1 CHAPTER CHATTER The Newsletter of the Canadian Chapter of The Royal Air Force Regiment Association Number 50 April 2015 The Newsletter of the Canadian Chapter of President’s Message The Association of the Royal Air Force Regiment #3 - July 2003 th It may be hard to believe that this is the 50 edition of `Chapter Chatter`. I have almost a complete record of every edition except the initial edition marked Number 1. The Executive noted in the second edition was given as David Huggins, David Jeffrey and John May. The editorial set up which we are still using today is credited to the efforts of Clive Hickson in Winnipeg. Much water has flowed over the years since our inception so perhaps I might be forgiven if I let the pictures tell our story. Attendees at the Consecration of our Standard, at McNab Street Presbyterian Church, June, 2006 In this undated photo we see the original group of “Rocks” who started our Chapter In the back row (extreme right) is ex WO Fred Williams CG Peter Drissell preparing to take the Salute as our contingent of Nine RAF Association Standards and escorts was paraded for the first time at the Canadian National Exhibition, August 2006. The above event was the culmination of the efforts of the late Paul Parsons from Scottish Branch who almost single handedly organized the visit to our Chapter of the Association National Standard and the Branch Standards of seven of our Association. Somehow the CG of that period, Air Commodore Peter Drissell Fred Williams cutting the President’s Cake at the accompanied with Wing Commander (retd.) inaugural meeting of the Chapter at Victoria Martin Hooker arrived in time to take the salute Park Farm. John May (cream shirt) stands next of a very proud group of “Rocks” who showed to Norm Hatch with Dave Jeffrey smiling next to the Warrior’s Day Parade at the Canadian the late John Rennie. National Exhibition what we were all about! Chapter Chatter Newsletter of the Canadian Chapter of the Royal Air Force Regiment Association 2 A smart body of “Rocks” parade in Toronto ‘07 A Cheerful Group at one of our AGM’s Our Standard taking pride of place on the Altar Our Chapter and friends at the Remembrance at our Chapel in Catterick, 2011. (The second Day Service held in the hangar at the old time it had been in the U.K.) Commonwealth Air Training Station, Mount Hope Once again the bond we have within the Corps was shown to the Chapter. On arriving at the Annual Re-dedication of our Chapel in Catterick, Iain was asked to present our Standard along with the National Standard on the Altar. Thanks to the kindness of “Tich” Taylor and the guidance of John Smart I was able to perform that honoured duty. We regularly attend at the Annual “Dressing of the Graves” ceremony in memory of the 16 RAF airmen who lost their lives here in Canada Hands Across the Sea Chapter Chatter Newsletter of the Canadian Chapter of the Royal Air Force Regiment Association 3 In the last picture mention must be made of people, the executive and I give a heartfelt the strong bond that exists between Scottish Thank you! Branch and our Canadian Chapter. Initially, David Jeffrey, Treasurer. before I even knew of the existence of any group of “Rocks” in Canada I stumbled on a web page The Traveler’s Story (conclusion) that mentioned a Scottish Branch. Contacting the site, I applied to join that Branch. Imagine As part two concluded, I was to pick up Iain in my surprise when a few days later an e-mail Edinburgh for our trip south to the Honington arrived stating that one John Grant knew me. It area. We arrived and stayed in a delightful Inn turned out that we had joined the Regiment on called The Pykkerell Inn in Ixworth, just a few almost the same day, and here in the photo we miles from Honington. The interior fittings, low were again together. We presented Scottish ceilings and narrow twisting staircase up to our Branch with a Memorial Banner, and in return room almost proved a barrier to my rather large you can see John presenting the Canadian suitcase which was getting heavier at each of Chapter with a beautiful Figure of a Gunner in our ports of call! A quick “recce” late in the full combat gear! Talk about a ‘Band of evening had me rehearsed for our next Brothers” morning’s meet with Norm Hatch at the gates of RAF Honington Iain finally made sure that he was at the Depot! Our finest hour, when we were asked on behalf We arrived, cleared through Security and of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum