The Operation Varsity Remembrance Service 24 March 2016 will be at held at Wattisham Airfield this year not Earls Colne. This is an Active Military Base with tight security and anybody wishing to attend will need clearance..
Unfortunately the commeration at Wattisham has been cancelled due to lack of funding . There will now be a service held at Marks Farm Essex on 24th March 10.30 hrs and a laying of wreaths by a delegation from Wattisham at 1400 hrs ( Both open to all-comers) I understand that owing to its diminishing membership the Glider Pilots Association is to be amalgamated with the Army Air Corp Association
From CJB Thanks to REDTOP for the info. I was intending to attend the commemoration at Wattisham on 24th March. Do you any more info regarding the new venue ie full address. I will be travelling from Braintree, Essex. I note there will be two services 10.30 hrs and 14.00 hrs. I will be travelling home to Manchester after the service(s). Any recommendations or info of the format of the services?. My father was a soldier (53rd W/Y RA) in one of the gliders and I will be meeting up with the daughter of the co-pilot (Glider Pilot Regiment). Will the first service cover all relevant personnel, the second only Glider Pilots Association? Charlie Bentley
Hi CJB Leave Braintree heading for Colchester on the A 120 after about 5 miles turn left A1024 another 1/2 mile left again into Marks Hall Lane follow road to Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum (CO 61TG) car park where everybody meets up (there is usually coffee here before and after). The Memorial is another short drive away through the woods. I am in the dark about the form of services it is all a bit last minute, In the past there has been a parade of Army Air Corp and a fly past by Apache Gunships in the Morning ,but as cost has come into it the flypast may not happen. The Parachute Regiment Association Branches are attending in the morning ,I am sorry not to have more information I will try to find out more and post it here. Bryan PS If you have the time to attend both services the time in-between can be spent on some very pleasant walks around Marks Farm Arboretum and Gardens, the gardens and lakes were originally laid out by Cromwell's Troops who were billeted there during the Siege of Colchester.
From Marks Hall web page. THURSDAY 24 MARCH 2016 The Trustees and staff at Marks Hall Estate will be commemorating the anniversary of Operation Varsity at 11am at the Memorial Site. Following a 2 minute silence there will be the opportunity to lay a wreath and members of the local community are welcome to join us should they wish to mark the occasion. The Operation on 24th March 1945 was part of the boldest, most successful and also the last airborne operation of World War II, a vital part of what became known as “The Rhine Crossing”. Forty three gliders were flown from Earls Colne Airfield. The operation included over 1,500 aircraft and 1,300 gliders, both American and British. It was the largest single lift of airborne forces ever undertaken. In previous years we have welcomed the Army Air Corps, Wattisham for a service and parade. Regretfully they will be unable to join us this year. The Trustees and staff recognise the importance of continuing to mark this occasion and we hope you will be able to join us for a simple act of commemoration. Visitors need to arrive by 10.30am at the latest to allow time to walk to the Memorial Site. t. 01376 563796. From Glider Pilot Assoc. A contingent from 4 Regt AAC will lay a wreath at 2.00pm and lower the standard.
It went very well . We all met up in the Marks Hall centre ( A converted rustic barn) and had Coffee and biscuits provide by The Trustees of Marks Hall Estate, then off to the Memorial in the woods. There was no Military Parade (Lack of funding) but 16 Air Assault Brigade sent along a Bugler from the Parachute Regiment.. All branches of Units involved in Operation Varsity were well represented by their various Associations family's and civilians., and the Standards of the RBL and Parachute Regiment Association on parade. Meriel Barclay a Trustee of Marks Hall Estate opened the Service with a few welcoming words . Wing Commander (Ret) Paul Lenihan gave a summary of Operation Varsity. The Airborne Forces Prayer was said by all. The Exhortation For the Fallen was given by a Member of the Royal Engineers Assoc. To which all responded . We Will Remember Them. This was followed by Last Post 2 Minutes Silence Reveille Laying of Tributes, lead by the Lord Lieutenant. The Lords Prayer. All in all a simple but fitting Remembrance in a quiet wooded venue.to those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice All then retired back to the centre for more Coffee and Biscuits and the promise by Marks Hall Estates to carry this service on in the future. The Army Air Corp were sending a wreath laying party in the afternoon but I was not present.
Thanks redtop, RAF Essex has put up a number of photos to mark the occasion on their Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/1570680676494684/photos/pcb.1779114688984614/1779111532318263/?type=3 Regards ...
Ref 1400 Ceremony (From Para .Regt.Assoc.Facebook) Today, the 71st Anniversary of Operation VARSITY has been marked by a number of events. 4 Regt AAC had presentations on the operation and held a service of reme...mbrance and commemoration. Staff at Marks Hall Arboretum, which is the the site of the RAF Earls Colne Varsity memorial, held an Act of Remembrance at 11.00 a.m. and at 2.00 p.m. a contingent from 4 Regt held a brief ceremony which included the lowering, folding and presentation of the GPR flag to Association Chairman Adam Howard.
