FEBRUARY 2021 / NR 234 PUBLISHED EVERY THREE MONTHS

The Unknown Warrior One hundred years ago, the Un- orge Kendall entered the chapel. They had no As the HMS Verdun approached Dover, it was known Warrior was buried, alongside knowledge of where the bodies had come from given a 19-gun Field Marshal’s salute. Kings and Queens and other promi- and Brigadier Wyatt had the task to choose one On the 10th November, at Dover Western nent persons, at Westminster Abbey. of the coffins - he pointed to one and the other Docks, the casket was transferred to the railway What is the Unknown Warrior’s coffins were taken away for reburial. carriage which had been used the previous story and how and why was his body On Tuesday 9th November 1920 the coffin year to carry the body of Nurse Edith Cavell, chosen? containing the unknown soldier’s body was who had been executed by the Germans. It was the idea of an army chaplain who, taken under guard to Boulogne Castle where The train went to Victoria Station and after seeing graves with the inscription ‘An French soldiers stood in vigil overnight. The remained there overnight as soldiers of the Unknown British Soldier’ wrote to the Dean next day the coffin was placed in an oak casket. Grenadier Guards stood in vigil. The following of Westminster proposing that an unidentified On top of the casket was a crusader’s sword, morning, 11th November, it was placed on a British soldier should be buried a gift from King George gun-carriage from N. Battery RHA, drawn by six in the Abbey. His idea gained V, taken from the Royal black horses. the support of British Prime Collection at the Tower of On top of the casket was a webbing belt, Minister David Lloyd George. London. It was affixed to a bayonet and a steel helmet. The escort was In WorldWar I just under a metal shield plate bea- formed by Field Marshal Lord Haig, Field Mars- 750,000 British men were ring the words: ‘A British hal French, Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty and killed, many of whom were warrior who fell in the other high-ranking officers. unidentified. The majority were great War 1914--1918 As the cortege moved off, another Field buried in cemeteries in Belgi- for King and Country’. Marshal’s salute was fired in Hyde Park. The um and France. It was later decided that at four The casket was placed on a French army journey went through the streets of London, cemeteries, suitable remains of an unknown wagon, drawn by six black horses and escorted Continuation on page 3 soldier were to be exhumed, and secretly taken by French soldiers to the harbour at Boulogne, REGULAR ITEMS to a chapel at a British army base at St-Pol-sur- where it was carried on to HMS Verdun. It was Announcements Page 3 Tortoise near Arras, where the remains were piped aboard with an Admiral’s call. Chairman’s Chat Page 4 placed in four coffins covered with the Union On the quayside, Marshal Foch saluted. Looking Back Page 6 Flag. There, Brigadier Louis and Colonel E A S HMS Verdun sailed out of Boulogne and was Coming Events Page 6 Gel, who was from the Directorate of Graves escorted across the Channel by French and Ro- Club Limburg News Page 7 Registration, accompanied by the Reverend Ge- yal Navy ships with their ensigns at half-mast. 1 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2021 IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2021 28 March 14.00 hrs AGM (TBC whether virtual or otherwise)

04 May Remembrance Ceremonies (If Covid restrictions are lifted)

10.00 hrs De Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaats, Amsterdam

17.45 hrs Blenheim Grave, Zuidoost Beemster

20.00 hrs Various locations across the country

AMSTERDAM BRANCH 1077

Welfare

If you know a member who is ill or in need of the that we may be able

to offer, please inform the Honorary Welfare Officer John Bright, or any

other committee member.

Membership

Please let the Membership Secretary or any Committee member know

whenever address changes take place or if you are aware that a

member has died. We don’t mind how many times we are told because

it prevents the extremely embarrassing and hurtful situation for others

when mail is still addressed to someone who has passed away.

Internet

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address to our distribution list.

Members on e-mail have the added benefit of receiving the bulletin

early and in colour.

