REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Twenty years ago, on 11 November 1992, in company with one David Brown, I found myself in a muddy field in northern France, on the edge of Rauville la Place, a village in Lower Normandy.
It was pouring with rain and the smell of aviation fuel was strong in our nostrils as we examined the remains of a World War 2 Spitfire and the final resting place of a pilot, who we were later to discover was Lt Arthur Beane RNVR.
David Brown, a retired Fleet Air Arm Observer, was then the Head of the Naval Historical Branch and a renowned expert on the Spitfire and its maritime equivalent, the Seafire. Sadly he died a few years ago.
We were in Rauville la Place to examine the remains of the aircraft found in the field by Patrick Delahaye and Michel Rose, to see if we could throw some light on the case and, if possible identify the pilot. We had seen various artefacts, including items of uniform and flying clothing, and were examining the crash site.
As 11.00 struck on the village clock, David and I stopped what we were doing, where we stood, and held a two-minute silence, each of us with our own thoughts. At the end of the two minutes I turned round to face David and noticed that floating on the surface of the large puddle formed by the excavation, was a single poppy – thrown there by David.
I am sure you can imagine the strength of the image this lone poppy created. Despite having a camera in my hand, I did not take a photograph as I felt that to do so would ruin the extraordinary poignancy of this extremely personal moment: one former airman paying his respects to another whose body was somewhere about 10m from where we stood.
At that time we did not know the identity of the pilot, but we were determined to solve the case. Over dinner that night we both hoisted samples of the well-known local drink in the man’s memory.
I will not go into the details of our investigation here but I do recall when we realised we had finally identified the pilot whose aircraft had crashed in that field. One might even say it was an Archimedean ‘Eureka’ moment.
I was in the bath at home, with a scotch and soda to hand (I must have been away somewhere cold and wet, probably Salisbury Plain for the day), when the telephone rang. My wife shouted upstairs that it was David Brown, and I went downstairs to answer his call.
Earlier that day, we had come to the conclusion that we had a couple of possible names, but neither of us was convinced: there were too many anomalies. Nevertheless, we had decided to meet the following morning to go through the possibilities again. David was now ringing to say he had uncovered another, far more likely, possibility, named Beane, whose parents lived in St George’s Hill. Yet there were still a couple of points to resolve. We, again, agreed to meet the following morning, and I went back to my warm bath.
I had barely settled into the water when I leaped out again and rushed to phone David – my wife seems to recall I had even forgotten to don a towel.
“David, did you say the parents lived in St. George’s Hill? If so, Beane is almost certainly our man. One of those tailor’s bills found in the pocket of the jacket was from Beetham’s in Weybridge and he may have gone in there while visiting his parents.”
David agreed that it looked as if we may have cracked it.
The following morning he called up Beane’s file from the archive. We compared the signature on the tailor’s bill with the signature on his joining-up documentation, and were then able to state, categorically, that the pilot still lying in the field in Normandy was, Lt Arthur “Haggie” Beane, who had been shot down and killed on 26 November 1943.
In the course of our visit to Rauville, David and I had spoken, at length, to Marcel Petit, the farmer who owned the field. It was to us that M. Petit stated that he would erect a memorial to the as-then unidentified pilot still lying in his field. The memorial is there, today, built, erected and maintained by students from Charterhouse School: Arthur Beane was an Old Carthusian.
A couple of months later, I was present at “Haggie” Beane’s full military funeral and had the honour of talking at length to Beane’s aunt – his only surviving relative. A very moving occasion, on a foggy morning in northern France.
The firing party was all-female RN personnel: the first time ever in the history of the RN. They did an excellent job, despite them all having supped well on the well-known local spirit the night before.
It was pouring with rain and the smell of aviation fuel was strong in our nostrils as we examined the remains of a World War 2 Spitfire and the final resting place of a pilot, who we were later to discover was Lt Arthur Beane RNVR.
David Brown, a retired Fleet Air Arm Observer, was then the Head of the Naval Historical Branch and a renowned expert on the Spitfire and its maritime equivalent, the Seafire. Sadly he died a few years ago.
We were in Rauville la Place to examine the remains of the aircraft found in the field by Patrick Delahaye and Michel Rose, to see if we could throw some light on the case and, if possible identify the pilot. We had seen various artefacts, including items of uniform and flying clothing, and were examining the crash site.
