E. Coast.

The lady I bought the book from (Ssgt Allison's daughter-in-law) was kind enough to not only give me as much information as she could but also a photograph of Ssgt Allison on his wedding day! She writes:

"His name was George Walter Allison and he was with 'N' Squadron of the Glider Pilot Regiment during the last year of the war and promoted Sergeant Pilot First Class and awarded his Army Flying Badge. After the GPR was disbanded he transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as a 'Small Arms Instructor' and Troop Sergeant".

I contacted Brigadier Andrew Paviour at the Middle Wallop Museum of Army Flying but was informed by him that until now he was unaware of Ssgt Allison but that he had now entered his details into the museums data base. I'm overjoyed that we've been able to reunite Ssgt Allison with his former colleagues, if only on hard disk. Hopefully, in time, more information about him may come to light, lets watch this space. Matt