The Repatriation of Serjeant Steven Campbell (3 Rifles) will take place on –
Tuesday, 30th March, 2010
Flypast over Wootton Bassett 11:00 hours - RAF scheduled timing
Family Service Starts 12:00 hours - RAF scheduled timing
Cortege is expected to leave RAF Lyneham at about 13:10 hours +/- 30 minutes Distance to be covered approximately 4 miles to Wootton Bassett Wootton Bassett 13:25 hours +/- 30 minutes - Rough estimate of departure time from Wootton Bassett (20 minutes average to Gable X Pol Stn) Distance to be covered approximately 13 miles to GX Police Station Gable Cross Police Station (A420) 13:45 hours +/- 30 minutes - Thames Valley Police estimated time to take over responsibility for Cortege (5 minutes average to Bridge over A420) Distance to be covered approximately 3.5 miles to Bridge over A420 Bridge over A420 (carrying B4000) 13:50 hours +/- 30 minutes (5 minutes average to UKDA) Distance to be covered approximately 1.5 miles to UK Defence Academy UK Defence Academy (A420) 13:55 hours +/- 30 minutes (5 minutes average to Folly Lay-by) Distance to be covered approximately 4.5 miles to Folly Lay-by Folly Lay-by (A420) 14:00 hours +/- 30 minutes (45 minutes average to JRH)
St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church 14:40 hours +/- 30 minutes
John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) 14:45 hours +/- 30 minutes - Thames Valley Police estimated time of arrival at the John Radcliffe Hospital
REPATRIATION REPORT
Tuesday 30 March, 2010
From operations in Afghanistan, the repatriation of: Serjeant Steven Campbell (30) 3rd Battalion, The Rifles
Sjt Campbell was killed by an IED while on operations with 3 Rifles Battle Group 3km south east of Sangin, Helmand Province, on 22 March 2010.
Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate (26), Household Cavalry Regiment LCplH Woodgate was killed by a grenade while on operations with the Household Cavalry Battle Group Brigade Reconnaissance Force at Sangin, Helmand Province, on 26th March 2010.
Rifleman Daniel Holkham (19), 3rd Battalion, The Rifles Rfn Holkham was killed by an explosion caused by a suicide bomber while on operations with 3 Rifles Battle Group at Sangin, Helmand Province, on 27th March 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 (1410) This report from Duncan Wostenholm
A good number of people, many family and friends, joined the public in the High Street of Wootton Bassett on a grey and raining day. There was a good number of uniformed military personnel from various regiments, including a contingent of the Army Cadet Force from the home town of one of the fallen. Mayor Steve Bucknell and Mayoress Alison Bucknell attended, as well as Major Chris Willis of The Rifles. The varied berets of the local veterans made a colourful display with numerous regiments identifying all three services. Our three stalwart RMA members John, Dave and Stuart sporting their green berets and sheltering under a borrowed estate agent’s umbrella! (tough lot, these Marines! - Scribe) The RBL Bikers were as always in attendance, assisting the families. There were 25 standards paraded: Royal British Legion - Swindon, Hungerford, Potterne, Dursley & Cam, Merthyr Tydfil, Abertillery, Dinnington and Rotherham. Regimental Association standards: Household Cavalry - NW Yorkshire, Royal Berkshire - Windsor, 43 Wessex Brigade, Royal Observer Corps 12 Group, RNA Calne, RAFA Calne, Royal Irish Rangers, 1st Parachute Regiment - Swindon, Canal Zone - Wiltshire & Gloucestershire, Air Training Corps - Lyneham, Royal Regiment of Wales (24th Foot), 3 standards of The Rifles Association, 2 standards of the Royal Dorset Regiment, Light Infantry and Korean War Veterans. As the cortege left, the father of LCpl Woodgate thanked the crowd for the honour and respect shown to his son. Note from Scribe - also at Wootton Bassett were the two brothers of Rifleman Daniel Holkham who are both currently serving in the same battalion in Afghanistan.
