Thanks Snapper

Not too bad. Could at least have spelt his name right though! Can’t recall uttering the last paragraph either – but hey, that’s the press for you, a bit of artistic licence (Ashley, for example, played the anthems. On a CD player!!), and we have at least got a bit of a memorial on people’s tables tonight. And the Red Lion get a public ‘Thank You’ too.

Good show.

Snapper, got your fifteen copies here mate. Plus a couple of spares in case you need them. I’ll drop you a PM.

EN830 — the chap in the middle on the right hand side of your photo is Yakrider.

M

Thanks, Mike, I should have asked you while I was at your place!

Red Lion near Duxford

I am beginning to wonder if I found the wrong “Red Lion” last week – can anyone confirm that this is it, please? Mine host was Greek and very pleased about the fact that Greece won the night before.
I hope there is at least a vague connection with this thread!

Red Lion on Saturday night.

Left side front to back

Tom
Jim
Albert
En830

Right side front to back
Met24
Yakrider
Joss

I’ll keep an eye out tonight, too 🙂

Please do Steve! It’ll be either today – Thursday – Friday or Saturday. I was going to pm you last night to ask you to keep an eye out, but had to go to the pub…

Telephone number here is 01502 677226 – i’m at mums for a few days then off to France next week.

Cheers mate,

Mark

Snapper, do you know what day the article will be in it? Might be able to get hold of the copies you need.

Being used for the Cambridge Evening News this week – please keep an eye out. I need 15 copies…:

Memorial Service to F/Lt François de Spirlet.
By Mark Crame. (01603) 701780 (Day).

At 9am on Sunday 11th July, shortly before the start of the second day of the Duxford Flying Legends Air Display, a memorial service was held at the Red Lion Hotel at Whittlesford.

During the service a hardwood bench situated in the hotels grounds was dedicated to the memory of a Belgian fighter pilot, F/Lt François de Spirlet, who was killed at Duxford on 26th June 1942 whilst flying in the Royal Air Force with 609 (West Riding) Squadron. Adorned with a beautifully inscribed brass plaque depicting the squadron badge as well as his name (heavily subsidised by Timpson Ltd), it was unveiled in the presence of 5 wartime members of the squadron in what had been their favourite drinking spot whilst stationed at Duxford, and at which they were once again made incredibly welcome by the current staff under the management of Mrs Alice Kemp.

A short ceremony was then conducted by Lay Preacher Mr Peter Smith. The memorial organiser, Mark Crame, began the service by reading a few words from the diary of one of the pilots, F/Sgt Alan ‘Babe’ Haddon, who had served under François de Spirlet: “My Flight Commander – one of the finest men I have met was killed at Duxford. F/Lt F.X.E. de Spirlet C.D.G. (Belgian) Friday 26 June 1942”. ‘Babe’ was himself killed in action the following February. Following on from this came a eulogy from F/Lt Sir Alec Atkinson KCB, DFC who had known François back in those days. Sir Alec had commanded the other flight while stationed there, and recalled the love the squadron had for their Belgian counterpart.

Another tribute followed, this time by Brigade-Generaal Albert Laforce of the Belgian Air Force. Albert had joined the squadron 2 years after François’ loss and had travelled from his home to represent the many Belgian pilots who had flown with 609. He was later to take a distinguished role in the reformation of the Belgian Air Force after the end of hostilities.

Moments after, Mr Paul Whitmell and a fellow member of the Sawston Youth Band blew the Last Post to begin the two minute silence, during which an unknown aircraft flew overhead in a coincidental, but fitting tribute to a pilot who gave his life defending freedom in the Second World War, and to the sound of the Belgian and British National Anthems 3 members of the local Royal British Legion, led by Mr Richard Long, lowered their standards.

Born on 3rd December 1916 in Ayeneux near Liege, Belgium, François joined the Belgian Air Force in 1936. Two days after the Germans invaded Belgium on 10th May 1940, his unit withdrew to France where they hoped to be re-equipped with replacement aircraft after heavy fighting. This was not to happen, and they slowly moved through France before François left his unit at Gibraltar and sailed for Liverpool, at which he arrived on 7th July 1940 being immediately taken into the Belgian Forces in Great Britain.

On 12th August 1940 he was posted to No. 87 Squadron, where he was to fly Hawker Hurricanes operationally against the German Luftwaffe, in what came to be known as the Battle of Britain. He joined 609 (West Riding) Squadron on 15th April 1941 stationed at RAF Biggin Hill in Kent, flying Supermarine Spitfires. It was whilst flying from Biggin Hill that François was to score his first aerial victory, when on 17th June 1941 flying Spitfire MkVb W3179 he destroyed a German Messerschmitt Bf109E off the French coast near Le Touquet. 5 days later, on 22nd June, it was his turn to be shot down, when cannon fire from a Bf109 hit the engine of Spitfire W3197 PR-T near Dover. François baled out slightly injured and was rescued by an RAF high-speed launch, subsequently spending two days recovering in Ramsgate General Hospital. He was to gain his second, and final, confirmed aerial victory on 29th August, whilst flying Spitfire VB W3625 from RAF Gravesend, Kent, when he destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf109E inland from Gravelines, France.

