11 minute read
RAF Regt 80th Anniversary
Station News ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT
80TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Sgt ‘Cass’ Cassidy, IFPT
In June, Royal Air Force Regiment personnel from across RAF Halton, namely Initial Force Protection
Training (IFPT), Recruit
Training Squadron (RTS), Force
Development Training Flight (FDTF) and Central Training
School (CTS), commemorated the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the Regiment through a series of highprofile events. To mark the auspicious occasion, gunners deployed to Crete to conduct
Force Development (FD), completed an arduous 3-day charity event and enjoyed a formal top-table dinner in the Warrant Officers and
Sergeants’ Mess (WOSM).
Ex MERCURY ROCK (5-10 Jun 22)
To better understand the heritage of the RAF Regiment and the conditions which let to its formation in 1942, 17 gunners from RAF Halton deployed to the Island of Crete as part of Exercise MERCURY ROCK. This provided those in attendance with a unique opportunity to retrace the steps of RAF and Allied personnel from World War 2, whilst also studying the Battle of Crete in detail. The group were also fortunate enough to be hosted and supported by, Ex RAF Regt veteran, Sean Johnstone whose invaluable contribution and working knowledge of the Battle helped to develop the group’s wider understanding of the campaign.
Following a hassle-free departure and arrival of both the advance party and the main body into Chania, Crete, all exercise personnel had checked in to their respective hotel rooms. The usual welcome brief occurred, prior to the all-important ground orientation and recce of the local area took place, setting the conditions for what was to be a highly successful FD event.
The first day of Exercise MERCURY ROCK saw the group head west out of Chania towards Kolmvari, where they visited the Hellenic Cadet Memorial, overlooking Maleme airfield. This spot was an ideal location to set the scene, explaining the sequence of events following the Battle of Greece, before delving into the German airborne invasion of the Island. Following the Cadet Memorial, the group moved to Tavronitis Bridge, just beyond the boundary of Maleme airfield, which was the landing site for hundreds of German gliders and thousands of Fallschirmjäger paratroopers. The group then advanced up hill 107, a significantly strategic piece of high ground for both the allied and axis forces, before taking a moment to reflect of the human cost of war in the German Cemetery overlooking the airfield. Further reflection took place at the RAF Memorial, at the bottom of Hill 107, where the group took some time to remember the men of No. 30 and 33 Squadron who lost their lives in the defence of Maleme. Here the Exercise Project Officer, Sgt Karl Palmer, laid a wreath on behalf of the group, in memory of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice. The day culminated in a Meze dinner in a café in Xamoudochori (otherwise known as village X), where our host introduced us to some local cuisine as well as Raki, the Cretan spirit that is more readily available than water.
The second day of the Exercise followed the path of the Battle of Crete eastwards towards Prison Valley and Galatas. This is where the fighting raged on and notably where Major General Bernard Freyberg, Commander of Allied Forces in Crete, famously admitted that the island was lost. Day 2 also saw the group visit 42nd Street, a location of significant importance and where Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Forces formed a defensive line, providing a rear-guard for withdrawing allied troops. Day 2 finished in Souda Bay, where the group visited the Allied War Cemetery to pay their respects.
Allied Evacuation Memorial in Sfakia.
A presentation being delivered in the Allied War Cemetery.
RAF Memorial near Maleme Airfield.
On day three the group drove south through Askifou, following the route that the Allied forces took over the mountains as they withdrew to Sfakia on the coast. The group stopped at the mouth of impressive Imbros Gorge, some 20km from the coast, where Sgt Cassidy from IFPT delivered an immersive and detailed account of the hardships the Allies had to endure during their withdrawal. After which the group had the opportunity to follow the exact route that the retreating forces used, as they attempted to reach the coast to be evacuated to Cairo. The route down was harsh, stony and difficult underfoot, when considering the high temperatures, it was not lost on the group how difficult this must have been for the men that experienced it first-hand, especially when factoring in lack of food, casualties and enemy fire.
Due to the amount of distance covered on day three, the fourth day was slightly less intensive. The group returned to village X, where Sean provided a detailed brief on a German Glider DFS230 crash site. Since the site itself sat just outside the village, several locals could recall the crash itself, had held on to numerous military artifacts and could provide some extremely interesting and harrowing stories. The day concluded with a wash-up by the Project Officer, who pulled all the key points together from the last few days, succinctly highlighting how the events that occurred in Crete during May of 1941, led to the formation of the RAF Regiment on 1st February 1942.
RAF Regiment 80th Anniversary Top Table (23 Jun 22)
Flt Lt James O’Doherty, RTS
The final element of the RAF Regiment 80th Anniversary Celebrations took place on Thursday 23 Jun, whereby gunners from across station enjoyed a formal top-table in the WOSM. This presented those in attendance with the opportunity to enjoy a social function whilst celebrating the proud heritage and achievements of the RAF Regiment throughout the last 80 years. The Top-table was expertly managed by the CMC, WO Verney, with gunners from IFPT delivering three moving vignettes from the Corps’ proud history. Another special thank you goes out to Cpl McMullen, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of the evening. Overall, the event proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening and a befitting way to conclude the months activities.
