
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
We will remember them
Repatriation
The leviathan of the sky does land
In England's green and pleasant land.
Its cargo more precious than gold
The body of a hero, bold.
Once the giant's engines stopped
The cargo ramp is gently dropped
Carried by six on shoulders true
The hero is saluted by the crew.
The coffin draped in Union Jack
Is slowly carried out the back.
Out of the dark and into light
Slowly down the ramp and to the right.
The six approach the hearse all black
And place the hero gently in the back.
The six then turn and march away
Their duty has been done this day.
Politicians usually have much to say
No sign of them near here this day.
They hide away and out of danger,
Much easier if the hero is a stranger.
The hearse with its precious load
Moves slowly out onto the road.
The floral tributes line the route
While comrades snap a smart salute.
At the edge of a Wiltshire town
The cortege slows its pace right down.
The streets are packed, many deep,
Some throw flowers, most just weep.
The crowd have come to say farewell,
The church bell rings a low death knell.
Regimental standards are lowered down
As the hero passed through the town.
The cortege stops and silence reigns
The townsfolk feel the family's pain.
The nations' flag lowered to half mast
Our brave hero is home at last.
FINAL JOURNEY
Through the streets of Wootton Bassett
The soldiers' journey ends
This Christmas they'll be sadly missed
By families and friends
Our thoughts are with their loved ones
In this their time of grief
We celebrate their bravery
Alas their lives were brief
They died for Queen and country
Like many gone before
In two world wars and conflicts
Fought out on foreign shore
We join their grieving parents
Their wives and children too
We close our eyes in silent prayer
Then weep as mourners do
God bless all those heroes
Who fought on foreign land
And rest assured those left behind
They sit at God's right hand
The debt we owe to all those men
We can never repay
So rest in peace, you heroes
We pray for you each day

'Tommy' by Rudyard Kipling
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11 January 2010
The repatriation ceremony today was held to pay respects to Private Robert Hayes, 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, who was killed in an explosion whilst on foot patrol in the Nad-e-Ali area of Helmand province on 3rd January. Despite the adverse weather conditions, hundreds of people gathered in Wootton Bassett to show their respects for Private Hayes and support for his family members who were present. The hearse stopped at the war memorial and flowers were placed on the vehicle and the 12 Standards on parade were lowered and salutes given. Once again this was a solemn and very dignified occasion. Representing the RAFPA were Brian Flinn, Ron Glover, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake and Jack & Vida Sharp. At the John Radcliffe Hospital were Brian Crossin, Bryan Simmonds and Bob Strachan.
Brian Flinn
19 January 2010
Thousands of people lined Wootton Bassett High Street for the repatriation ceremony today. Being repatriated were Captain Daniel Read, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment (EOD), Royal Logistics Corps who was killed by an explosion in Musa Qala district of Helmand province on 11th January, Corporal Lee Brown and Rifleman Luke Farmer, both from 3rd Battalion, The Rifles who were killed by an explosion whilst on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on 15th January. There was an overwhelming outpouring of grief and sadness by the relatives and friends present as the three hearses came to a stop at the war memorial where flowers were placed on the vehicles. The 26 Association Standards paraded were lowered in salute and those present paid their own silent tribute to three more British soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Representing the RAFPA at Wootton Bassett today were Ivan Carey, Brian Flinn, Ron Glover, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Brian Ransley, Jack & Vida Sharp and Vic Smith. Brian Crossin and Bob Strachan represented us at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Brian Flinn
29 January 2010
At today's repatriation ceremony at Wootton Bassett hundreds of people again paid their respects to two more young soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan. This ceremony was held to bring home the bodies of Rifleman Peter Aldridge, 4th Battalion, The Rifles, who was killed by an explosion whilst he was on a foot patrol in the Sangin area of Helmand province on 22nd January and Lance Corporal Daniel Cooper, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, who was also killed in an explosion whilst he was on foot patrol in the Sangin area of Helmand province on 24th January. The Standards of the 24 Associations paraded were lowered in salute as the hearses carrying the coffins approached the war memorial. As the vehicles halted for the minutes silence, a ripple of applause commenced amongst the many family members and friends who waited to place flowers on the hearses. After the flowers were laid, another round of applause commenced as the cortege moved off to continue the sad journey to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. This, as always, was another emotional occasion which has been repeated far too often. Representing the RAFPA at Wootton Bassett today were George Brookes, Ivan Carey, Brian Flinn, Ron Glover, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Jack & Vida Sharpe and Vic & Val Smith. Our representatives at the John Radcliffe were Brian Crossin, Mike Lester and Bryan Simmonds.
