3 RHA - Cadet Visit

 Visit to 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (3 RHA) by cadets from Northumbria ACF and the Californian Cadet Corps. 

 3 RHA IJ

 3 RHA MLRS

3 RHA MLRS IJ

3 RHA MLRS CG IJ

3 RHA OP Simulator IJ

3 RHA OP Simulator CG WM

3 RHA Jackal

3 RHA OP Gizmo

Beamish - Army Cadet Visit

 Visit to Beamish by cadets from Northumbrian Army Cadet Force and the Californian Cadet Corps.

Beamish Cadet visit

Beamish Cadet visit Fish and Chips

Beamish
Northumbria ACF / Californian Cadet Corps

RA Service of Remembrance 2024 NMA

 The  annual Royal Artillery Service of Remembrance held at the National Memorial  Arboretum. 

RA Service of Remembrance
Chelsea Pensioners and RAA Standard Bearers

The service was conducted by the Royal Artillery Honorary Padre, the focus of this years service being the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. 

RA Service of Remembrance

NMA D-Day Commemoration

On completion of the service participants moved to the Royal Artillery Garden of Remembrance. There the  Master Gunner of St James Park, Lieutenant General Andrew Gregory, unveiled a  statue to commemorate the Centenary of the Royal Artillery Association in 2020.

RAA Centenary Statue Unveiling

RAA Centenary Statue Unveiling

The RAA Centenary Statue features a figurine from the Royal Artillery Memorial on Hyde Park Corner.

RAA Centenary Statue

After the unveiling of the RAA Centenary Statue a wreath laying service was conducted. 

RA Remembrance Garden Service

RA Remembrance Garden Service
Wreath Laying

RA Remembrance Garden Service
Master Gunner lays wreath

RA Remembrance Garden Service
Newcastle Area Branches

National Memorial Arboretum - FEPOW

During World war Two it is estimated that 13,000 British prisoners of war (POWs) died in Japanese captivity, the victims of malnutrition, disease and violence.

The Far East Prisoner of War (FEPOW) building commemorates the service personnel and civilians who died in captivity as a result of maltreatment from their Japanese captors. 

Far East Prisoner of War Building

The Far East Prisoners of War Grove contains trees remembering individual FEPOWs. 

FEPOW Memorial Grove

Gunner William Knight
240 Battery 77 HAA Regiment RA

The Changi Lynch Gate was built at the entrance of the cemetery for Changi Jail, Singapore. It's aim was to provide some dignity  to those who had died in captivity. It was dismantled in 1971 when British troops withdrew from Japan. It was reconstructed at Bassingbourn Barracks where it remined util 2003 when it was moved to its present location in the National Memorial Arboretum. 

Changi Gate

The Burma Railway from Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now Myanmar) was constructed between 1940 and 1943. It was constructed using around 250,000 Asian civilians and Allied Prisoners of War. More than 90,000 civilians and 12,000 Allied POW's lost their lives during the building of the railway.

The Burma Railway memorial at the  National Memorial Arboretum remembers those working on that railway consists of an original 30 metres of the track. 

Burma Railway Memorial

Burma Railway Memorial

Along that railway is the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai. 

River Kwai Memorial

The Sumatra Railway Memorial remembers the 5,000 Allied POW's and 30,000 local labourers who were involved with the construction of the Sumatra Railway. It was completed on 15th August 1945, VJ Day, the day Japan surrendered. The railway was never used.

Sumatra Railway Memorial

Sumatra Railway Memorial

The Burma Star Memorial commemorates those who were awarded the Bruma Start or Pacific Star campaign medals. It bears the Kohima Epitaph. 

Burma Star Memorial

Burma Star Memorial

WHEN YOU GO HOME

TELL THEM OF US

AND SAY

FOR YOUR TOMMORROW

WE GAVE OUR TODAY

National Memorial Arboretum 2024 - Phantom Memorial

Phantom Memorial

Phantom was the GHQ Liason Regiment who's role was to operate in forward locations to send back intelligence and target information of strategic importance. 

They were deployed in France during Operation Overlord and at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden. 

The Phantom Memorial is dedicated to three signalmen who lost their lives on Operation Loyton supporting the Special Air Service (SAS). 

Operation Loyton

Operation Loyton was conducted between 12 August and 9 October 1944. Phantom teams and SAS commandos were parachuted into the Vosges Mountain. There task was to link up with the French Resistance and support them on operations.

During the operation 14 members of the SAS were killed in action. 31 members of the SAS and 3 signallers from Phantom were captured and murdered. 

The Phantom Memorial is dedicated to the three Signalmen murdered. 

Sergeant  Gerald Davis

Signalman George Johnston

Signalman Peter Bannerman 

Phantom Memorial

National Memorial Arboretum 2024 - Glider Pilot Regiment Memorial

 

Glider Pilot Regiment Memorial

The Glider Pilot Regiment was part of the British Airborne Forces from 1914 to 1957.  

