‛‛Tornado Talk’’

RAF Association Melton Branch & Club Newsletter April 2016 Commemorating

the Sacrifice of

the 50 Victims of

the GREAT

ESCAPE,

murdered by the

Gestapo in

March 1944

Organised by the City of Leicester Branch, members of the Association including our own standard bearer Phil Taylor accompanied by other members of our branch, paid their respect to the prisoners of war who inspired the film The Great Escape at a wreath-laying ceremony held at the War Memorial In th Victoria Park, Leicester on March 24 2016.

Situated in the German Province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan (now Żagań in Poland) about 100 miles south east of Berlin. Stammlager Luft III, more commonly known as Stalag Luft III was a Luftwaffe-run prisoner-of-war camp during World War II for captured allied airmen.

The site was selected because it would be difficult to escape by tunnelling. As many people know, though, the camp is best known for its two prisoner escapes that took place by tunnelling – as portrayed in the films The Great Escape (1963) and (1950), and the books by former prisoners Paul Brickhill and Eric Williams from which the films were adapted (very loosely, in the case of The Great Escape).

The Centre compound was opened in April 1942, originally for British sergeants, but by the end of 1942 replaced by Americans. The North Compound for British airmen, where the Great Escape occurred, opened in March 1943.

In March 1944 the real great escape happened. Out of the fifty three Allied servicemen who escaped from the Stalag Luft III in Poland, three mananged to escape and fifty were recaptured and executed by the Gestapo . ‘We Will Remember Them’

nd AGM 22 March 2016

Following the AGM on March 22nd the Melton Mowbray and District Committee members for 2016/2017 are;

PRESIDENT Mr H. Jarvis CHAIRMAN Mr P. Davies VICE-CHAIRMAN Mrs B. Cox BRANCH SECRETARY Mr B. Fare CLUB SECRETARY Mrs B. Cox WELFARE OFFICER Mr J. Jinks ASSISTANT WELFARE OFFICER Mr B. Fare TREASURER Mrs V. Moore WINGS OFFICER Mrs B. Cox SUBSCRIPTION SECRETARY Miss J. Durrance STANDARD BEARER Mr P. Taylor MINUTE SECRETARY Miss J. MacDonald

OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS Miss A. Blackley, Mr P. Brightwell, Mr T. Burton, Mrs A. Fare, Miss S. Harrison, Miss L. Heggs, Mr S. Moore, Mr B. Walkling, Mrs J. Woods.

NEW LIFE VICE PRESIDENT Miss J. MacDonald

Committee meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 8 p.m. Are members are welcome to attend.

Mayor’s Civic Dinner 2016

The Civic Dinner hosted by the Mayor of Melton Mowbray was th held at Scalford Hall on Friday 11 March.

Dignataries joining the Mayor of Melton on the ‘top table’ were, Councillor John Wyatt, was Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire,

Lady Gretton, Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor John Thomas, and his consort Maggie Corley, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, Councillor Bill Boulter, and his consort Mrs Boulter, plus

Commander of the Defence Animal Centre, Lt Col Mark Morrison.

Other guests included community and local organisation

representatives including Chairman Paul Davies, Sue Davies, Vice- Chairman Brenda Cox representing the Melton Mowbray Branch

of the RAF Association and Flt LT Toby Burton RAF VR(T) representing the Cadets.

St Clement Danes Church Sunday 3rd April 2016 Service to commemorate the Formation of the Royal Air Force.

Melton and Rutland Branch Standard Bearers accompanied by their wives, attended the Annual Royal Air Force Service held in St Clement Danes Church, the Strand, London, on Sunday 3rd April 2016. This service commemorates the formation of the Royal Air Force and also the 75th anniversary of the Air Training Corps. Phil and Heather Taylor, representing Melton RAFA , have attended this memorable service several times but it was a first for Rutland RAFA couple Francis (Rutland Standard Bearer ) and Angie Humphreys . The 30 or so Standards paraded down Lincolns Inn Fields with the accompaniment of RAF Halton Pipe Band. and the packed church congregation observed the Standards as they entered the main aisle and then divided up to line the sides of the church. Next the National Standard Bearer of the Royal Air Force,

followed by the Banner of the Air Training Corps marched into the church and the service commenced. Music provided by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force under the direction of Director of Music Squadron Leader Piers Morrell FRSM,LRSM, GVGI,LTCL, Dip TCL RAF. It was a perfect sunny and mild day and everyone gathered outside after the service to take photographs and enjoy the company and the sunshine. The Reception for everyone was in The Royal Courts of Justice, adjacent to St Clements, and the musical accompaniment by the Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra. A very fitting end to a busy day as many friends and comrades shared reminiscences and news. If members wish to attend in future, a very good place to stay is the Union Jack Club, which is acknowledged as the Premier Club for the Non-Commissioned Armed Forces community, proudly providing the best level of service, quality of catering and accommodation at affordable prices

Quiz Night

Since the mid - 90’s there has been a successful quiz night for members for which money raised goes towards the RAFA “Wings” appeal and it is still going strong.

It is an entertaining and fun night with teams trying to outscore each other to be the top team of the night.

Over the years teams have changed, some have stayed the course and new ones have joined, so if you’re at a loss on the THIRD TUESDAY of each month why not come down and join a team and better still help form another team.

By doing this you’d be helping us to raise even more money for our own RAF Association charity to add to the estimated £4500-£5000 we have already raised over the years since the quiz nights started.