to finally met up with our Guide for the day, Bill supply a combined Guard of Honour with 447 Espie. “Where’s Norm”, we asked. Bill chuckled Wing RCAFA to honour the flight and return of and explained that Norm was already wowing the Museum’s World War ll “Lancaster” the Museum Staff with his stories and had in fact arrived an hour before us! We all had a most Without your continued support of your enjoyable tour and were accompanied by Chapter, and the friendship we enjoy with our various Officers who had taken time out of their friends in the UK, this 50th edition might never other duties to meet the “Colonials” The have been written museum staff were on hand at all times to Per Ardua Iain C. Purves answer our questions and one got the sense that they were all extremely proud of how the Treasurer’s Report Museum, (now called the Heritage Centre) was Thank you to the members who responded developing. It is also very obvious from quickly to the call for dues. As often happens in comments made by the station Commander that these cases, some requests get put on the “back the Corps is very much involved in the burner” then tend to get buried in “the list of development of the Heritage Centre as a things to do” and I am still awaiting dues from learning tool for each intake of recruits during five members. HINT, HINT! Members may their initial training to wear the coveted remember that I have to send a portion of our Regiment “Flash” dues to the UK National Treasurer and that time As Iain covered the tour in detail in the last is fast approaching. issue of C.C., I will now move on to the rest of Though we have both accounts still in the black, my travels, skipping the meet up with Iain at the I must report that yet again, a few members Field of Remembrance, see last issue. Sunday decided to send extra on top of their dues “to the 9th, saw me meeting Frank Xavier at Horse help with postage” or other such notes. To those Guards parade where I was most honoured to Chapter Chatter Newsletter of the Canadian Chapter of the Royal Air Force Regiment Association 4 receive a wreath to lay at the Cenotaph, this Sick and Welfare being provided by the National Management We in the Chapter are indeed sorry to report Committee and was suitably labelled “From the on the passing of our colleague, Terry Canadian Chapter, Royal Air Force Regiment Scattergood. Condolences were sent on behalf Association”. of the Chapter and the Corps. We also received word on Peter Furby’s ongoing efforts to stay as healthy as possible during his current bout of ongoing treatment. Stay well Pete! Brian Patten Sick and Welfare Ceremonial We have no parades scheduled at this moment, our first Parade will be the Warrior’s Day Parade at the Canadian National Exhibition in August. This will be followed by the Dressing of the RAF Graves at Saint. Paul’s,Anglican Dave isn’t under arrest just well protected! Church, Mount Hope in September. Our Association actually led the Parade after a Kit special contingent of “D” Day Veterans. It was a moment I will never forget. I was pleased to We are still awaiting details from RAF meet up again with Ron Barnbrook and his wife. Honington regarding the new kit shop being run Ron being the wonderful host for Iain and I in the by the Heritage Center Museum. We believe “Civil Servants Club” just off Whitehall after our that a new replacement for the late Derek James visit to the Field of Remembrance. will be taking on the responsibility, but as yet we After the Parade I slowly wended my way back are waiting on details from the Centre. to Hornchurch in Essex and to my local Royal I will be pricing RAF Regiment Shoulder British Legion branch where it seemed my glass Flashes for our Chapter Memorial Triangles never seemed to get empty. On the morning of th which we present to the family of our deceased the 11 I attended the Hornchurch War Graves members. If anyone can supply me with details Cemetery which among others, contains the of where we might obtain the flashes at a good grave of a Canadian Pilot. I placed a Canadian price would they please let me know, many flag and poppy at the headstone and hope one thanks. day to be able to track down the family so as to send them photographs. Per Ardua Frank Mills The last few days before meeting Iain again Membership. were spent visiting friends and also enjoying visiting Jimmy “Bud” Childs whom I served with Spring at last! We have weathered a brutal on 37 Sqn.