Please note, I will be on Holiday for the next two weeks, my apologies for not passing on details of repatriations during that time,
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A selection of photographs for this repatriation can be found on the website plus any updates for the forthcoming repatriation for the two recent casualties
at
www.rmarepatnetwork.org
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REPATRIATION REPORT
Thursday 26th May, 2011
From operations in Afghanistan, the repatriation of:
Colour Serjeant Kevin Charles Fortuna (36), 1st Battalion, The Rifles
C/Sjt Fortuna died from an IED explosion while leading a patrol in the Sayedabad Kalay area, Nahr -e Saraj (South), Helmand Province, on 23rd May, 2011.
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 (1830)
This report from Duncan Wostenholm, RMA
Due to the lateness of this repatriation and a previous engagement I was unable to stay until the cortege arrived at Royal Wootton Bassett. I did however manage to collate a short report up to five minutes before the arrival.
Major Carter, 2i/c 1st Battalion, The Rifles, headed a party of more than 100 members of the Regiment, most in uniform, to support family and friends assembled in the High Street. They were supported by four RM veterans (Dave, John, Stuart and Dick), numerous other service veterans in berets and medals, with 23 motorcycles and 56 members of the Royal British Legion Motorcycle Branch.
22 standards were paraded, including:
Royal British Legion - Lydney, Wroughton, Merthyr Tydfil, Hungerford, Abertillery, Devizes and Dursley & Cam.
Associations - Royal Gloucester, Berkshire & Wiltshire Regt (Newbury & Swindon), Royal Berkshire Regiment (Windsor), Korean War Veterans, Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment (Reading), Cwmbran Old Comrades, The Rifles, 43rd Wessex, Dorsetshire Regiment Old Comrades (Bath), Parachute Regiment (Swindon), Royal Observer Corps, Canal Zone Veterans and Aden Veterans.
Gable Cross Police Station - On the A420 just east of the junction with the A419 (1702)
This report from Pat Bristow RMA
There were five Association standards present; Royal Marines Swindon and Reading, Royal Engineers Swindon, Royal Signals Swindon and the RAF Lyneham Old Boys.
The crowd assembled included 10 service veterans and about 20 members of the public. Five police officers from the adjacent HQ also attended, led by Inspector Steve Bridges.
At the Road Bridge - B4000 over the A420 between Shrivenham and Highworth (1708)
Report by Derrick Jeans, RAFA
On the B4000 bridge over the A420, the very heavy rain eased off as seven members of the public gathered to pay their respects to the cortege as it passed by.
United Kingdom Defence Academy - at the Watchfield Roundabout on the A420, adjacent to the UKDA.
Report by Patrick Hopper, RMA
12 Royal Marines veterans, along with our fellow retirees, Ray (RA) and Bert (Royal Berks) and some wives, attended. Unfortunately, the standard of RMA Poole was not present, as it was required elsewhere at the funeral of a retired RM that day.
Uniformed officers from the Defence Academy included Major Chris Pawlowski and Major John Richards of The Rifles. Representing 3rd Commando Brigade RM, of which 1st Rifles is an integral part, were Colonel Manger and Majors Doug Pennefather and Innes Catton RM. Also attending were Wing Commander Tony Wheeler RAF and Major Claire Heighington RMP. Although this was a sad occasion, we were happy to see Major Claire in such good spirits. Her husband was back on short leave from Afghanistan, and is now within eight weeks of completing his tour. We were joined by about a dozen members of the public.
The salute to the cortege was led by Major Richards of The Rifles and ordered by WO2 Peter Davies, RLC.
Folly Hill Lay-by - east of Faringdon on the A420, just north of the A417 junction
This report by Joy Blake
The cold, wet and windy evening did not put off the almost 70 people who attended the repatriation of C/Sjt Kevin Fortuna, the cortege of which passed us by at 7.15pm.
This repatriation had been the 100th time we had attended the Folly Hill lay-by and apart from a few on holiday, the usual stalwarts, veterans and townspeople from Faringdon and other local villages attended, as well as some new faces. Many of those attending were members of the Royal British Legion from different local branches.
Among the new faces was the new Chairman of the Vale of The White Horse District Council, Alison Thomson, together with other councillors, the Town Mayor of Faringdon and Escort, Mike and Ingrid Wise and the Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor of Wantage, Patrick O’Leary and Jim Sibbald.
The standards paraded were as follows: Union flag, Royal British Legion Faringdon, Bampton, Shrivenham and Wantage, RAFA Brize Norton and Carterton and the RN Veterans Association from Wantage.
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford - near Anthony Padua Parish Church, Headley Way.
This report from John Walker, RDG
We here at the Final Turn stood tall and firm to honour this soldier.
There were eight Royal British Legion standards: Bloxham, Bicester, Chalgrove, Henley, Islip, Marston, Oxford City and Wheatley.
Association standards included The Coldstream Guards, Canal Zoners (Oxon), Parachute Regiment (Oxon), Royal Tank Regiment (Oxon), RAF Police, The Royal Navy and the banner of The Royal Dragoon Guards.
There were 60 veterans in berets and medals and 30 others from all three services. St John’s Ambulance provided two representatives, John Jones and Ann Collier. Mary and John from the church were out again early in the morning, putting the Union flag at half mast for us. We must mention here volunteer Thames Valley Chaplain, Graham Choldcroft with us yet again, as he had been so many times in the past.
There were at least 150 members of the public at the Final Turn and hundreds more from the Oxford ring road coming round and leading up the hill to where we parade. We also had two RBL Bikers, Martin White and Tony Carr, who would normally be at Royal Wootton Bassett, but one whose bike broke down, so they cut their trip short and joined us.
Thanks to Ian (former Ox & Bucks LI) for helping me put these lists together and to his good lady for the homemade cakes. Also thanks to all who helped at the tea and coffee counter, and to Mary and John, for clearing away afterwards.
The parade marshal was G. Whelan (former Para) and 2i/c J. Lewendon (former RA).
The cortege passed us by at 1955 hours. The weather was overcast but dry, after heavy rain.
THEIR COURAGE AND SACRIFICE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
Compiled by PH (Duty Scribe)
Blondie
On behalf of the Royal Marines Association
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Arborfield Old Boys' Association
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