Brian Flinn
5 February 2010
Another repatriation ceremony was held today in order to honour the return of two more soldiers recently killed in Afghanistan. Hundreds of people again lined Wootton Bassett High Street, this time to pay their respects to Corporal Liam Riley and Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, both from the 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, who were killed when two roadside bombs went off whilst they were on foot patrol near Malgir, in Helmand province on 1st February. Due to the fact that the two soldiers were from a Wiltshire based Regiment, there was an extremely large uniformed presence amongst the, larger than normal, civilian attendance. As the hearses approached the war memorial, the 19 Standards on parade were lowered and the members of the ex-Service Associations were brought to the salute by the local Royal British Legion representative. There was an extended period of silence at the war memorial on this occasion as flowers were placed on the vehicles by the many family and friends who had gathered to say their farewells, the hearses then moved off to the sound of applause from the grieving relatives and friends. Representing us all today at Wootton Bassett were Ivan Carey, Tim Clarke, Brian Flinn, Ron Glover, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Ray Orgill and Jack & Vida Sharp. Representing the RAFPA at the John Radcliffe Hospital were Brian Crossin, Mike Lester, Bryan Simmonds and Bob Strachan.
Brian Flinn
12 February 2010
A repatriation ceremony was held in Wootton Bassett today to pay tribute to three more soldiers so tragically killed in Afghanistan recently. Once again, hundreds of people lined the High Street to pay their respects both to the fallen soldiers and their families. Families and friends of the soldiers stood in silent respect at the War Memorial as the hearses carrying the bodies of their loved ones stopped for a minutes silence. The Standards of the 26 ex-Service Associations and civilian organisations present had been lowered in salute as the hearses entered the town to the toll of a single church bell. The town fell, and remained, silent as the funeral cortege approached, during the minutes silence and during it's departure from the town, a silent, respectful and very dignified tribute to the three soldiers. Those being repatriated today were Corporal John Moore and Private Sean McDonald both from the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Royal Scots Borderers, who were both killed in an explosion whilst on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on the 7th February and Warrant Officer Class 2 David Markland, 36 Engineer Regiment, who was killed whilst conducting route clearance operations in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand province on the 8th February. The RAFPA were represented at Wootton Bassett by Ivan Carey, Brian Flinn, Ron Glover, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Jack & Vida Sharp and Vic & Val Smith and at the John Radcliffe Hospital by Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Mike Lester and Bryan Simmonds.
