Cortege is expected to leave RAF Lyneham at about 13:30 hours +/- 30 minutes
Wootton Bassett 13:55 hours +/- 30 minutes (20 minutes average to Gable X Pol Stn)
Gable Cross Police Station (A420) 14:15 hours +/- 30 minutes (5 minutes average to Bridge over A420)
Bridge over A420 (carrying B4000) 14:20 hours +/- 30 minutes (5 minutes average to UKDA)
UK Defence Academy (A420) 14:25 hours +/- 30 minutes (5minutes average to Folly Lay-by)
Folly Lay-by (A420) 14:30 hours +/- 30 minutes (40 minutes average to Parish Church)
St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church 15:10 hours +/- 30 minutes
John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) 15:15 hours +/- 30 minutes
REPATRIATION REPORT
Thursday 25 February, 2010
From operations in Afghanistan, the repatriation of:
Lieutenant Douglas Dalzell, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
Lt Dalzell was killed by an explosion while on operations with Battle Group Babaji under Operation Moshtarak, in the HelmandProvince on 18 February 2010. His platoon Sergeant was killed in November 2009.
Lance Sergeant David Walker (36), 1st Battalion Scots Guards.
L/Sgt Walker was fatally wounded while under fire on patrol on Operation Moshtarak in the HelmandProvince, on 18th February 2010.
Service veterans and members of the public turned out in the following “stations of vigil” to pay their respects to the fallen as the cortege made its way on the 43 mile route from the point of arrival at RAF Lyneham to the John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford.
Wootton Bassett - Town Centre (1400)
This report from Duncan Wostenholm
1,000+ members of the public, family, friends and townspeople lined the High Street for this repatriation. The stalwarts from the Royal British Legion Riders were present as were the usual contingent of veterans in berets, including 4 RMA. A number of uniformed military personnel attended, including 1 x Major, 2 x Captains and 2 x Lieutenants from the Coldstream Guards, along with Guardsmen old and new in civilian clothes; also 3 x Lieutenants from The Rifles.
Lord William Petty-Fitzmauricee, Chief Superintendent Steve Hedley and five uniformed town criers, including Wootton Bassett’s Owen Collier.
13 standards were paraded:
RBL Abertillery, Alyth, Dorsey & Cam, Hungerford and Stratton-St-Margaret.
Associations: Aden Veterans, RMA Bath, RNA Calne, Coldstream Guards Plymouth, Canal Zone, Royal Observer Corps 12 Group, 1st Parachute Regiment and Newport Branch Old Comrades of the Royal Regiment of Wales (24th Foot).
This report from Steve Blundell - RBL Riders
It was slightly warmer and a heck of a lot dryer than last week and saw today’s repatriation come through Wootton Bassett at 14:22. Many of Douglas Dalzell’s family and friends were there along with some of Davey Walker’s family. A fair few from both their regiments were also in attendance. 13 standards were flown. We had 21 Riders there, along with 15 of our motorcycles and one family member, 1 trike and 1 other motorcycle were also there with us along with 6 friends. As is now standard, we were thanked by both families for our attendance, which was greatly appreciated. Thanks go again for all who turned up, both old and new faces. Sadly, we had the news of two more KIA while we were there, so on it goes. I will post that info as and when released.
Gable Cross Police Station - On the A420 just east of the junction with the A419 (1500)
This report from Pat Bristow, RMA
Three standards were paraded:
RMA Swindon, Royal Engineers Association, Swindon and the Lyneham Old Boys.
13 veterans attended, along with 100 police officers and about 32 members of the public. We noticed a photographer accompanying the cortege, who took pictures of the people gathered at all the points along the route.
At the Road Bridge - over the A420 between Shrivenham and Highworth (1505)
This report from Derrick Jeans, RAFA
Just three people were at the bridge over the A420 as the time coincided with a funeral at the village church. We were joined by a passing motorist.
United Kingdom DefenceAcademy- at the Watchfield Roundabout on the A420, adjacent to the UKDA. (1425)
Two standards were present:
RMA Poole and District RMA Guildford
14 RMA veterans attended, along with veterans of the Canal Zone, Korean War and the Royal Artillery. Uniformed officers of the UK Defence Academy included Captain Jon Perkins RN, a Commander RN, 3 Majors of the Scots Guards, a Major of 24 Commando Regiment RE, a Major of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, a Major RMP, plus about 10 other officers whose regiments I regret I had no time to take note of, though there was a fair collection of light blue and green berets. It was also good to see about 20 members of the academy staff and public. The salute to the cortege was ordered by WO1 John Horton, RAF Regiment.
At this point, a special note of thanks to the UK Defence Academy for hosting a day’s visit by the RMA “route liners” the previous day. The group also included our excellent hosts at the College Farm pub, Owen and Ginny. After an excellent brief on the academy’s organisation and work, we were entertained to lunch and drinks, followed by a tour of the academy. The day gave us a most interesting insight into the academy. We hadn’t realised what a large, wide-ranging and superbly run place it is.
Folly Hill Layby - east of Faringdon on the A420, just north of the A417 junction
This report by Joy Blake
Almost 70 people attended the Folly Hill Lay-by, as the cortege passed us by at 1430. The community police were on hand again, with hot drinks, but because of duty timings, were late in arriving, so most of the drinks were not used.
There were once again many veterans, with berets and medals, together with townspeople and members of the RBL from surrounding towns. RBL representatives had travelled again from Maidenhead and RMA members from Henley-on-Thames. The Chairman of the Vale of the White Horse DC (Mrs Alison Rooke), Faringdon Town Mayor (Dr Mike Wise) and Chairman of the RBL Vale of the White Horse Branch (Mr David Drew) also attended.
Standards present included RBL Faringdon, Bampton, Beedon, Shrivenham, Reading and Wantage, and the RN Veterans Association, Wantage.
John RadcliffeHospital- near St Anthony Padua Parish Church, Headley Way. (1535)
This report from John Walker RDG:
65 veterans in berets and 40 others from all three services were in attendance. There was the normal huge turnout of the Oxford public, all the way up the hill to where we stood. There were 8 Royal British Legion standards: Chalgrove, Henley, Kidlington, Marston, Islip, Littlemore and OxfordCity.
Association standards included the Coldstream Guards, Royal Navy (Oxford), Canal Zone (Oxford), and the banner of the Royal Dragoon Guards Association .
There was a fire tender with a full crew from OxfordCity and a huge Union Flag. The weather this time was rainy and windy. The cortege passed us at 15:15. Sadly we hear that we will have to do it again next week. We will remember them.
PH (Duty Scribe)
-- Edited by Administrator on Saturday 27th of February 2010 01:25:07 PM
