42F (King's Lynn) Squadron Air Training Corps
Venture Adventure Since 1939
New: Online newsletter. Click here to view the most recent newsletter.
Please be patient as this may take some time. Alternatively right click on the above link, and click save target as. This will download the newsletter to your pc.
KEEP CALM AND RAISE THE ROYAL STANDARD
February 6th is a date that the
residents of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk will never forget. On that day
in 1952 the late King George VI died at his beloved Sandringham home and
the young Princess Elizabeth became our Queen.
On that same date sixty years later, in
2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, whilst herself staying at nearby
Sandringham House made her first official engagement of this Diamond
Jubilee year with a visit to the town’s historic Town Hall.
Before the Royal cars arrived a Jubilee
Flag was hoisted over the Old Gaol House next to the Town Hall by
the Mayors cadets
Her Majesty arrived at King’s Lynn Town
Hall at 10.50am, where around 150 members of the public braved the cold
to greet her. Flt Lt Pauline Petch of 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron, Air
Training Corps was on hand together with the King’s Lynn Mayors Cadets
Cpl Grant Ellis, (ATC) and
Ordinary Cadet Aaron Sleight (Sea Cadets) and also the Lords Lieutenants
Army Cadet.
As the Royal car pulled up at the
entrance to the Town Hall the Lord Lieutenants Cadet ensured its door
was opened smartly. After the dignitaries and Civic Officers had greeted
the Queen she was escorted into the building. At this point the two
Mayors cadets lowered the Union Flag that had been flying above the
buildings and raised the Royal Standard.
After the Queen had toured the historic
Stone Hall looking at the wealth of historical artefacts, including the
King John Cup, she entered the Assembly Rooms where invited guests that
included two members from each High School in the area watched as she
was read a Loyal Address by the Borough Mayor Councillor Colin Sampson.
"For 60 years your majesty has given
dedicated and exemplary service to the people of this country and the
Commonwealth. Locally, your majesty has made a matchless contribution to
our economy and brought enjoyment to many by inviting members of the
public to share so much of your Sandringham home. West Norfolk residents
are very appreciative of all that your majesty has done to support the
area and your majesty has earned a very special place in their hearts."
Her Majesty then signed a portrait and
the visitor’s book before leaving to travel to a primary school in the
nearby village of Dersingham.
As Her Majesty left the Town Hall and
the cars departed the Saturday Market Place the cadets lowered the Royal
Standard and replaced it once more with the Union Flag.
All young people who were involved on
the day were then presented with a commemorative coin by the Mayor and
thanked for their part in the ceremony.
Cadets Did Not Dodgems Their Duties
St Valentine’s Day, Tuesday 14th
February, saw cadets of 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron Air Training Corps
performing their first civic duties of 2012 when two members were on
hand to assist at the traditional opening of the King’s Lynn Mart Fair.
Traditionally the Mart is the start of the showman’s travelling
season when new rides are tried out and old favourites return from
winter storage.
The 12 noon opening ceremony saw the Mayor of the Borough of King’s
Lynn and West Norfolk, Councillor Colin Sampson, proceeded by a Staff
Bearer, Sword Bearer and four Mace Bearers together with numerous other
mayors from Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, Civic Heads, Honorary Aldermen,
members of the Showman’s Guild, the High Sheriff, the Bishop of Lynn,
the local MP and the Mayor’s Sea and Air Cadets process from the Town
Hall to the Tuesday Market Place. There the Mart Bell, which until now
had been entrusted into the safe keeping of 42F’s Cadet Sergeant Sam
Oakes, was handed to the Staff Bearer to announce the commencement of
the historic ceremony.
Following the reading of the ancient proclamation, the speeches and
the blessing of the Mart the dignitaries joined the younger members
present for a moment of ‘Robed Rage’ on the dodgems.
Squadron Honours Last WWI Service Member
On Thursday 16th February
members of 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron Air Training Corps were proud to
form an Honour Guard at the funeral of 110 year old Florence Green, a
woman believed to be the world’s last known surviving service member of
World War I.
The Squadrons Commanding Officer, an Adult Sergeant and nine cadets
stood to attention as Florence’s coffin, draped with the Union Flag,
arrived at Mintlyn crematorium preceded by Standards of the Royal
British Legion and the Royal Air Forces Association and as a Tornado
from RAF Marham roared overhead in a final salute.
Born in London she moved to Norfolk where, aged 17 years, she
joined the Womens Royal Air Force (WRAF) on 13th
September 1918, just two months before the Armistice and served as a
mess steward at RAF Marham and Narborough.