Per Ardua.
Sgt “Jock” Charity, IFPT
The second phase of Halton’s contribution to the RAF Regiment’s Anniversary Celebrations was a 3-day arduous charity event that would raise money for both the RAF Regiment Centurion fund and the RAF Benevolent fund. The event took place in the IFPT Hangar and saw Regiment personnel from across the station seek to cover 1942 miles (the year the Corps was formed) using fitness bikes, cross trainers or treadmill. Concurrently, the additional challenge of bench pressing the equivalent weight of 100 Armoured cars, which equates to 470,000 kgs was also set as a target.
On Mon 20 Jun 22 the challenge begun; Gunners worked for four-hour intervals in teams of four from 8am until midnight each day. Each group had to cover 48.55 miles and lift 9400kg each hour to reach the intended target by Wednesday 22 Jun. On occasions the required distance and weight was not achieved, adding a little pressure and competition between the groups. Healthy competition began to heat up and the added challenge of who could cover the most distance in an hour came to the fore. Cpl Rob Taylor held on to this accolade, clocking up 20 miles on the bike in the first hour and a further 8 miles on the cross trainer during the second.
At the halfway point Sgt’s Charity and Glenister, the challenge organisers, dialled into a live interview with British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), which helped to further promote the event and of course drive-up sponsorship money for the two charities. The challenge concluded just after 10am on Wednesday 22 Jun, ahead of schedule, having achieved both the distance and the weight. In total those involved raised a staggering £2554.75 for both charities, with the highest individual amount (£501) being raised by Cpl Plowman. A special thank you to all the Regiment personnel from IFPT and RTS that helped to achieve this result.
942 Challenge Organisers on the Final Day.
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On Saturday 6 August, RAF Halton were proud to host the Halton Apprentices’ Association Centenary event (the event was delayed due to COVID-19). The Royal Air Force Apprentice scheme began in 1920, having been devised by Chief of the Air Staff Hugh Trenchard and approved by Winston Churchill. Boys from the age of 15 took a series of highly competitive exams and tests, and the select few were invited to join the most exclusive boarding school of its time. RAF apprentices were an elite band who went on to hold some of the highest ranks in the Royal Air Force and made huge contributions to their country and the wider world.
With over 700 in attendance on Saturday, veterans and their guests were able to attend a service at The Church of St George before gathering at the Henderson Parade Square where they could visit the Trenchard Museum and enjoy being back among the buildings they knew so well.
Visitors, including VIP’s Viscount Trenchard, Rob Butler MP and Air Marshal (Ret’d) Sir ‘Dusty’ Miller KBE were treated to a display by the world premier parachute team, the RAF Falcons, and also a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight who swooped over the parade square in a Lancaster.
The most significant part of the day was the parade where entries lined up in order and marched once more around the parade square where the Station Commander took the salute accompanied by Viscount Trenchard who addressed the parade and expressed how proud his grandfather Lord Trenchard would have been. He said: “I am honoured to be your guest today. RAF Halton is the spiritual home of the Apprentices, and I am delighted my grandfather’s legacy is still so strong”.
Rob Butler MP said: “I was delighted to attend the HAA centenary event on Saturday. Meeting some of the former apprentices who began their Air Force careers at Halton was an absolute privilege. It was wonderful to see what a special place it holds in their hearts, even many decades later. Hearing tales of past exploits and witnessing such incredible camaraderie served as a timely reminder of the debt we owe our veterans.” Wing Commander (Ret’d) Denton-Powell, HAA Chairman said: “RAF Halton is more than the alma mater for thousands of ex-apprentices, it is where we formed lasting friendships, developed character and above all began careers that so often spread into fields wider than aeronautical engineering. This was never more apparent than in talking to the Reunion attendees, some who had made long journeys to attend”.
In the last 100 years, the apprenticeships on offer from the RAF have changed dramatically but the awardwinning scheme still offers many opportunities and numerous roles. Discussing the changes, Sir Dusty Miller
KBE said: “The only constant in life is change – but what remains unchanged is the high value characteristics and personal attributes of those that join the Royal Air Force, and I am very proud to be here today and to continue to support the next generation RAF”.
Station Commander, Group Captain Startup said: “How fantastic it is to have past generations of the Royal Air Force here today to recognise and celebrate both themselves and the next generation RAF. I am grateful to Viscount Trenchard, Rob Butler MP, Sir Dusty Millar KBE, the apprentices themselves and also to the RAF Falcons for their impressive parachute display and to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for a wonderful Lancaster flypast. Per ardua ad astra”.
