Thursday 15 November 2018

Remembrance Sunday 2018


Dunchurch Cenotaph in sunny weather and autumn colours

Sunday 11 November 2018, another year has passed and we are back in Dunchurch to remember all those that gave their lives for our freedom and especially the crew of 434Sqd RCAF Halifax MZ920 that crashed in the parish on the 14th of October 1944.

We start by attending the Remembrance Service with the St. Peter's Parish Church community at the Cenotaph and were once again blessed with sunshine and a reasonable temperature for the time of year.

Because of the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day the Cenotaph had been subjected to a cleanup and looked remarkable in the bright light.


Rugby Road, Dunchurch
Many pass the Halifax Memorial, few know it is there or what it means, more will learn in the future.


David George, as founder of the Memorial, had made the wreath available to be laid and I am reading the words on the card attached to it to David. Roger Higgerson, the co-founder, had made some preparations to tie down the wreath to prevent it from being blown away in the wind. That, incidentally, has happened in the past and locals, including schoolchildren, have replaced it in its rightful place.


The card is shown above with the words added and the logo and web address for the Rugby Aviation Group.


It was a great honour to jointly lay the wreath with David George


A moment to reflect and remember them

Flight Lieutenant D.Z.T. Wood, RCAF
Flying Officer W. Ewing, RCAF
Sergeant O. Parsons, RCAF
Sergeant D. Ward, RCAF
Sergeant G. Grant RAFVR


 
Following the laying of the wreath five new crosses were placed around the memorial, one for each member of the Halifax Crew that perished on that fateful day in 1944.


After the ceremony Roger brought out the tools to tie down the wreath and knock the crossed deeper into the ground in such a way that they would further support the wreath.

The crosses were arranged in such a way that F/L Wood was in the centre flanked on each side by two of has crew members, the crossed touching as though holding hands.


Theo Claassen
15 November 2018

With special thanks to RAG member Paul Waller for the photographic coverage of the events.

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