Military Affiliations

AFFILIATIONS: ‘NOTHING SPECIAL HAPPENED’

Nothing special happened. That is what the front of a new memorial in Yorkshire Sculpture Park says.

Designed by artist Katrina Palmer and commissioned by 14-18 NOW and the Art Fund, this spectacular memorial commemorates the contribution of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) to the First World War. The artwork consists of a hand-painted horse jump and trench, and will occasionally be brought to life through performance, as a horse and rider gallop across the landscape to take the challenging jump – this is an allusion to the original vision for the FANY to be deployed on horseback. This all-female volunteer ‘military’ organisation wasn’t founded until 1907, an even then the British Army did not want to be associated with them. However, they persevered and provided vital medical support to

Belgian and French armies, and later helped to run medical convoys and ambulances for the British. The words on the memorial – quoting the diaries of FANY member Murial Thompson – challenge visitors to consider the everyday heroism shown by women on the front, but also the extraordinary determination shown by women fighting prejudice everywhere.

Immediate Past Master Carolyn Boulter, the Clerk and other members of The Company attended the unveiling in mid-June, which was presided over by none other than FANY Commander in Chief HRH The Princess Royal.

Top: Sculptor Katrina Palmer with members of The Company. Right: A horsewoman makes the challenging jump. © 2018, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and 14-18 NOW. Courtesy of the artist. Photos by Jonny Walton/Kaptur.

AFFILIATIONS: THE RAF CENTENARY

Celebrating its 52nd birthday in the Royal Air Force this year, the C-130 Hercules is the longest-serving operational aircraft currently in use. The Hercules has been continuously deployed at the forefront of global operations. At the end of the Falklands conflict, more than 36 years ago, it was the first British tactical transport aircraft to land at Port Stanley, and the Hercules fleet maintained a permanent presence at Mount Pleasant until April this year, when it handed over to the A400M Atlas.

As a tactical transport aircraft, the C-130 Hercules has often been the first aircraft to land at forward locations, close to intense military activity. It was the first to land in Kuwait after the Iraqi retreat, the first into Bagram during the liberation of Afghanistan and also the first into Tripoli during the withdrawal of UK civilians from Libya. Currently, No. 47 Squadron have two C-130 aircraft continuously deployed to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, where they act in support of Operation SHADER in Iraq. The C-130 – and all squadrons who operate her – are now based at RAF Brize Norton, having moved from RAF Lyneham in 2011.

The crew who participated in the RAF 100 Flypast was made up of personnel from No. 47 Squadron, the operational frontline squadron, No. XXIV Squadron, the operational conversion unit, and No. 622 Squadron RAuxAF (who provide aircrew and flying support personnel to the C-130).

The Captain, Officer Commanding No. 47 Squadron, noted, ‘It is an honour to take part in this historic event today, particularly in an aircraft that has been in service for more than half of the RAF’s 100-year history and one that will remain at the forefront of tactical air mobility for many years to come.’

The flypast, which included 100 aircraft, took place on 10 th July – 100 days after the official RAF centenary. Beginning in Ipswich and travelling via Chelmsford, the procession was in the skies above Buckingham Palace in London around 1.00pm. It was part of a larger celebration that included a parade of more than 1,000 service men and women along The Mall, after which Her Majesty The Queen presented a new Queen’s Colour to the RAF.

View of the C-130 flying overLondon. Courtesy of Flt Lt Tom Arnold.