As always I bought a poppy- from the Somerfield in Great Malvern as I was visiting my Girlfriend. The chap selling them was wearing a fighter command blazer, with Battle of Britain ribbon (amongst others). I asked him where he was stationed in 1940 and he said Biggin Hill, flying Hurricanes (the squadron escapes me) as a sergeant pilot. Eventually I was torn away by my girlfriend, who needed to get to an interview. But I left him with a firm handshake and a “Thank you.” He turned to me and said: “A great pleasure young man, Thank you for caring.” I had a tear in my eye for the rest of the day. These men are saviours, and should be recognised as the heros that they are.
I remember last Remembrance day I was in charge of the platoon of CCF RAF cadets at the cenotaph in Monmouth. As I was marching them back to school I saw a veteran with walking stick, in a beret and blazer of RAF Bomber Command comming out of a shop with his wife (evidently getting something for tea!). I gave a salute to the right, and as one the section executed the best right salute I have ever seen. The veteran looked slighty taken aback, but smiled at me as we marched past.
When we got back to school and I dismissed the cadets to go home, I turned around and saw the same veteran standing at the gates. I saluted him again, and he straightened up to his full height and saluted me back, fully, proudly, like he was proud of me personally.
The feeling of immense pride that I felt that day cannot be put into words. In a small way- I felt like I had somehow paid my respects to his comrades who didn’t return.
BARNOWL
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