 |
Harry Waugh raises the AFSA Flag at the National Memorial Aboretum
|
On Saturday, May 12th, members of the Air Formation Signals Association, supported by members of the Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Liverpool, South Stafford and Southport branches of the Royal Signals Association, 19th Signal Regiment Association and serving members of 21st and 22nd Signal Regiments, gathered together at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas to dedicate the Association's newly acquired standard and to plant and bless a tree dedicated to all who served in Air Support Signal Units.
The service was conducted by Rev Jim McManus, chaplain to the Association and the standard was presented for dedication by Mr Chris Collier, the Association Standard Bearer. The standards of the Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Liverpool, South Stafford and Southport branches of the RSA were paraded in support. Mrs Pam Morgan, Association Almoner, turned a page in the book of remembrance and read the poem 'A Soldier died Today' which attracted a round of spontaneous applause from the congregation. Mr Gerald Evans read the lesson and Lt Col Pat Soward spoke of the history of Standards and the background of Air Support Signals, 638 Signal Troop and the Red Hand of McNeill..
Following the service Signaller Tilak Bahadur Thapa, a piper from 22nd Signal Regiment, led the standard bearers and congregation from the chapel. Rev Jim McManus blessed a tree, the tenth in the Air Formation Signals Crescent, which Maj Ian Blower, OC 244 Signal Squadron, Maj Bernard Strange, late OC 638 Signal Troop, and WO2 Simon Lithgow , SSM 244 Signal Squadron, then ceremonially 'planted'. The tree has a plaque bearing the Red Hand and the inscription:
Dedicated to all who served in
Close Support Bomber Controls,
Air Support Signal Units,
638 Signal Troop
(Air Formation)
and
244 Signal Squadron
(Air Support)
The piper played a lament to signal a two minute silence and members of the congregation then made their way back to the visitor centre where a buffet awaited them. The weather, though overcast, remained dry for the ceremony. During lunchtime conversation several of our guests remarked that the ceremony had been 'a credit to the corps' and the prospect of a Corps memorial at the arboretum was also discussed.
It was Chris Collier's first outing as standard bearer and, having studied the drill book and practiced the movements, he attracted praise from the other standard bearers. He plans to parade the standard at Blandford over the coming RSA Reunion Weekend and the possibility of parading it at Colerne on Remembrance Day was suggested and discussed.
|