As 11.00 struck on the village clock, David and I stopped what we were doing, where we stood, and held a two-minute silence, each of us with our own thoughts. At the end of the two minutes I turned round to face David and noticed that floating on the surface of the large puddle formed by the excavation, was a single poppy – thrown there by David.
I am sure you can imagine the strength of the image this lone poppy created. Despite having a camera in my hand, I did not take a photograph as I felt that to do so would ruin the extraordinary poignancy of this extremely personal moment: one former airman paying his respects to another whose body was somewhere about 10m from where we stood.
At that time we did not know the identity of the pilot, but we were determined to solve the case. Over dinner that night we both hoisted samples of the well-known local drink in the man’s memory.
I will not go into the details of our investigation here but I do recall when we realised we had finally identified the pilot whose aircraft had crashed in that field. One might even say it was an Archimedean ‘Eureka’ moment.
I was in the bath at home, with a scotch and soda to hand (I must have been away somewhere cold and wet, probably Salisbury Plain for the day), when the telephone rang. My wife shouted upstairs that it was David Brown, and I went downstairs to answer his call.
Earlier that day, we had come to the conclusion that we had a couple of possible names, but neither of us was convinced: there were too many anomalies. Nevertheless, we had decided to meet the following morning to go through the possibilities again. David was now ringing to say he had uncovered another, far more likely, possibility, named Beane, whose parents lived in St George’s Hill. Yet there were still a couple of points to resolve. We, again, agreed to meet the following morning, and I went back to my warm bath.
I had barely settled into the water when I leaped out again and rushed to phone David – my wife seems to recall I had even forgotten to don a towel.
“David, did you say the parents lived in St. George’s Hill? If so, Beane is almost certainly our man. One of those tailor’s bills found in the pocket of the jacket was from Beetham’s in Weybridge and he may have gone in there while visiting his parents.”
David agreed that it looked as if we may have cracked it.
The following morning he called up Beane’s file from the archive. We compared the signature on the tailor’s bill with the signature on his joining-up documentation, and were then able to state, categorically, that the pilot still lying in the field in Normandy was, Lt Arthur “Haggie” Beane, who had been shot down and killed on 26 November 1943.
In the course of our visit to Rauville, David and I had spoken, at length, to Marcel Petit, the farmer who owned the field. It was to us that M. Petit stated that he would erect a memorial to the as-then unidentified pilot still lying in his field. The memorial is there, today, built, erected and maintained by students from Charterhouse School: Arthur Beane was an Old Carthusian.
A couple of months later, I was present at “Haggie” Beane’s full military funeral and had the honour of talking at length to Beane’s aunt – his only surviving relative. A very moving occasion, on a foggy morning in northern France.
The firing party was all-female RN personnel: the first time ever in the history of the RN. They did an excellent job, despite them all having supped well on the well-known local spirit the night before.
Two particularly poignant entries from the Charterhouse Roll of Honour:
Lest we forget.
BEANE Arthur Haggie Lieutenant (A) RNVR. Born 10.6.17, elder son of Sir Francis and Lady Beane of St George’s Hill, Weybridge, Surrey. He was at Charterhouse [S] 1931 – 1936 and Brasenose College, Oxford. He served with 805 Sqn in North Africa and became an instructor at HMS Heron. Temporarily attached to 165 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF, he was killed in action on 26.11.43, aged 26, when shot down in Spitfire IX MH905 (SK-G). He is buried in St Charles de Percy War Cemetery, grave II.B.10. A memorial near the crash site, dedicated on 8th May 1995, is maintained by pupils, ex-pupils and others associated with Charterhouse.
BEANE Peter Francis Leading Airman RN. Born 15.8.18, younger son of Sir Francis and Lady Beane of St George’s Hill, Weybridge, Surrey. He was at Charterhouse [S] 1932 – 1937 and Brasenose College, Oxford. From HMS Daedalus he was attached to Service Flying Training School No.1. He was killed on 20.3.41, aged 22, in a training accident at Netheravon, Wiltshire. He is buried in St Peter’s churchyard, Hersham, Surrey, grave C.9.8.
