OCTOBER / NR 233 PUBLISHED EVERY THREE MONTHS

The Valiant Fighters A large number of Polish expats Polish pilots. Flight Lieutenant John A Kent, One pilot, Sergeant Antoni Glowacki of attend our November Remembrance who was later posted to 303 (Polish) Fighter No. 501 Squadron RAF, claimed five enemy ceremony at Amsterdam, where there Squadron during the Battle of Britain, wrote bombers shot down in three combat sorties are 18 graves of Polish aircrew. at the time: ‘All I knew about the Polish Air on 24th August 1940. During the Battle of It is interesting to know that the Force was that it had only lasted Britain, a total of 145 experienced about three days against the Polish airman fought Poles played an important role in Luftwaffe, and I had no reason in the conflict – the the Royal Air Force’s war against the to suppose that they would largest non-British Luftwaffe, as you can read below. shine any more brightly opera- contingent. Sadly, 31 Poland was invaded by the German ting from England’. Polish pilots died in Army on September 1st 1939. The Polish As Fighter Command the conflict. Four Polish armed forces put up a valiant fight but the casualties mounted over the officers were awarded odds were stacked against them - they were summer and it ran out of ne- the Distinguished Flying outnumbered and outmatched by the well wly trained pilots, the military Cross. trained and equipped German forces. After chiefs turned to the Poles, The C in C of Figh- their country’s defeat, tens of thousands of who were keen to fight ter Command ACM Polish servicemen made their way to France. against the Nazis, and in July Sir Hugh Dowding later It was there that the Polish Air Force was and August, two of the first commented: recreated and established under the Com- Polish fighter squadrons, “Had it not been for the mand of the Commander in Chief, General Nos. 302 and 303, were magnificent work of the Wladyslaw Sikorski. But after the German established. Polish pilots in RAF squadrons Continuation on page 2 invasion of and fall of France, the first Polish played a substantial role in all operati- REGULAR ITEMS pilots reached Britain on December 8th ons against the Luftwaffe; 303 Squadron Announcements Page 3 1939. By June 1940 the number of Polish (nicknamed the Kosciuszko squadron after Chairman’s Chat Page 3 airmen on British soil had reached 2,164, an 18th century Polish general), achieved Coming Events Page 6 eventually swelling to 8,384. The British were the highest number of victories (126) of all at first doubtful about the flying skills of the fighter squadrons involved in the battle. Club Limburg News Page 7