Highly regarded by his fellow squadron members, de Spirlet became a cornerstone for them. Popular with his groundcrew, he was knowledgeable on the technical side of aircraft, as well as being an accomplished flier. Recognition of his valour from a grateful government came with the award of the Croix de Guerre with palm on 21st July 1941, followed on 29th August with a further palm, and an additional third palm was added posthumously on 3rd July 1942.

At 06:15 hrs on 26th June 1942, 82163 Flight Lieutenant François de Spirlet, ‘B’ Flight Commander of 609 (West Riding) Squadron, was killed in an accident at RAF Duxford. Piloting Hawker Typhoon Mk Ib R7710 PR-E during a take off in formation with three other aircraft, his left tyre burst, causing the aircraft to swing across the runway and into Typhoon R7817 PR-D, piloted by fellow Belgian Pilot Officer Raymond ‘Cheval’ Lallemand. François’ aircraft shot into the air before crashing down and bursting into flames, François dying far from home with a crushed skull and broken spinal column.

25-year-old François de Spirlet was buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England in plot 26, Row A, Grave No.2. On 29th October 1949, his body was repatriated to Brussels Town Cemetery at Evere, where he now lies in plot II / 36. One of the many who never came home.

Just got back to a working PC (at work) I would like to add my bit to the rest and congratulate Snapper on a very moving ceremony. You don’t know how hard it is to keep a video camera still during the last post while fighting back the tears. It gets me everytime.

Being able to spend the time talking to Tom, Albert and Jim the night before at the Red Lion was great, three very modest gentlemen, but aren’t they all !!!!

Hats off to you Mark. When’s the next one?

PS can you email or pm me Albert’s, Tom’s and Jim’s address I would like to send them a copy of the photo taken at the Red Lion.

A cracking bloke. Really wanted to get it ‘right’. Was full of ideas and help to make it just right, and he did. Far better than the Pope in my book. A truly wonderful chap who I can’t thank enough.

A small aside. Peter Smith also officiated at Robert Rudhall’s memorial service at Duxford. A kind and generous man, who had troubled to ensure he knew about Robert and to make those attending and working feel involved. One of IWM Duxford’s hidden assets; who opens the chapel when possible – I hope one of our DX crew can conform the details?

Yes James, he does…I don’t have the opening hours to hand but I can find out…and a lovely gentleman he is too 🙂

A small aside. Peter Smith also officiated at Robert Rudhall’s memorial service at Duxford. A kind and generous man, who had troubled to ensure he knew about Robert and to make those attending and working feel involved. One of IWM Duxford’s hidden assets; who opens the chapel when possible – I hope one of our DX crew can conform the details?

Thanks everyone. Thanks for the words, but most of all, to those of you who could be there, thank you for being there. It means a lot, and not just to me. There were many people that I know of who also wanted to be there but unfortunately couldn’t. Some in the UK, some in Belgium, and some elsewhere too. Perhaps they can stand there by the bench one day in the future and reflect on Francois and his kind.

As an aside, I don’t know if any of you felt like Francois was there as well, but I did. When, at the start of the two minute silence an aircraft flew over, I really felt that perhaps it wasn’t only us…

Names to faces:

Top picture, seated on the bench:

F/Lt Jimmy Stewart DFC (Scottish), Brigade-Generaal Albert Laforce (Belgian), F/Sgt Tom Kerr (Scottish), F/Lt Sir ‘Joe’ Atkinson KCB DFC, P/O Allen Billam

In memory of Francois

The unveiling and dedication of the memorial to Flight Lieutenant Francois de Spirlet, of 609Squadron, at The Red Lion Hotel, Whittlesford.

I was the ‘dancer’ (something I don’t actually do, but my chief reporter conferred that term on me after being congratulated by a vicar for the pictures taken by “that bloke dancing all over the place” at a Remembrance Sunday service), taking photos.
I really must apologise for the first picture – it is of Mark9 (Anna) and Robbo; EN830 (Ian) would have been in the pic but he won’t be photographed by a Nikon… :rolleyes:
2&3 are (hopefully) F/Lt Sir Alec Atkinson KCB DFC reading In Memory of Francois.
4 The standard bearers.
5 General Albert Laforce talks of the Belgians of 609Sqn and the Royal Air Force.
6&7 The last post.
8 Peter Smith (the order of service didn’t go into any of his details, Snapper!) reads the lesson.
9 The unveiling.
10 The line up of 609 veterans (there must be a better word around, unfortunately this one fits). Oh, and Snapper – Mark – at the far end.

Well done, Snapper. It was very moving, even for someone who has done several similar events in the course of his job.

Flood.™

Thanks Snapper,
Sorry,but due to circumstances,I couldn’t be there.As I understand it was great without special effect.I have given your pic’s to “Cheval” and he was also sorry not to be there Thanks,thanks,thanks…
Lest we forget

Would love to have been there myself, but having been at Duxford the previous day, I found it difficult to re-trace my steps the following day. Well done Snapper and I echo the sentiments that Moggy expressed.

Same here, many thanks to Snapper for his efforts and giving us the opportunity to pay our respects.

As a slight aside, I also managed to spend a few moments talking to Jimmy Stewart in the 609 Sqn stand yesterday, a gentle and humourous man, with a remarkable and very humbling past, shown in the centre of the standing line up in Robbo’s photo’s. Jimmy had come over to Duxford from Canada to attend the event, which I think shows just how much the veterans value Snapper’s efforts too.

Well done that man!

Thanks, Mark.

The ceremony was very touching.

A few photos: