APRIL 2008 REPORT
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“Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sun light on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.”
“When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.” |
First and foremost my wife and I had a tremendous holiday in Mesa, Arizona, where we visited family. The only trouble was the weather in the UK was
just a warm as Arizona! But not all the time! Whilst there we paid a visit to Falcon Field, where RAF Cadets were trained during WW2 and expected to
see the ‘Champlin Fighter Museum’ but alas it had been sold and is now in Seattle, Oregon. In its’ place is a wonderful new Museum
called the CAF Aircraft Museum. (CAF standing for Commemorative Aircraft Museum) There was a good selection of aircraft and memorabilia but notedly one of
the guides was a Lt. Col. Herman H. Laabs who flew C47’s in Lincolnshire between 1944 and 1976. He reminded me that we called them ‘Dakotas’.
He was very impressed with England and was glad that he was able to help during the war effort, despite the fact that we had done the ‘business’
well before the USA joined in, but that’s history.
He reminded me also that 23 of our Cadets are buried in Mesa Cemetery, so a visit was planned and I have some photographs which shows the peace and
tranquillity they are now enjoying. Mesa Cemetery is very pretty and has the greenest grass I’ve seen since leaving England. The site that they
lie in is looked after by the ‘Daughters of the British Empire in Arizona and the Falcon Field Association’. We were very impressed by the
care and attention they are receiving.A pity some of our Cemeteries and Churchyards are not kept in the same condition!
Whilst in Mesa I was asked to be the guest speaker at the Mesa Host Lions Club, my wife’s sister and brother-in-law are heavily involved in the activity.
What did I talk about? Well everyone wants to know if I had met the Queen, not yet, and I’m still waiting for my MBE! I spoke about London in general,
the Underground system and finally the Battle of Britain Historical Society. This led me nicely into the ‘Billy Fiske’ story, thinking that I would
be bombarded with questions, but no, sadly very few had heard of him! Feeling disappointed, as I had prepared myself for the latest saga of the ‘plastic
grass and flowers, I was thinking of what else to say when an elderly lady stood up with her husband and said that her maiden name was Fiske and she still had
a brother older than herself and wondered if she was related to Billy? The couple were Keith and Shirley Hackney and they said they would contact her brother
and dig out some information.
Well so far I’ve heard nothing but knowing the Americans to be a bit laid back, there is still time. My belated thanks to Geoff Monahan
who is going to keep me posted on the Memorial Window in the Priory at Boxgrove. Geoff is also a member of 601 Squadron.
On to other things. I received via Steve Gleeson a letter from a Jess Berryman who is the sister of Sgt. Pilot J.W. Ramshaw,
who crashed his plane, taken to hospital but was unfortunately dead on arrival. He is buried in Queensgate Cemetery, Beverley, Yorks.
She wishes to thank everyone that has been looking after the last resting place, especially the day that white roses were placed on his grave.
The Society members do not look for praise but when it comes we are very grateful. Thank you, Jess Berryman.
This leads me to say that one of the members looking after Sgt. Ramshaw's grave has sadly not renewed his membership so I hope that
someone can check the site for me? It is Block 35, Grave 15 in Queensgate Cemetery, Beverley. Other graves suffering similar fates are:
P/O H.D. Atkinson, Market Weighton Cemetery, Yorks. Row 1R Grave 7
Sgt. S.E. Bann, Macclesfield Cemetery, Cheshire. Plot A. Grave 938
Sgt. F.W. Eley. St. Margarets Church, Wrenbury cum Firth, Cheshire. Centre 4 Grave 11
Sgt. A. J. Theasby, Norton Cemetery, Norton, Nr. Malton, Yorks.
P/O. M.F. Briggs, Cookham Cem. Cookham, Berks
F/O B.M. Fisher. St. John’s Churchyard, Eton, Bucks. Grave 41
P/O. G.H. Maffett. Windsor Road Cem. Bray.Berks.
P/O J.A.P. Studd. Holy Trinity Church. Touchen End, Bray, Berks. Row 8 Grave 15.
The last four mentioned have come about due to Member Dennis Sawyer suffering from a painful hip and on Doctor’s orders
has been told to stop manual work. Dennis reluctantly has had to give up graves but hopes to recover in the future in order to perhaps just
‘do a little bit now and then’. I spoke with Dennis and we all, I’m sure, wish him well!
One belated thank you to Robin Stubbings who has kindly taken on the last resting place of P/O. G.W. Hackwood
in Newtown, near Newbury.
Safe landings - Peter Saunders
REMEMBRANCE
“Sixty years on, but where have they gone?
As memories come to us now that still linger on.
We give thanks for all those years of peace,
And pray that in time all wars will cease.
For those who gave their lives to save us then,
May we never forget our debt to them.
And today, may each of us in our own way,
Look to the future with Faith and Hope and say;
Now and forever we shall always remember them
And then, as with the passing of the years,
We try to hide the sorrow and the tears,
And with our faces changing and growing lined,
We will always try to keep in mind,
Those who did not return, like me and you,
Or lived to see their dreams come true.
The pains that we suffer may be the sign of age,
But having lived our span on this world’s stage,
If GOD should give us that extra time to play’
Let us give HIM our thanks, for each and every day.