In addition to representatives from RAF Marham the funeral was
attended by Air Vice Marshal Ray Lock representing the Chief of the Air
Staff.
With the passing of this well loved lady only two weeks before her
111th birthday, as was quoted at
the service, “So ends an era in British history”.
Squadron Honours All The King’s Men
On Saturday 16th
September 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron Air Training Corps was honoured to
accompany the numerous standards of the Royal British Legion, RAFA, the
Sandringham Detachment of the Norfolk Army Cadets, the Sea Cadets and
others at a service to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the Gallipoli
campaign of 1915.
The service in the
parish church at Dersingham, near the Sandringham Royal Estate, was held
to honour the men who fought and died at Gallipoli, Turkey, in the First
World War. In particular this service was to remember the men of
Sandringham Company, 5th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment who
died at Suvla Bay on 12th August 1915 numbering amongst their
dead and missing the royal estate’s former agent Captain Frank Beck and
18 of the estate’s former workers.
The service was led by
the Rev. Michael Brock and organised by Mr. John Crowe of the Gallipoli
Association. The large congregation included civic dignitaries and
military representatives that included Wing Commander Mark Simpson of
the Australian Defence Staff in London, Major Daniel Wildy of the New
Zealand Army and Lieutenant Colonel Erdinc Kocayanak, Military Attaché
with the Turkish Embassy. Wreaths were laid in the chapel dedicated to
the First and Second World Wars which also has a plaque dedicated to the
memory of Capt. Beck.
Following the service
the members of 42F were able to met and talk with Wing Commander Simpson
in the church hall over refreshments which included the now famous ANZAC
biscuits.
NB. These biscuits were
originally sent out to the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps troops
(ANZAC’s) by their wives and mothers as a source of nourishment.
The ingredients used were: rolled oats, sugar, plain flour, coconut,
butter, golden syrup or treacle, bi-carbonate of soda and boiling water.
These items were used as they did not readily spoil during the long hot
sea voyage to Turkey. At first the biscuits were called Soldiers’
Biscuits, but after the landing on Gallipoli, they were renamed ANZAC
Biscuits.
Once again 42F (King’s Lynn) Sqn have been welcomed back into their
local Morrison’s supermarket to assist the Christmas shoppers with their
bag packing.
Well earned refreshment breaks were taken in the stores staff canteen
where most of the cadets availed themselves of the excellent hot meals
on offer.
.JPG)
.JPG)
The funds raised, a staggering £1,220,will be used by the Squadron to
assist with the funding of an educational visit to the First World War
battlefields and cemeteries of France and Belgium.
However the squadrons smallest cadet, 13 year old Alex Simpson, thought
that he had found the perfect aircraft for ‘air experience flights’ and
suggested that this was where the money should be invested!!!!
The day was a great success and thanks must go, not only to the
wonderful generosity of the customers, but also to Morrison’s (King’s
Lynn) whose management and staff have again made our squadron and the
ATC so welcome.
Seven cadets together with Fg Off Charles Neep paraded at the Village of
Terrington-St-Clement where Cdt Lauren Simpson placed the ATC wreath
beside the memorial plaque to the 100 men from the village who perished
in the First World War. Following the church service the congregation
progressed to the village memorial where further wreaths were laid.
The King’s Lynn Remembrance Parade saw the Squadron Commanding Officer,
Flt Lt Pauline Petch, her staff and a large contingent of cadets parade
through the town with the other cadet corps, members of the armed forces
and the standards of the Royal British Legion and other organisations.
In the Memorial Gardens numerous wreaths were laid at the memorial
before at eleven o’clock the hundreds of people present fell silent.
Following the wreath laying ceremony the parade reformed and marched
back through the town for a Service of Remembrance in the town’s St
Margaret’s Church.
Flt Lt Petch said: “The cadets paraded with dignity and I am proud of
the part that our organisation, and our squadron’s cadets particularly,
have played in today’s Remembrance proceedings.”
A Glittering Affair
This year, 42F (King’s Lynn) Sqn combined it’s usually separate
Dining-In Night and presentation of awards Ceremonies which are now by
tradition always held in the town’s historic Town Hall.