This report from Steve Blundell - RBL Riders
Today at 1405 with the skies pouring down on us saw 27 Riders along with 17 motorcycles, paying our respects along with a good crowd of the friends and families of those repatriated. Not too many locals out (29 - thanks for counting them, Andy). Standards from a variety of regiments and associations. A cold, grey and very wet day added to the sombre mood. Thanks to all who attended to represent us; both the usual suspects and a few new faces. Good to see you all - hope all got home safe and sound.
Gable Cross Police Station - On the A420 just east of the junction with the A419 (1420)
This report from Jim Semple, RAFA
Three standards were present: Royal Engineers - Swindon Branch, Royal Signals - Swindon Branch and the RAF Lyneham Old Boys Association. 18 veterans were in attendance, plus 122 police officers and 42 members of the public. The salute was ordered by Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett of the Wiltshire Constabulary.
At the Road Bridge - over the A420 between Shrivenham and Highworth (1430)
This report from Derrick Jeans, RAFA
The cortege passed slowly through the heavy rain, watched by six people, with further motorists stopping to pay their respects. United Kingdom Defence Academy - at the Watchfield Roundabout on the A420, adjacent to the UKDA. (1436) The cortege passed us rather briskly - I reckon at about 20 - 25 mph. We do hope that in future the passing is a bit slower. Many of those attending had driven for more than two hours to get there, so five seconds to pay one‘s respects seems a bit brief. There were the two usual standards on parade: RMA Poole & District, and Guildford. 10 RMA veterans and as always the RA and Canal Zone veterans, attended, along with uniformed members of the armed forces: 5 Majors of The Rifles, a Major of the Parachute Regiment, a Major of the Queens Royal Lancers, and a Major RMP. About 15 academy staff and members of the public also helped to line the route at this point. The salute was ordered by WO1 John Baskerville RAF Regiment, the CWO of JSSC.
Folly Hill Layby - east of Faringdon on the A420, just north of the A417 junction
This report by Joy Blake
We had almost 70 people attending the Folly Hill lay-by for the repatriation yesterday for the three soldiers returned to the UK. Although the weather was typically “April showers”, some stayed in their cars until the community police arrived with their hot drinks and some stayed in their cars until the cortege had passed by Gable Cross, before alighting. However, when the cortege passed us at 1450, the sun had come out. My sincere thanks to Blondie for always keeping us aware of the whereabouts of the cortege. Amongst members of the Farringdon & District Royal British Legion were those also from Bampton, Newbury and Wantage, as well as the Faringdon Town Mayor (Dr Mike Wise) and the Chairman of the Vale of the White Horse District Council (Mrs Alison Rooke). Also present among the veterans wearing their caps and badges was the Chairman of the Vale Branch of RBL, town councillors and many people from Faringdon and surrounding villages. The standards paraded were the Union Flag, RBL Faringdon, Bampton, Beedon, Shrivenham, Wantage, Oxfordshire Womens Section and the Wantage Royal Naval Veterans Association.
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
- near St Anthony Padua Parish Church, Headley Way.
This report from John Walker, RDG
We here in Oxford at the final turn stood to honour the above three soldiers. There were 65 veterans in berets and 35 other from all three services. The normal huge gathering (many hundreds) of the Oxford public, all the way up Headley Way to where we parade. There were six Royal British Legion standards: Oxford City, Islip, Wheatley, Kidlington, Littlemore and Chalgrove. There were four association standards: Coldstream Guards, Royal Navy Oxford, Canal Zone Oxford and RAF Benson (the first time on our parade, carried by WO Steve Gubby, a 30+ year serving man), and the standard of the St George Society and the Banner of the Royal Dragoon Guards. (Excuse me asking John, but am I right in thinking that cavalry introduced the smaller banner instead of the normal big standard flag, because the latter tended to blind the carrier when he was at the full charge? - this only because I’m interested in military history - Scribe) Once again, hot drinks and food now supplied by the veterans and served by them. Our famous cake lady did us proud yet again, as did her other half Ian, helping me put this together and helping with the organising in general, along with Graham (Para) and Rus (Royal Signals). The weather was light rain at times, but very cold. We once again thanked the church for the use of their facilities (washrooms and huge car park). Thames Valley Police doing their duties to the full. Reports tell us there were huge crowds all along the Oxford ring roads leading up to the final turn.
-- Edited by Administrator on Wednesday 7th of April 2010 10:02:01 AM