Quiz night details:

 Monthly every third Tuesday  Cost £1.00 per person  Time 20.00hrs (8.00pm)

‘Inspection Success for Melton Air Cadet Squadron’

On Tuesday the 22nd of March, 1279 (Melton Mowbray) Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets, were visited by Squadron Leader Mark Richards RAFVR(T) and Squadron Leader Andrew Pass RAFVR(T) for their Annual Formal Inspection. This was a very important night for squadron, as it allowed the members of the Wing Staff team to see what the squadron has achieved over the last year. For the first part of the night, the cadets were formally inspected by Squadron Leader Richards; some were even asked about their experiences so far in the Air Cadets. Cadet Amy Healey, aged 14, commented: “It was a very nerve-wracking night for the squadron, as it was our opportunity to showcase what we can do, and why we are an incredible squadron.” One of the squadron’s strongest areas is drill, so a team of some of our best showed off what they can do as a banner drill team. Cadet Sergeant Jason Blackshaw, aged 17, was the squadron’s banner bearer, a huge accolade. He said that the night was “Very difficult, as all of the cadets had to be on top form, but the results will be worth it.” The squadron received praise for achievements such as being invited to attend the Red Arrows End of Season Guest Night, for being ‘the best squadron that the regional Health and Safety advisor has seen’ and for the increase in both cadet and staff numbers over the year. Praise was also forthcoming for the way in which the squadron has been leading the way in such initiatives as ‘Heartstart in the Community’. The final parade was rounded off by

Squadron Leader Richards who thanked the cadets and staff for all of their efforts over the year. He presented certificates and badges to both cadets and staff including Heartstart certificates, Wing Blues, classification badges, swimming proficiencies and a promotion to Cadet Corporal for Cadet Josh Davidson, who was ‘very surprised and delighted’. Anyone who is aged 12 and in Year 8 at school or upwards and is interested in seeing the wide range of activities on offer can visit the squadron on a Tuesday or Thursday night from 7.15pm at the Cadet Centre, Asfordby Road. More information can be found by emailing [email protected]

Toys

We are proud to be part of ‘The charity that supports the RAF family’ therefore we are pleased to tell you that there are a number of toys, games and colouring books at the back of the Charles Towel Room. Please feel free to let any children that are visiting the club to play with these toys, we do however ask that you replace them tidily back into the boxes after they have been used. Thank you.

From wartime Berlin to Melton Mowbray – Hans Elsner’s story

The RAF Association’s Wexford House assisted living facility in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, has been home to many former RAF men and women, and their widows and widowers over the years. Each resident has their own interesting tales to tell of life in the service or as an RAF spouse.

One current resident’s tale, however, has a twist: he was born in Berlin just before the outbreak of WWII, yet served in the Royal Air Force for over ten years.

Hans J Elsner was born in 1934, his father was a wine and spirit merchant and his mother a nurse. His first two years were relatively normal, but everything changed in 1936.

While on a wine tasting trip, Hans’s father mentioned to a fellow merchant that Hitler would ruin Germany. This was to be the start of a dramatic change in the family’s fortunes. Late one night there was a knock at the door of the family’s large home. Hans’s father was taken away and his mother was told to pack one suitcase for her and her son. The business, the house, the family car and all their money was ‘given’ to Hitler. Hans never saw his father again.

When asked what it was like living day to day in Berlin, Hans was very pragmatic. He said: “You didn’t worry. You just carried on and searched for food. As the shops had no supplies, you had to pinch what you could.”

Memories of life in Berlin during the war are as grim as you might expect. As food was scarce, young children spent most of their time scavenging – picking up what they could in the street. A resourceful Hans went in search of food in a Russian field kitchen in the city: a decision which very nearly cost him his life.

Hans was caught stealing some bread by a Russian soldier. The soldier put him against up a wall and cocked his gun. Had it not been for a ‘white’ Russian who saved him, Hans doesn’t doubt that he would have been shot right there, just for trying to take a small amount of bread.

Shortly after the war, Hans left Germany and moved to England. As his father had spoken out about what Hitler’s actions would do to their country and lost his life for it, Hans felt no desire to stay.

He moved to Yorkshire and worked at a bearings factory, before an argument with a colleague lead him to leave and go straight to the local RAF Careers office.

As an expert machinist, Hans was signed up to 5001, the Airfield Construction Squadron. It was while part of this squadron that he was posted to Rub’ al Khali in Saudi Arabia to patrol no man’s land near the Yemeni border.

Hans said: “It was only supposed to be a one month posting, because of the extreme heat, but I stayed for nine months! I loved the heat – it could get up to 70°C in the sun, 50°C in the shade of your tent. Sandstorms were practically a daily occurrence and we also experienced tornadoes, which caused havoc in our camp.”

As someone who has served in the RAF, Hans was delighted to become part of the Wexford House family. He has enjoyed living there for almost six years. Being able to chat to veterans of a similar age and share stories of their times in the RAF provides the friendship, help and support that the Association is so renowned for.

Open day 7th May

Wanted

Small prizes suitable for children and bottles of wine needed for the Hook A Duck and Guess the Bottle stalls.

Tombole Prizes also needed.

All donations will be very welcome please leave behind the bar.

Thank you

Social Evening 9th April

Organised by Amanda Fare 30 members and guests enjoyed another successful social night with entertainment by singer Nigel Baker and a ploughmans supper.

£22 towards the decoration of the Charles Towel room was raised from a the raffle held on the night. Many thanks to

all who supported the event and a special ‘thank you’ to Brenda Cox for suppling the delicious food and organising the raffle. Forth Coming Events

7th May – Open day including Re-Adoption Ceremony of 1279 Air Training Squadron at 5-30 p.m.

9th May Welfare Boat Trip along the Trent

13th-15th May Annual Conference Blackpool

18th May Bus Trip to Duxford

A lot of time and effort goes into these events by many different people behind the scences please show your support by attending. Thank you