Repatriation Report L/Cpl S McKee 1st RIR

REPATRIATION REPORT

Thursday, 17^th March, 2011

From operations in Afghanistan, the repatriation of:

Lance Corporal Stephen McKee (aged 27) 1^st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment

Lance Corporal McKee was killed when during an operation to disrupt insurgent activity in the northern Dashte area of Nad 'Ali district his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

Service veterans and members of the public turned out in the following “stations of vigil” to pay their respects to the fallen as the cortege made its way on the 47 mile route from the point of arrival at RAF Lyneham to the John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford.

Wootton Bassett - Town Centre (1637)

This report from Duncan Wostenholm, RMA

Wootton Bassett has never sought any recognition for the simple act of respect and gratitude to our armed forces especially those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. It is therefore humbling that Her Majesty has graciously conferred the Royal prefix to the town. It should not be forgotten that although, because of geography, Wootton Bassett has become the focus of the repatriations many people travel from all around the country to also show their respect not only in Wootton Bassett but also along the many other points along the route to Oxford.

Thus, on St Patrick's day the body of L/Cpl Mackee was brought through the town today. As usual the High Street was filled with those paying their respects, family, friends, uniformed colleagues, townspeople and visitors. Among those present were Mr James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire; Cllr Mary Champion, Mayor of Wootton Bassett; Cllr Paul Heaphy, deputy Mayor and Group Gaptain John Gladston, CO of RAF Lyneham.

Some 40 plus riders from the RBL motorcycle branch attended together with many veterans in berets ,including 3 RMA.

24 standards were paraded

Royal British Legion - Abertillery; Merthyr Tydfil; Leyton; Swindon; Hungerford; Wrington; North Mendip; Devizes; Dursley & Cam; Market Drayton; Market Drayton Ladies and Ford & District Shrewsbury.

Association standards - Royal Irish Rangers - Warminster; North of England (Chester) and Catterick. Aden Veterans; The Canal Zone; RAFA - Corsham; Calne and Market Drayton. Royal Berkshire Regt (Windsor);Parachute Regiment (Swindon); The Rifles (Somerset); and Royal Observer Corps (12 Group.

Gable Cross Police Station - On the A420 just east of the junction with the A419 (1700)

This report from Pat Bristow RMA

The two flags being flown outside the Police Station, the Union Flag and the Thames Valley Police were being flown at half-mast.

Three Standards paraded

RMA Swindon; Royal Signals and RAF Lyneham Old Boys

Accompanied by –

Ten veterans wearing berets, blazers and medals,

Eighty Police Officers,

Twenty-three Civilians.

The salute was taken by Acting Inspector Thompson

At the Road Bridge - B4000 over the A420 between Shrivenham and Highworth (1705)

Report by Elaine Ware

Ten local residents joined District Councillor Elaine Ware to pay their respects as the cortege for Lance Corporate Stephen McKee passed slowly by. All traffic on the A420 came to a complete halt.

United Kingdom Defence Academy - at the Watchfield Roundabout on the A420, adjacent to the UKDA. (1709)

Report by ‘Jim’ Hawkins RMA

The parade consisted of seven Royal Marine Veterans and some of their wives. A veteran who served in the Royal Artillery and another veteran who served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, both with their wives. They were accompanied by Air Commodore (Rtd) Marcus Witherow RAF Regt, Wing Cmdr Stuart Cairns RAF, Mr and Mrs Vizor and their pet dog ‘Luca’, Mrs Hyland, Mr Eric Ridley (Poet), Mrs Barbara Wheeler, Major Clare Heighington RMP, Wing Cmdr Michel Randall RAF, Dr Geraint Hughes of Kings College London and Cmdr and Mrs David Barker RN.

The salute to the cortege was led by Majors Huxley and McCleery both of the Royal Irish Regiment and ordered by WO1 Mark Hannington, Mercian Regt., the Academy RSM.