1 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020 Polish Squadrons and their unsurpassed gal- many more. PAF bombers flew 11,700 lantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of sorties, dropping 15,000 tons of bombs and the battle would have been the same.” mines. Polish crews flew 18,000 ferry flights, Polish fighter pilots became instant cele- transported 24,400 people and 1,300 tons brities with all classes of British society. Wai- of cargo. ters refused to take payments for their meals The PAF flew 1,300 special duty opera- in restaurants, bar owners paid for their tional flights. A total of 1,900 Polish airmen drinks and bus conductors allowed them were killed and more than 300 became free journeys. Polish combat losses during prisoners of war. the war were replenished by volunteers of Polish origin in the United States, Canada, South America and other countries. By the end of the war a total of 19,500 Poles served in the Air Force. This figure does not include the1,436 women who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. The Po- lish Air Force (PAF) also set up schools for aircrew, me- chanics and two technical apprentices’ schools, one in England at RAF Halton and the other in Egypt. After the Battle of Britain, the Polish Air Force continued to serve alongside the RAF with bombers over Germany, in Coastal Command against submarines, with fighters supporting land operations and against VI flying bombs, until the last day of the war. By early 1941 the PAF listed 13 units – eight Members of the Polish fighter squadron at rest between operations fighter, four bomber and one reconnaissance After VE day, Sir Archibald Sinclair, The squadron. In 1943 and 1944 a further two British Air Minister, wrote: observation squadrons were formed. The “We do not forget that you were the first PAF fought in Tunisia in 1943 with the Polish to resist the aggressor. Neither do we Fighting Team (nicknamed “Sklaski’s Circus). forget that you came after trials to our In late 1941 and early 1942 Polish bomber aid when we most needed help. Your amounted to a sixth of forces available to valiant squadrons fighting alongside our Bomber Command. Sadly, they later suffered own were in the forefront of the Battle of heavy losses- a total of 929 Bomber Com- Britain and so helpful to restore the fortu- mand Poles were killed. nes of the Allies throughout the years of During the Warsaw Uprising, British, struggle. In good times and bad you have South African and Polish special duties stood by us and shared with the RAF their squadrons delivered weapons and supplies losses and their victories”. to the resistance but when their aircraft were Sadly, for fear of upsetting Stalin, the prevented from landing on Soviet airfields all incoming Labour government banned Polish flights were cancelled except those by the units from the official victory parade of Al- lied servicemen in London. The historian Polish 301 Special Duties Squadron which Zamoyski wrote: “From being indispensable, continued, earning them the name “Defen- they were suddenly redundant. The risks they ders of Warsaw”. took and the sacrifices they made were ne- From August 1940 to May 1945, PAF ver fully understood, let alone appreciated”. fighters flew in excess of 73,500 sorties, Source: destroying 762 enemy aircraft, and damaging Imperial War Museum/wikipaedia/House of Commons Library 2 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020 The Royal Air Forces Association Announcements The Chairman’s Chat The British Consulate-General Amsterdam has moved to the British Embassy in The Hague. This bulletin is not the same as the bulletins of the past as, unfortu- The new address of the Consulate is: British Embassy nately, there is not a lot to write about. This made me think about the changes that Lange Voorhout 10 have taken place since I have been involved with the publication of the Branch bul- 2514 ED The Hague Telephone: 0031 (0)70 -427 04 27 letins from 1982. Originally, I was responsible for the mailing; thereafter I gradually British Nationals wishing to contact took on more tasks, such as printing, writing and in addition, these days, sending the Consulate, are requested to use the website enquiry page: the bulletin to members with email addresses. www.contactembasy.service.gov. From typewriting and stencilling in the early days to the product we have today has been achieved by using various developments such as word processors and compu- ter programmes. Some of the computer programmes I have been able to keep up The future of with, but I must admit that the IT being used these days has me baffled. For today’s the Branch As a result of the article in Bulletin RAFA I am expected to be able to use a number of programmes with names such as 232, and the appeal in the letter which was sent to all members resident in Cloud, Zoom, Huddle, Datumprikker, Survey Monkey and many more, but I just can’t Holland, we have had a number of keep up with all of them. I have recently taken part in virtual meetings, which I did reactions, several of which were most positive. not like at all as I much prefer the face to face meetings. I have to conclude that Fortunately, therefore, several mem- as this is the way things are developing, then I feel my announcement that I will bers have come forward to offer their services for key roles on the committee, not seek re-election as Chairman and Treasurer, is justified. The time has come for but we still need a couple more to serve someone with modern ideas to take over the reins, and to that end I still appeal for on the committee in order to secure the continuation of the Branch. members to come forward to take on the various tasks that will become vacant at We urgently next year’s AGM. need your help with this, or your suggestions Covid-19 has caused many problems for the Association and our branch hasn’t been of anyone who could make this commitment. spared. All the events and meetings we planned for this year have had to be can- celled. As it is highly unlikely that the situation will change soon, we have, albeit reluctantly, had to cancel the Annual Remembrance Ceremony at the Amsterdam De

Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery in November, the first time since 1972. However, the com- mittee will place a wreath to honour and remember those who paid the ultimate price for the freedom we enjoy today.

Finally, these are very strange and difficult times, the likes of which I have never ever experienced before, not even during the war years. So please, together with your loved ones, stay safe. Hopefully things will We record with sadness the passing of the following Life Members: return to normal before too long and that we Mr F A Asselbergs - Ulvenhout Mr J C Hoedeman - Zeist will be able to celebrate Christmas and enjoy Mr J Lee - Eastbourne, England Dame - Ditchling, England a happy Covid free 2021.

3 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020 Dame Vera Lynn - an icon with no airs or graces