The British airborne operations capability was set up under the direction of  Prime Minister Winston Churchill who was impressed by successful German airborne operations in Belgium in May 1940.  The Parachute Regiment was formed on 22 June 1940. The Glider Pilot Regiment was formed 21st December 1941.  

Glider Pilot Regiment formation

Glider pilots were volunteers from throughout Army and were trained by the RAF. All who qualified as pilots to serve in the Regiment were engaged at the minimum rank of Sergeant. 

Glider Pilot Regiment Pilots

The gliders were towed into to the landing zone areas by RAF aircraft. Once they were near the landing zone the tow ropes would be released and the gliders would glide to their allocated landing zone.  

Glider under tow

Glider Pilots and Troops in Glider

Once the glider pilots had landed their aircraft on a landing zone they would operate as infantry till they could be recovered for future operations. 

Glider Pilot operating as infantry

Glider Pilot Regiment Operations

Operation Freshman - 19 November 1942

​Landing of commandos to destroy German heavy water production at Vermok in Norway. 

Operation Freshman

Operation Ladbroke - 9/10 July 1943

Part of Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. Landing of  troops from the 1st Airborne Division close to the Ponte Grande bridge which they were to capture and hold.

Operation Ladbroke

Operation Fustian - 13/14 July 1943

Part of Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. This operation was the glider-borne section of a 1st Parachute Brigade assault on the Primosole Bridge. 

Operation Fustian - Primosole Bridge

For their contribution to Operation Husky the Glider Pilot Regiment were awarded the battle honours;

Landing in Sicily

Sicily 1943

Operation Bunghole - 19 February 1944

Transport of Russian military mission to meet up with Tito and his partisan force.

Operation Tonga - 5/6 June 1944

Initial airborne assault on Normandy as part of Operation Overlord. Operation included  coup de main landings at the Caen Canal and River Orne bridges, Benouville. The bridge captured over the Caen Canal would be name Pegasus Bridge. Glider borne troops were also part of the action that captured the Merville Battery.

Operation Tonga - Gliders ready for Normandy

Operation Tonga - Pegasus Bridge

Operation Tonga - Normandy

Operation Mallard - 6 June 1944

Part of Operation Overlord to land an armoured reconnaissance regiment direct to the battle-field. The operation also transported infantry and heavy support weapons. 

The Glider Pilot Regiment's contribution to Operation Overlord was recognised with the award of the battle honours;

Normandy Landing

Pegasus Bridge

Merville Battery

Operation Dingson 35A - 5 August 1944

Delivery of ​ thirty-five French SAS soldiers and ten jeeps to join up with French resistance fighters.

Operation Dragoon - 14 August 1944

Airborne element of the invasion of Southern France was carried out by 1st Airborne Task Force (a mix of Allied gliders and paratroops).

For their actions the Glider Pilot Regiment were awarded the battle honour;

Southern France

Market Garden - 17-19 September 1944

Part of the 6th Airborne Division operation to capture the bridge at Arnhem. Transport of 1st Airlanding Brigade.  

Arnhem

Arnhem Landing Zone

Arnhem Landing Zone

Glider Pilots fighting in Arnhem

RA Glider Borne Troops

1st Air landing Light Regiment RA

1st Forward Observation Unit (Airborne) RA

1st  Air landing Anti-Tank Battery RA

2nd   Air landing Anti-Tank Battery RA

The Glider Pilot Regiment were awarded the battle honour;

Arnhem 1944

Operation Manna - 13/14 October 1944

Operation to land troops and equipment at Megara to assist in the liberation and occupation of Athens.

Operation Varsity - 24 March 1945

Part of Operation Plunder, the Anglo-American-Canadian action to cross the northern Rhine River and from there enter Northern Germany. Combined gilder and paratroop airborne operation, largest in history. 

Operation Varsity

For their part in enabling the crossing of Rhine the Glider Pilot Regiment were awarded the battle honours;

Rhine

North-West Europe campaign of 1944–45

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The actions of the Glider Pilot Regiment during World War Two proved their motto Motto(s) Nihil est Impossibilis. "Nothing is Impossible"

National Memorial Arboretum
Glider Pilot Regiment Memorial
Battle Honours

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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the names of 477 of the Glider Pilot Regiment who lost their lives during he Second World War.

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The Colonel Commandant ot the  Glider Pilot Regiment was the notable Gunner Field Marshall  Alanbrooke,  Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) during the Second World War, and Churchill's military adviser.

In 1957 the Glider Pilot Regiment was merged with the Air Observation Squadrons of the Royal Artillery into a new unit to form the Army Air Corps (AAC). The need for military gliders was diminished with the introduction of the helicopter which took over the role of inserting units from the air during the 1950's.