2 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN JUNE 2020 Text from page 1 continued lined with thousands, to the Cenotaph, which was symboli- cally unveiled by King George V. at 11 am. After two minutes si- lence The King placed a wreath of red roses on the casket, and together with members of the Royal Family and various State- men, he followed the Cortege to Westminster Abbey. There the casket was taken into the Abbey, passing along a guard of honour formed by recipients of the Victoria Cross and other bravery awards. Guests of Honour, seated in the nave, included bereaved mothers and wives who had lost more than one member of their family. The coffin was placed over the open grave and the helmet, webbing, bayonet and Union The Stone is engraved, with brass from melted down ammunition flag, which still hangs in the Abbey, were remo- Armed forces servicemen stood guard as Thus, are commemorated the Many ved from the casket. As it was lowered into the mourners filed slowly past; 40,000 by the end Multitudes who during the Great War of grave the King scattered earth from one of the of the day. Instead of closing to the public on 1914 – 1918 gave the most that man can battlefields on to it. 11th November, the public were permitted to give, life itself, for God, King and Country, pass for another three days. On 18th Novem- for loved ones, home and Empire, for the ber the grave was finally filled with earth that had been brought over from the battle fields, Freedom of the World. They Buried him and was covered by a temporary Stone. among Kings because he had done good In 1921 the tomb was permanently closed toward God and toward his house. with a Black Belgian Marble Stone (the only tomb in the Abbey on which it is forbidden to walk). On the Stone is engraved, with brass from melted down ammunition the following text: Beneath this Stone rests the body of a British Warrior unknown by name or rank. Brought from France to lie among the most illus- trious of the land and buried here on Armistice Day 11th November 1920, in the presence of His Ma- jesty King George V, His Ministers of State, The Chiefs of His Forces and a vast There are also four quotations from the concourse of the Nation. New Testament on the top, sides and bottom. Addendum On 7th October 1921, the United States of America gave their highest bravery award (The Medal of Honour) to the Unknown Warrior, which hangs on a pillar next to the tomb. And on 11th November 1921, Great Britain recipro- cally awarded the Victoria Cross to the American Unknown Soldier. When Prince Albert, who later became King George VI, married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1926, she placed her bouquet on the tomb. Since then, all Royal brides married at the Abbey now have their bouquets laid on the tomb the day after their wedding. When Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother died in 2002, it was her wish for her wreath to be placed on the tomb. Queen Elizabeth II did so the day after her mother’s funeral. On Wednesday 10th November 1920 the French chose their unknown soldier in a manner similar to that of the British, and on 11th November 1920 he was laid to rest under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

3 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2021 The Royal Air Forces Association Announcements The Chairman’s Chat

This will be the 91st and last time I shall be writing this column because I shall not seek re-election and will be standing down as Branch Chairman at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM).

I wrote my first Chat in June 1997, shortly after being elected. Much has taken place over the 23 years that I have been writing these pieces, and it seems ironical that, Members will remember the because of COVID-19 there is in this bulletin almost nothing to report or comment donation made to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. on, simply because there have been no Branch activities since the AGM in March The money has been used to refurbish cottages at Rustington 2020. The committee has not been able to meet since then but has, I am pleased to and a plaque has been placed say, maintained contact by email and/or telephone. I have personally taken part in one of the cottages to commemorate our donation. in a couple of virtual meetings of the European Area Council, of which I am a Vice-

President, but I didn’t like them. However, I believe this will be the way much of the Association’s business will take place in the future, but it remains my opinion that it will never be as good as meeting personally.

A few months ago, when John and I decided to stand down from our respective

Amsterdam Branch offices, the future of the branch looked quite bleak as, at that time, we thought there would be no one who would take over the functions we were relinquishing. How wrong we were! I am very pleased to inform you that the future of the branch now appears secure as several members have put their names forward to stand for election as Committee Officers and they are, in my opinion, most suitable people to effectibly carry out the respective Branch responsibilities.

They all embrace the modern means of communicating and doing business, so it will be inevitable that changes will take place. But I know they also embrace the core values of the Association. I also know for a fact that there are plans for activities in which members will be invited to participate. Meanwhile, I shall remain available to offer advice and assistance to the new committee, should it be required. We extend a warm welcome to the I would like to thank all members for supporting me and our committees over the following New Members: Mr R Bell years. I hope you will continue to offer your support to the new Branch committee. Mr C R Edwards Mr S Rae Finally, Covid 19 has created strange times, but together we can get through this if Mr A W Scheepstra we keep to the Government’s guidance, even We remember with sadness though it may be difficult at times. Please look the passing of the following members: Mr B Evenboer - Haarlem after one another and stay safe. Mr JA van Soest - Wijk bij Duurstede My very best wishes to you and your families. Mrs F Finch-van der Velde - Kortenhoef 4 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2021 RAFALO’s News

RAF Deliver COVID Vaccine After offering our condolences on the death of DameVera Lynn, we received An RAF A400 delivered 6000 CO- the following letter from Dame Vera’s daughter. VID Pfizer vaccines to Gibraltar on 9 Jan 2021. The move was in support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

RAF to Receive Wedgetail The RAF will receive five Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to be operated by 8 Sqn from RAF Lossiemouth from 2023. They will replace the Boeing E-3D

Red 1 Handover On 9 Oct Sqn Ldr Martin Pert handed over team leader of the Red Arrows to Sqn Ldr Tom Bould. Lets hope the 2021 display season is better then 2020!