Born Vera Margaret Welch, because very few entertainers on the 20th of March 1917, at went there. On 23 March she and East Ham, London, she was her accompanist left the UK in a the younger child of a Cockney Sunderland Flying boat. When they plumber and his dressmaker were at Cairo, she sang for 3,500 wife. At just two years of age troops in the desert, followed by Vera could sing several songs, performances at various locations but when she was three, she en-route to Bombay. In India she became so seriously ill, that gave several performances, some- her life could have been ended. times three in a day. She survived, however, and at She eventually arrived at her the age of seven she sang in an main objective, Burma, in May East End Working Men’s Club – she 1944, where she sang at the front earned seven shillings and sixpence - her largest audience numbered and was paid extra for encores. 6,000. She returned to England in She adopted the name Lynn June 1944 and in July sang with when she was eleven as it was her the great Glen Miller Band. grandmother’s maiden name, and After the war ended Vera sang by then she was earning more each for the troops stationed in Ger- week than her parents, combined, many, after which she took a rest Born Vera Margaret Welch became Vera Lynn were. She wasn’t a good scholar and left before giving birth to her daughter Virginia in Meanwhile, in 1940, Harry joined the school at 14 to work in a clothing factory 1946. The BBC was still of the opinion that Royal Air Force and a year later he married where she would have earned six shillings her songs were too sentimental and asked and sixpence a week, but after just one day Vera, dressed in his RAF uniform at Maryle- her to change, but she would not, so she she quit. However, in the following years her bone Register Office. Vera topped a news- moved to Radio Luxembourg instead. career started to take form and at 16, Billy paper poll for the best female vocalist and In 1950 she recorded the song ‘Auf Cotton hired her for a couple of shows at £5 became known as ‘The ’. Wiedersehn’ which became a hit in the UK a week. She eventually worked for Joe Loss As a result of this, in 1941 the BBC offered and the USA. At the same time, she ap- when aged eighteen and made her first radio her a weekly radio show, ‘Sincerely ’, peared in ‘London Laughs’ at the West End broadcast. In 1937, she joined Ambrose’s top which became very popular and generated with top stars. Various hits followed as did dance band where she earned a good salary, massive amounts of fan mail. Some retired tours of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa permitting her to buy an Austin 10 for £ 200 Generals and MPs all said the sentimental and Canada. and a large house in Upney Lane, Barking. songs would create homesickness among When commercial TV started in the UK, the troops, a thought that was also shared by Vera was given her own show which ran for the BBC’s Board of Governors. Her fame led 17 weeks before she returned to work for to her making three films during the war, one the BBC. She appeared with top international of which was ‘We’ll Meet Again’, which was artists such as: Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, The shot in 1942. She was not a great actress, Beatles and was given, in 1969, her own TV but that did not affect her popularity. series by the BBC. In addition to her Burma Star, Vera Lynn received a large number of other awards; she was appointed OBE in 1969 for services to the RAFA and other charities, and appointed DBE in 1975, Commander in the Order of Oranje Nassau in 1977, Officer in the Order of St John in 1997 and created a Companion of Honour in 2016. She was granted the Freedom of the City of London in 1978, and also received several Honorary Doctorates. Vera was patron to Harry Lewis, a saxophonist and clarinettist many charities, as well as setting up several Two years later she met the man who charities of her own (The Stars Organisation would eventually become her husband, Vera joined the Entertainment Natioal Service Association for Spastics, The Vera Lynn Breast Cancer Harry Lewis, a saxophonist and clarinettist. In early 1944 she felt that she should Research Trust and the Vera Lynn Trust for In that same year she first sang what could do something for the troops overseas and Children with Cerebral Palsy). be considered to be her most famous song, joined ENSA (Entertainment National Service Dame Vera’s connection with the Amster- ‘We’ll Meet Again’. The song was especially Association) where she offered to go to the dam Branch began in 1972 when she first > significant for war time Britain. forgotten army in the far east for four month, Continuation on page 5 4 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020 attended the Branch’s Spring Charity Ball in Nursing Home ’Sussexdown’ in Storrington, remember her humorous words on my last the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel, and at which West Sussex. She continued to honour the visit in 2019, when I gave her a 1500 gm she sang. In 1977, the year she was ap- branch with her presence there until the final Edammer Cheese. She said; “It was a good pointed Commander in the Order of Oranje Dutch Day in 2011. Over all the years since job your boys didn’t throw these out on Nassau, the Minis- she first came to Amsterdam, she Dutch Day”.’ ter of State Wim received tulips and daffodils for her Dame Vera sadly passed away, aged 103, Polak, placed the garden. Originally, these were taken on 18th June 2020. She is survived by her decoration over her over to Sussexdown and Dame Vera daughter Virginia with husband Tom, and two shoulders at that by Piet Preijde, a Dutch Bulb grower, grandchildren. Her funeral took place priva- year’s ball. but in later years, after Piet died, the tely on the 10th July. Her coffin bearers and It was also in branch sent boxes of flowering bulbs the lining party were drawn from all three of 1977 she accepted to her every October. HM Armed Forces. Malcolm Mason the invitation to be- It has been a great privilege for come an Honorary me to have had personal contact with Life Member of the Dame Vera after becoming Chairman Amsterdam Branch. in 1997. From 2011 until last year I Ten years later she visited her at least once each year celebrated her 70th Appointed Commander Vera Lynn at her home, where we would chat birthday at the ball. The 17th and last time over a cup of tea. She was always char- she sang at the ball was in 1989. Sadly, her ming, friendly, kind and on each occasion, husband died later that year. she asked me about the branch and the During all those years she was our regu- members. In spite of her age, her memories lar Guest of Honour at the Branch’s Dutch of the Dutch, the Spring Charity Ball and