The standard of the RMA Poole was on parade and carried by former Royal Marine ‘Father’ O’Pray.

A big thank you to Police Constables Hutton and Goodman (Ministry of Defence Police) who safely shepherded us across the busy A420 to our Vigil Point and vack again.

Folly Hill Lay-by - east of Faringdon on the A420, just north of the A417 junction (1715)

This report by Joy Blake

Due to the lighter evening, it was noticeable more people attended the A420 Folly Hill Lay-by

outside the town of Faringdon for the Repatriation of Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, which

passed us by at 5.15pm. Many more attended the Fernham and Stanford Road outlets on this road.

Over ninety veterans, wearing caps and medals, townspeople from Faringdon and surrounding villages and towns attended, and we were pleased to welcome back two 'old friends' who due to ill health had been unable to attend over recent months. Major John McDonnell (RMR) from Henley-on-Thames and Bill Collins from Beedon near Newbury, both took time to travel over for this Repatriation and we were pleased to see them again, both looking so well. Our friend Ted Carpenter also travelled from Maidenhead. I admire these people so much travelling so far and then having to sit or stand on an open main road for hours to await the Cortege. No beer or sandwiches and tea and cakes here !!

Amongst the people attending were the Faringdon Town Mayor (Mrs. Margaret Barker) and her escort; Town Councillors; the new Faringdon Police Station Sergeant (P.C. Christopher Ball); members of the Community Police, Mr. David Drew (Vale District Branch Chairman of the Royal British Legion) and Mrs. Wendy Stimpson (Wantage Neighbourhood Action Group).

With the return of Bill Collins, we had nine Standards as follows:

Union Flag; Royal British Legion from Faringdon, Bampton, Beedon, Highworth, Shrivenham,

Wantage, Oxfordshire Women's Association; RAFA Standard from Brize Norton & Carterton

and the Royal Naval Veteran's Standard from Wantage.

John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford - near Anthony Padua Parish Church, Headley Way (1805).

This report from John Walker RDG

We here at the Final Turn stood firm and strong to honour the above soldier.

There were 11 Royal British Legion Standards:

Marston, Islip ,Headingon, Chalgrove, Henly, Wheatley, Bodicote, Hazelmere, Bicester, Kidlington and Kidlington (Women’s section).

There were 8 Association Standards:

The Parachute Regt(Oxford).Coldstream Guards, Canal Zone (Oxon), Royal Navy, Royal Tank Regt(Oxon), RAF Police, RAF & PTI (Windsor), St George Society and The Banner of The Royal Dragoon Guards.

There was 55 Vets in berets and 35 others from all three services. The Lord Mayor of Oxford John Goddard. Fire Tender with full crew once again displaying their huge Union Flag. 3 crew from St Johns ambulance (under command of John Jones). Thames Valley Police doing their normal duties and also along side of us on parade all under the command of Chief Inspector C. Agger. The church was well represented by Mary, John and a group of ladies from The Legion of Mary (a Catholic apostolic society) on a weeks visit to the Church from Northern Ireland and The South. The Oxford public were out in great numbers not only here at The Final Turn but all along the ring road leading up to the hill where we stand there were so many Union Flags once again.

Again we had a Vet who came for the first time to our location from London he would normally be at Wootton-Bassett but as this was a late parade he came to us. He was Jim Wills( Former Devon & Dorsets) today he was representing RB Legion St George Branch London.

Once again I thank Ian Anderson(former Ox & Bucks LI) for helping me put this list together and his good lady Diana for bringing the homemade cakes also the Vets wives and partners for helping with the Tea/Coffee etc looking after not only the Vets but many members of the public.

The Parade Marshall was Graham Whelan (former Para) 2i/c was J. Lewendon(former RA).

The weather was dry and 6oc and the Cortège passed us by at 1805 hrs.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Compiled by DB (Deputy Scribe)

On behalf of the Royal Marines Association

.............................................................................................................Arborfield Old Boys' Association