We Will Remember Them...

Being unable to attend Harlow's Service of Remembrance today, I went to the War Memorial to pay my respects on Friday morning. For those who don't know, our War Memorial can be found in the Town Park, adjacent to the Greyhound pub and the large car park.

While I was there I met a lovely chap from the British Legion - Bob. He would usually have been out selling poppies he told me, but had come along to check that the memorial gardens were spruce and tidy ready for the service. What he discovered fell below standards, so he set to mowing grass and tidying. I spent half an hour happily wielding a broom for him - half an hour of my time to honour those who have lost their lives serving their country didn't seem like very much, I was extremely pleased to be able to help.

If you have attended the Service at the memorial this morning, or have watched the parade marching down to it, then spare a moment to think of the thousands of 'Bobs' all over the country, giving their time willingly to organise parades, sell poppies, and clean war memorials. Wear your poppy with pride.

This stone commemorates those from the town who have lost their lives in service to their country since 1945. Sadly there are apparently more names to be added to it.

"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"

North Weald

North Weald Airfield is familiar with most Harlow-ites for its regular Saturday and Bank Holiday markets - but it has a place in history far more important than that.

Airfield Memorial & Former Station Office - now a museum

Royal Flying Corps Station North Weald Bassett first opened in 1916, and played a part in protecting London from the Zepellin raids of World War I, but found its finest hour acting as a frontline airfield during World War II and the Battle of Britain, with Hurricanes, Blenheims and Spitfires operating.

In the course of WW2 the now RAF North Weald station played host to many Squadrons including those made up of Foreign nationals - Americans, Czechs, Poles and also Norwegians. There is still a strong link maintained to this day with the people of Norway and part of the Airfield Memorial is a stone obelisk given by the Norwegians.

After the war NW continued as an operational airfield, with Gloster Meteors and De Havilland Vampires being commonly seen in the skies overhead in the late 1940's, and later the Hawker Hunters of 111 squadron moved in - known as the Black Arrows. Interestingly one of the aircraft you are most likely to see flying from North Weald these days is a black Hawker Hunter!

In early 1958, rather fittingly, the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial flight (then known as the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight) was moved to it's new home at North Weald, sadly its stay was to be cut short as in May of that year the RAF decided to take the step of re designating the airfield as non-operational, before eventually pulling out completely in 1964.

Hangar 11 collection Kittyhawk

Today the airfield is once more alive to the sound of aviation - from the the Gnat Display Team, and Hangar 11 Collection with their Hurricane, Spitfire, Mustang & Kittyhawk - all to be seen at airshows throughout the summer months - to the Army using the field for operational training with their Apache Helicopters - now a regular sight over Harlow. The Hertfordshire Air Ambulance is also based there.

Temporary Herts Air Ambulance G-ESCI

Sources are mainly credited via links in the text. Information also from Wikipaedia.