5 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2021 7 th November - Remembrance Ceremony Long before 2019 ended we started making plans wealth War Graves site, at the Nieuwe Ooster Begraafplaats, for the 4th May Service and Ceremony at the Blen- we were compelled to cancel the ceremony. John accordingly heim Field Grave in Zuidoost Beemster. The reason informed all the regular attendees of this. However, we were later for such early preparations was because we had been given permission to hold a restricted service, with social distan- informed by the Dobb family, who are relatives of the cing, for a small number of people. pilot buried there, that they would be travelling from Together with our Honorary Chaplain, the Reverend Dr. Lance Canada and Australia to attend the ceremony. Stone, we altered the service to shorten the time at the graves. Sadly, Covid-19 prevented that from happening, and But alas, three days prior to the 7th November, we were told the the family have postponed their attendance until 2022. ceremony could not take place, except with only four persons and When the Dutch Government announced the first COVID-19 a trumpeter. Malcolm Mason subsequently attended, along with restrictions in March, we had no idea how long they would last. As cemetery staff and, after the Last Post and two minutes silence, it became evident that we would not be able to hold our annual five wreaths were placed at the Cross of Sacrifice, as two Edam- November Remembrance Service at the Amsterdam Common- busters flew over in salute. You can see a short film of the ceremony at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYysS5nz8DI&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=EdwinButterFotografie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POEKQ_wx5TQ&ab_channel=wilbertmulders

Photos Edwin Butter Fotografie 8 th November - Remembrance Sunday Jim Beattie paraded the Branch Standard at the English Reformed Church and his wife, Patricia, read the reading.

Sunday 28th March 2021 RAFA Amsterdam Branch Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting this year will be conducted on line. Information concerning the meeting is included, for members only, in the attachments to this bulletin.

14.00 hours Dedication Agenda Item 1. Chairman’s Opening Remarks 5. Honorary Treasurer’s Report 2. Apologies 6. Elections 3. Chaiman’s Report 7. Date of the next AGM

4. Various other Reports John Bright. Hon. Secretary

6 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2021 RAFA Club Limburg

Programme RAF Association Club Limburg - Year 2021 Club Evenings March 16 Annual General Meeting (Cheese and Pate to follow after meeting) April 20 Spring Bingo May 18 Barbecue Jan/Feb/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep Club Closed October 19 Horse Racing November 16 Autumn Bingo December 14 Christmas Buffet/Raffle (Start at 19:00 hours)

Commemorations April (TBC) Memorial/Remembrance-Roermond Cemetary Roermond May 4 Dodenherdenking (Civil & Military Kerkhof) Brunssum May 4 Dodenherdenking Linne May 31 (TBC) Margraten American War Cemetery Margraten October 5 Lancaster Memorial Service Brunssum November 8 (TBC) Remembrance Sunday Sittard November 11 (TBC) Annual Remembrance Brunssum November 12 (TBC) Monument voor Verdraagzaamheid Haelen / Leudal November 21/28 (TBC) COM Limburg Remembrance Service Sittard

Members wishing to attend the Margraten memorial ceremony are requested to contact the Chairman..

Important Information The annual membership subscription for Club Limburg for 2021 is STG Royal Air Force Association Amsterdam, Halfersstraat 7, € 20.00 as voted at AGM 2020. Payments can be made in cash to 6077 CX Sint Odilienberg. Subscriptions should be made prefera- the Hon Treasurer (Rex Thompson) or through the ING Bank a/c bly before the AGM via the bank account or paid at the AGM in IBAN: NL24 INGB 0000 717097 in the name of: cash if in attendance.

The composition of the Club Committee is presently as follows: Reminder Chairman/Hon Treasurer/Hon Secretary Rex Thompson Gatherings of Club Limburg are Vice Chairman Steve Goodison held in Café Rumpener Beemden, RAFALO Sergeant Martin Hollow Heugerstraat 2a, 6443 BS Brunssum Welfare Rep Vacant (next to the Rumpener Sporthal - Committee Member Vacant normally 19:30 hrs for 20:00 hrs start).

We hope to see you there on the dates noted above. Please note the Club is required to conduct an AGM in March 2021. I would hope to do this online (via Zoom) if the pandemic prevents meeting in person. If this would cause any difficulty for individual members, please let me know in due course. Updates will be provided on gatherings and events as necessary.

7 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2021