Having had a chance to mingle, meeting old friends and making new,
everyone made their way into the
At the end of the meal all present stood for the ‘Loyal Toast’ to Her
Majesty, after which, following a comfort break, there were short
speeches by the Squadron’s Commanding Officer Flt Lt Pauline Petch and
Wg Cdr Andrew Challon from RAF Marham. The Wing Commander said: "How
impressed I am with the squadron and that having been a cadet myself, I
am eager to maintain the close links with Marham and assist however and
whenever possible.”
The cadets were then presented with awards for exceptional work and
commitment in numerous and varied activities. the evening was rounded
off with a chance to dance the night away or just relax with an after
dinner coffee.
Memorial opened
Cadets old and new gathered at the Lynn Cadet headquarters to honour the
fallen as a memorial was unveiled on Monday.
The centrepiece of the 42F Squadron’s memorial is an aircraft propeller
blade from a plane which crashed in the Wash in 1945 and was recovered
in 2004.
Flight Lt Pauline Petch, of the Squadron, said: “We realised that many of
the men who were killed in action from our Squadron during the Second
World War were only a year or two older than our current cadets, so we
wanted something to honour their memory.”
The Fenland Aviation Museum donated the propeller blade, which was
originally from an RAF Mosquito.
Flight Lt Petch said: “We’ve also dedicated this memorial to crew who
were killed in the crash, who were in 85 Squadron from North Yorkshire.”
The memorial service, held at 42F Squadron’s headquarters on Loke Road in
Lynn, had a very good turnout, with lots of ex-cadets present.
Flight Lt Petch said: “One of the cadets from the 1939 Squadron laid the
wreath. It was a really special moment.”
The memorial was inspired by a research project into the history of the
Squadron undertaken by cadets for their 70th anniversary in 2010
At 11am on 2nd January the
generations came together at the headquarters of 42F (King’s Lynn)
Squadron, Air Training Corps for the dedication of a memorial to its own
wartime ‘Fallen’. Exactly 73
years earlier on 2nd January 1939 42 (Founder) Squadron was
born into the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC), later to become the ATC.
The ADCC and ATC trained thousands of young men in preparation for the
services and it was a natural progression that most went on to join the
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, although others were conscripted into
the Army and Naval services.
Having discovered that a number of its
members had paid the ultimate sacrifice during WWII the Squadron
embarked upon a mission to erect a lasting memorial to their memory.
With the most fantastic support of local clubs, businesses, groups and
individuals who supported the project with donations, prizes and
fund-raising the memorial was constructed by the cadets under the
leadership of Mr. Michael Duncalf the father of two cadets and a keen
supporter of the Squadron. The centre piece of the memorial is a
propeller blade from a WWII Mosquito aircraft that crashed into The Wash
in 1945. It was donated by the Fenland & West Norfolk Aviation Museum
whose members assisted in its recovery in 2004. The memorial also
honours the two crewmembers of the aircraft whose remains were also
recovered at that time. The
short, but moving, dedication service was conducted by the Norfolk and
Suffolk Wing Chaplain, Canon Reverend Ron Tuck and the Squadron Padre
Reverend Corin Child. Cadet Warrant Officer Ed Barrett read out the
names of the fifteen (known) members killed after which wartime cadet
Lionel Jackson read the ‘Ode of Remembrance’. After the ‘Last Post’
Silence and ‘Reveille’ Cadet Sergeant Glencross read the Kohima Epitaph.
Following the blessing of the memorial, a seasonal wreath, studded with
poppies and rosemary for remembrance, was laid by Mr Geoff Bullen the
Squadron’s first enrolled cadet in 1939.
At the conclusion of the ceremony all present took the chance
to chat and reminisce whilst enjoying a buffet lunch.
Regional Commandant Praises Dedication & Determination
Recently the cadets of 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron, Air Training
Corps welcomed their Regional Commandant, Group Captain Brett Morrell to
their Loke Road Headquarters. The Group Captain was keen to see what
they were achieving and to hear which activities and opportunities they
were participating in.
Having spent some time talking with the cadets he was then pleased
to be able to promote 18 year old Instructor Cadet Flight Sergeant Ed
Barrett, to the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer, personally handing him
his new insignia. Ed visibly surprised, commented later,
“I had no idea that the Regional
Commandant was visiting this evening and I was certainly not expecting
him to be promoting me”.
The Regional Commandant then formally presented Cadet Sergeant
Samuel Oakes (17) with his Nijmegen medal for successfully completing
the 2011 Nijmegen Marches in Holland as part of the Norfolk and Suffolk
Wing ATC squad. The march covers a distance of 100 miles over four days
in July and is a true test of stamina and endurance.
42F’s Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Pauline Petch said,
“Group Captain Morrell is very keen to publicise the excellent
opportunities available to the young people who join the Air Cadets, so
he was delighted to promote our new Cadet Warrant Officer Barrett and to
present Cadet Sgt Oaks with his medal. To reach the rank of Cadet
Warrant Officer, or complete the Nijmegen Marches, shows the qualities
of both dedication and determination that are so evident in those that
join the ATC”.
Car Parking Duties at Royal Sandringham
Wednesday 27th July saw 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron’s
cadets rise to their annual challenge
of parking the cars of the 20,000 visitors to the Sandringham Flower
Show. Assisted by members of the Norfolk Army Cadets, by mid day there
were lines of vehicles as far as the eye could see.
Many of the visitors had attended the event to also catch a glimpse
of the shows patrons, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and The
Duchess of Cornwall, who spent over an hour and a half visiting the
marquees of many of the charitable organisations present.
With the vast majority of the cars neatly parked, members of King’s
Lynn Squadron were released from their duties to change into number 1
dress and form up, near the display of the Army Air Corps, to meet the
Royal couple. Prince Charles always shows a keen interest in the
Squadron and its activities and again this year found time to shake the
hand and speak with most of the cadets in the Honour Guard.
Commenting after the show, 42F’s Commanding Officer Flt Lt Pauline
Petch said “His Royal Highness’
interest and knowledge was obvious in the questions he asked the cadets,
even asking one if they ‘were still gliding at Watton’ an activity
currently in the balance. Meeting Their Royal Highness’ is an honour
that the cadets really appreciate. They worked extremely hard car
parking but were always polite and courteous and received numerous
positive comments from members of the public. I have also received word
from Major Sue Pratt of the Army Cadet Force of how well the cadets of
the ATC and the ACF worked together.”
Cadets take Germany to their 'Harz'!
13 Cadets from 42F Kings Lynn and 5 from 1894 Swaffham have just returned from an adventurous week in Germany. 22 personnel - which included 2 staff from each squadron, travelled by minibus via Dover, and arrived in the Harz National Park Saturday evening. The name Harz derives from Middle High German word Hardt which means mountain forest and the area has a landscape of mountains, deep valleys with rich alpine forests, mysterious caves and clear mountain lakes and waterfalls.
Staying at an adventurous training lodge, the group catered for themselves and shopped in the local town for supplies. To keep costs down fundraising has been completed over the last year by the two squadrons and we have also had the support of Kier Eastern who supplied the whole group with fleeces and polo shirts . Over the next 5 days they took part in various activities, They trekked to the summit of the highest mountain in Northern Germany - The Brocken, (which previously was used by the Soviet Union as a watching post.) Today it is a protected area covering 15,800 hectares. They mountain-biked over 20 kms through pine forests on steep gravel tracks , they took part in competitions ranging from archery, GPS navigation and quiz nights . On the Tuesday all staff and cadets travelled to the high ropes course and spent the day up in the trees on some extremely rope courses before ending the day on one of the longest zip lines in Europe.
During the evening all were treated to a fantastic barbeque at the Hotel close by. The following day was spent on the Lake - learning how to travel in Canadian Canoes and learning all safety drills. Thursday was the day when all cadets abseiled down the railway bridge under the instruction of our leaders. Summing up this experience , Cpl James Duncalf said , ''It was the most amazing and scary thing I have ever done !''
On Friday , after packing all kit, everyone was back on the minibuses to visit Mittelbau-Dora. This was a Nazi Germany labour camp that provided workers for the Mittelwerk V-2 rocket factory in the Kohnstein, situated near Nordhausen, Germany. Approximately 60,000 prisoners from 21 nations (mostly Russians, Poles, and French) passed through Dora. An estimated 20,000 inmates died; 9000 died from exhaustion and collapse, 350 hanged (including 200 for sabotage), the remainder died mainly from disease and starvation. Cadets were allowed to visit inside the mountain where some of the miles of tunnels are still accessible.
From here we had to say a sad farewell and begin the long trip home.
Cadets arrived back in Norfolk tired with a few bruises - but extremely happy and full of the experience as all had tried new activities and gained self confidence during he week .
Organiser, Flt Lt Pauline Petch said. 'The cadets who were part of this experience have thoroughly enjoyed their time in Germany and have made many friends, and thanks to Kier Eastern have all looked the part and trained as a team. Well done to all who were there and thank you to all the staff and contacts who helped.