Days which took place at the former RAFA Dutch Days were still very clear. I particularly Vera Lynn, Jan Flinterman and daughter Virginia

5 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020 Unfortunately, the Covid 19 pande- our DNO Amsterdam Remembrance terdam has been declared by Dutch Prime mic has had an enormously negative Ceremony in November. Minister Rutte to be under more stringent impact on our lives and, in particular, our Our two main social events of the year regulations. social interactions. Your committee has have also fallen victims to this situation; It is therefore better to ‘be safe than already had to decline invitations to attend our popular summer BBQ could not be sorry’ and to abide with the, albeit neces- ceremonies that were important events in held and now it is with great regret that sary, restrictions in our daily lives. our previous yearly calendar attendances; we must inform you that our usually well- indeed, several of these have since also attended annual Christmas Lunch will also May we hope for a more positive been cancelled. not go ahead. The regular venue for this development in our individual, family These have included our own Beem- is held in one of three cities, Amsterdam, and community interaction in the future ster Blenheim field grave ceremony and which, along with Den Haag and Rot- months and especially in 2021.

Disappointing News Shortly after we announced the donation of € 10,000 to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, we received a message from Air Marshal Mr M A A Mason MBE Chris Elliot, Controller of the Fund, part of Chairman RAFA Amsterdam Branch which is displayed hereby. Mesdaghout 67 Subsequently the Branch Committee 8072 JG Nunspeet has decided that the money should now The Netherlands go to the refurbishment of those cottages. 26 March 2020

Dear Mr Mason,

I would have preferred to be introducing myself as Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund under happier circumstances, but I regret that I am writing to you to share some unwel come news. I am sorry to inform you that the Board of Trustees of the Fund has reluctantly- decided to permanently close our care and respite centre, Princess Marina House.

This decision has not been taken lightly and is taken with great sadness, as we know it is a unique and special place both to work and to visit. Like so many organisations, the Fund has found itself in an unprecedented situation because of the impact of Covid-19 which would, inevitably, have fundamentally changed how Princess Marina House operated.

I am sure that this will be particularly disappointing news for you, as RAFA Amsterdam made a donation of € 10,000 in March of this year. It’s with a very heavy heart that the board decided to close, when donors like you have given generously to Princess Marina House. Our intention is to retain the separate cottages for breaks for serving RAF personnel and their families, to which I know part of your contribution was to be allocated.’

Yours sincerely,

Air Marshal Chris Elliot Controller of the Fund

6 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN JUNE 2020

7 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020 RAFA Club Limburg

Programme RAF Association Club Limburg - Year 2020 (Covid Update Sep 2020) Club Evenings October 13 Horse Racing November 10 Autumn Bingo December 15 Christmas Buffet/Raffle (Start at 19:00 hours)

Commemorations September 27 Vleugels voor Vrijheid Pey/Echt September (TBC) Linnich Memorial Linnich (DE) October 5 Lancaster Memorial Service Brunssum November 8 Remembrance Sunday Sittard November 11 Annual Remembrance Brunssum November 12 (TBC) Monument voor Verdraagzaamheid Haelen / Leudal November 21/28 (TBC) COM Limburg Remembrance Service Sittard

Important Information The annual membership subscription for Club Limburg for 2020 is STG Royal Air Force Association Amsterdam, Halfersstraat 7, € 20.00 as voted at AGM 2019. 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 (Tel: 0475-203 562) Gatherings of Club Limburg are Vice Chairman Steve Goodison held in Café Rumpener Beemden, RAFALO Flight Sergeant Martin Hollow Heugerstraat 2a, 6443 BS Brunssum Welfare Officer Vacant (next to the Rumpener Sporthal - Committee Member Vacant normally 19:30 hrs for 20:00 hrs start).

All are asked to note that the dates of remaining gatherings for 2020 have changed as noted above. Anyone wishing to participate/attend should notify the Chairman in advance via email or telephone number above. This is to ensure the Café Rumpener can make the necessary arrangements to comply with social distancing rules.

Finally, please note that while some dates are known for upcoming commemorations, public attendance is severely limited owing to covid rules. As further information becomes available, I will inform the members. If in doubt, please contact the Chairman. Stay safe.

7 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020