REPATRIATION REPORT
Thursday 21st July, 2011
From operations in Afghanistan, the repatriation of:
Lance Corporal Paul Watkins (24), 9/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales)
L/Cpl Watkins was fatally wounded by small arms fire while providing covering fire from his Jackal armoured vehicle for a foot patrol in an area west of Gereshk, Helmand Province, on 16th July, 2011.
Corporal Mark Anthony Palin (32), 1st Battalion, The Rifles
Cpl Palin died as a result of an explosion from an IED while operating in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province on 18th July, 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. .
Royal Wootton Bassett - Town Centre (1640)
This report from Duncan Wostenholm, Royal Marines Association (RMA)
There were about 50 military personnel in uniform attending this repatriation and joined the veterans wearing berets and medals and 47 members of the Royal British Legion Motorcycle Branch, supporting the families and friends of the repatriated soldiers.
24 standards were paraded, including: Royal British Legion - Swindon, Abertillery, Devizes, Merthyr Tydfil, Gloucester City, Brockworth & Winchcombe, Newnham, Beckford & Ashton-under-Lyme. Associations: 43rd Wessex Division, The Rifles (Dorset and Somerset), The Dorsetshire Regiment (Gillingham and Bath), Aden Veterans, Royal Observer Corps, Canal Zone Veterans, The Parachute Regiment (Swindon), Royal Navy (Swindon), RAF (Corsham), The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Windsor), The Royal Regiment of Wales (Newport) and The Wiltshire Guards Association.
Gable Cross Police Station - On the A420 just east of the junction with the A419 (1655)
This report from Pat Bristow, RMA
There were four Association standards paraded; Royal Marines (Reading), Royal Signals (Reading), Royal Engineers (Swindon) and the RAF Lyneham Old Boys.
Ten veterans attended, along with 20 members of the public and four police officers.
At the Road Bridge - B4000 over the A420 between Shrivenham and High worth (1705)
Report by Derrick Jeans, RAF Association
By the B4000 bridge over the A420, District Councillor Elaine Ware and nine others stood to pay their respects to the cortege as it passed by at walking pace. Traffic pulled over into the lay-by opposite and the occupants stood by their cars. Oncoming traffic drew to a halt as the cortege approached.
United Kingdom Defence Academy - at the Watchfield Roundabout on the A420, adjacent to the UKDA.
(1710)
Report by Jim Hawkins, RMA
There were eight Royal Marines veterans from RMA Poole and Guildford, accompanied by some wives. The standards of RMA Poole and Guildford were paraded. Other veterans included Air Commodore Marcus Witherow, RAF Regt., Major Peter Hasting, RM and their wives Mary and Diana respectively, and Lieutenant MacKarness, Coldstream Guards.
Uniformed officers from the Defence Academy included Majors Pawlowski and Baz Melia of The Rifles, Major Eyre Brook of The 9/12th Royal Lancers, Majors Richards and Prideaux of The Queens Royal Lancers, Majors Catton, Pennefather, Titericks, Allen, Pritchard, Waldemayer and Carson, of The Royal Marines, Captain Nick Gasson, Royal Navy, Chief Officer Chris Locke of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Major Claire Heighington, RMP. There were also some 15 Academy civilian staff and members of the public in attendance.
The salute to the cortege was led by Major Eyre Brook, 9/12th Royal Lancers and ordered by WO1 (ATO) Scott Johnstone, Royal Logistics Corps.
Many thanks to PCs Page and Pennington, MOD Police, for their traffic control.
Folly Hill Lay-by - east of Faringdon on the A420, just north of the A417 junction (1715)
This report by Joy Blake,RBL
The Folly Hill lay-by was well attended once again, with 68 people attending, to await the arrival of the cortege, which passed us by at 5.15pm, with the rain more or less holding off. More people also attended the Fernham Road junction as they normally do.
Many regular stalwarts attended, but we had a number of new faces. One of these was a motor bike rider on his way home from work, who told me his father was the standard bearer of the Islip Royal British Legion and would be attending at Oxford. His attendance with us, together with his workmate and other people stopping off on the main road, was much appreciated.
Among the usual veterans wearing berets and medals, together with townspeople from Faringdon and many surrounding villages and towns, we had attending the Mayor of Faringdon, Dr Mike Wise, the Chairman of the Vale of The White Horse District Council, Mrs Alison Thomson, Mrs Wendy Simpson of the Wantage Neighbourhood Support Group and the community police assisting with traffic control and telephone contacts. The standards paraded were the Union flag, Royal British Legion Faringdon, Bampton, Highworth, Shrivenham, Wantage, and the Royal Navy Veterans Association of Wantage.
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford - near Anthony Padua Parish Church, Headley Way. (1805)
This report from John Walker, former RDG
We here at the Final Turn stood true and firm to honour these two soldiers.
There were 10 Royal British Legion standards paraded: Bicester & Launton, Bloxham, Chalgrove, Headington, Henley, Kidlington, Kidlington Womens Section, Marston and Wheatley. Association standards included The Coldstream Guards, Guards Division (Newbury), RAF Police, Royal Marines (Bicester), Royal Navy & Royal Marines (Oxon), The Royal Tank Regiment (Oxon) and The Banner of The Royal Dragoon Guards.
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxford Rod Walker, Lord Mayor Councillor Elise Benjamin, Chairman Oxfordshire County Council Councillor Patrick Greene, Colonel ( Rtd) BAC Duncan MBE., Royal Tank Regiment.
There were 54 veterans wearing berets and medals and 35 others from all three services. Thames Valey Police was out in force doing their normal duties and also standing alongside us on parade, under Chief Inspector C. Agger. There were also Graham Cloudcroft (Chaplain to the Thames Valley Police), Mary and John from the Church (John having half-masted the Union flag), and John Jones of the St Johns Ambulance. Two RBL Bikers, Tony and D. Dickinson joined us, Martyn being elsewhere on duty. The Oxford public was out in force, not only here at the Final Turn, with their huge Union flags and the Ulster flag, but also from the Oxford ring road into Marston and all the way up the hill to us.
Many thanks to Harry Mennie (former Para) for helping me put these lists together and also to the wives and partners of the veterans for their help in organising tea and coffee, etc. and for clearing away afterwards. We thank also Father Aldo for the use of the church facilities, not only for the wash area but also for the use of the large car park. The parade marshal was J. Lewendon (former RA). G. Whelan was away on other duties.
The weather was kind, with late sun and 150C. The cortege passed us by at 1805hrs.
Their Courage and Sacrifice Will Not Be Forgotten
They will not be forgotten
Complied by PH (Duty Scribe)
On behalf of the Royal Marines Association
.............................................................................................................Arborfield Old Boys' Association
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