Brian Flinn
18 February 2010
The repatriation ceremony today was held to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Darren Hicks, 1st Battalion, The Coldstream Guards, who was killed in an explosion while on foot patrol in the Babaji district of Helmand province on the 11th February, Lance Sergeant Dave Greenhalgh, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, who was killed in an explosion while on mobile patrol in the Nad Ali area of Helmand province on the 13th February, Kingsman Sean Dawson, 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who was shot during a firefight while on foot patrol in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province on the 14th February, Rifleman Mark Marshall, 6th Battalion, The Rifles, who was killed by an explosion while on foot patrol north east of Sangin in Helmand province, also on the 14th February and Sapper Guy Mellors, 36 Engineer Regiment, who was killed while trying to clear a roadside bomb in the Sangin area of Helmand province on the 15th February. As the hearses carrying the five Union Flag draped coffins entered the town of Wootton Bassett to the toll of a single church bell, the 32 Association Standards paraded were lowered in salute and the hundreds of people who had gathered in the pouring rain and freezing weather conditions paid their respects to these brave soldiers who had paid the ultimate sacrifice when killed during military operations in Afghanistan within the past week. Whilst stopped at the War Memorial for the minutes silence, dozens of family and friends placed flowers on the hearses of their respective loved ones. Once again a very emotional occasion, even for those not related to, or friends of, the five soldiers, due in the main to the outpouring of emotion among those close to those being repatriated. Representing the RAF Police Association at Wootton Bassett and the John Radcliffe Hospital today were Ivan Carey, Brian Crossin, Brian Flinn, Ron Glover, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Reg Lamb, Mike Lester, Jack & Vida Sharp and Bryan Simmonds.
Brian Flinn
25 February 2010
Two more soldiers were repatriated today after being killed during Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan on the 18th February. Lieutenant Douglas Dalzell, 1st Battalion, The Coldstream Guards, was killed by an explosion in the Babaji area of Helmand province and Lance Sergeant David Walker, 1st Battalion, Scots Guards, was shot and killed in the Nad Ali area of Helmand province. Again, hundreds of people lined the street in Wootton Bassett to pay their respects to two more soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice performing their duty. As the lone bell tolled to announce the arrival of the hearses, the 13 Standards on parade were lowered in salute and all those present paid their respects. The hearses halted at the war memorial for a minutes silence, at which time family members and friends placed flowers on the hearse of their respective loved one. This was another emotional but very dignified and respectful ceremony. The RAFPA was represented at Wootton Bassett today by Ivan Carey, Brian Flinn, Ron Glover, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake and Vic & Val Smith. Representing us at the John Radcliffe Hospital were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Mike Lester, Bryan Simmonds and Bob Strachan.
Brian Flinn
4 March 2010
A repatriation ceremony was held today to bring home the bodies of four more soldiers who had been so tragically killed in Afghanistan during the past week. Many hundreds lined Wootton Bassett High Street to pay their respects to Senior Aircraftman Luke Southgate, 2 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, who was killed in an explosion while on a vehicle patrol north of Kandahar Airfield on the 24th February, Rifleman Martin Kinggett, 4th Battalion, The Rifles, who was shot and killed while on foot patrol near Sangin, Helmand province on the 25th February, Sergeant Paul Fox, 28 Engineer Regiment, who was killed by an explosion while on foot patrol in the Nad Ali district of Helmand province on the 26th February and Rifleman Carlo Apolis, 4th Battalion, The Rifles, who was killed by small arms fire near Sangin in Helmand province on the 1st March. As the four hearses carrying the Union Flag draped coffins entered Wootton Bassett, the lone church bell began it's slow mournful toll, the Standards representing the 36 Associations and Cadet Corps on parade were lowered and those present paid their respects as the hearses passed. Due to the large number of family and friends of the deceased present, the hearses remained at the war memorial for a much extended period than is normal, this enable a large quantity of flowers to be placed on the vehicles by the grieving relatives and friends. Once again the overt outpouring of grief made the ceremony a very sombre and heart wrenching occasion for those in attendance. Representing the Royal Air Force Police Association at Wootton Bassett today were Mike Archer, Ivan Carey, John Crosby, Brian Flinn, Ron Glover, Kim Hassall, Tony Lake, Andrew Seymour, Jack & Vida Sharp and Vic & Val Smith. Representing us all at the John Radcliffe Hospital were Brian Crossin, Reg Lamb, Bryan Simmonds and Bob Strachan.
Brian Flinn
Here is a snap taken by my wife Sonia, I was in Scotland, of Messrs. Brian Symonds, Bob Strachan, Reg Lamb and Brian Crossin at yesterdays Repatriation at the JR.
Mike Lester