BEANE Peter Francis Leading Airman RN. Born 15.8.18, younger son of Sir Francis and Lady Beane of St George’s Hill, Weybridge, Surrey. He was at Charterhouse [S] 1932 – 1937 and Brasenose College, Oxford. From HMS Daedalus he was attached to Service Flying Training School No.1. He was killed on 20.3.41, aged 22, in a training accident at Netheravon, Wiltshire. He is buried in St Peter’s churchyard, Hersham, Surrey, grave C.9.8.
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Stupidly I decided to stay home today and watch the BBC coverage on TV.
30 minutes ago my TV suddenly died, and so I n ow only have the radio 4 coverage to listen to.
Today just like many others I allow my mind to wander and think of lost mates, and suddenly feel I'm not paying enough respect to the fallen.
They are very much in my mind, but perhaps today I should have done more.
Nothing more to say really
30 minutes ago my TV suddenly died, and so I n ow only have the radio 4 coverage to listen to.
Today just like many others I allow my mind to wander and think of lost mates, and suddenly feel I'm not paying enough respect to the fallen.
They are very much in my mind, but perhaps today I should have done more.
Nothing more to say really
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How poignant that I officially joined the Royal Navy at 11am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month but NOT in the year 1918. (1963)
Lest we forget
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,We will remember them.
Lest we forget
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,We will remember them.
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I would just like to say to all Ex./Current serving British Armed Forces personnel and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, that I am extremely proud of you all. I have nothing but sheet admiration for you all.
Thank you for your selflessness, courage and bravery.
Thank you for your selflessness, courage and bravery.
My few thoughts. This has been a very moving weekend. A certain reunion on Friday where a lot of lost companions were remembered fondly. My wife, Carol, and I visited the amazing Bomber Command Memorial on Saturday; as if the Memorial itself wasn't stunning enough, we found ourselves surrounded by a multitude of vets and families who were there to remember their fallen comrades and to place wooden crosses, poppies and wreaths there. I found that very humbling indeed and it bought to mind one of the last conversations I had with my father.
He was a pilot in the Royal Air Force of 38 years; Sunderlands, Lancasters, Shackletons, to name but three. He praised me for flying such complicated, modern fighters and was trying to compare what I did with what he did, clearly feeling that I was the one that had done the more difficult job. I had to stop him to point out that my aircraft were more complicated than his, mainly because of all the new (then) kit I had at my disposal. The real achievement was the by the men that did that job with so little. That to me was true skill and bravery.
So the BCM allowed me to look at those young men that did so much with so little.
Today, we all remember those that gave their lives and their limbs and those that continue to do so. Again, on a personal note, my thoughts are with Carol's younger son, Laurence, who is currently on patrol in the Afghan Desert, leading his troop in a very uncertain, unforgiving and, at times, unthankful place. And also with their families.
Finally, the marvellous Royal Navy's presence at the Cenotaph brought to mind my grandfather who was sunk on HMS Manchester, escorting the Malta Convoy. Like his compatriots, he never complained and hardly ever spoke of his experiences; to him, he just did his duty.
Just my thoughts this morning.
He was a pilot in the Royal Air Force of 38 years; Sunderlands, Lancasters, Shackletons, to name but three. He praised me for flying such complicated, modern fighters and was trying to compare what I did with what he did, clearly feeling that I was the one that had done the more difficult job. I had to stop him to point out that my aircraft were more complicated than his, mainly because of all the new (then) kit I had at my disposal. The real achievement was the by the men that did that job with so little. That to me was true skill and bravery.
So the BCM allowed me to look at those young men that did so much with so little.
Today, we all remember those that gave their lives and their limbs and those that continue to do so. Again, on a personal note, my thoughts are with Carol's younger son, Laurence, who is currently on patrol in the Afghan Desert, leading his troop in a very uncertain, unforgiving and, at times, unthankful place. And also with their families.
Finally, the marvellous Royal Navy's presence at the Cenotaph brought to mind my grandfather who was sunk on HMS Manchester, escorting the Malta Convoy. Like his compatriots, he never complained and hardly ever spoke of his experiences; to him, he just did his duty.
Just my thoughts this morning.
Last edited by Courtney Mil; 11th Nov 2012 at 11:52. Reason: Sunday morning typo.
My wife and I are back from our English church here in Spain, where we had a very moving Remembrance service. The Spanish ask us why we are all wearing poppies and I try, in my awful Spanish, to explain.
As always I thought of friends who died in action or in training accidents through the years. May you rest in peace.
My gratitude and admiration goes, as ever, to all those who down the years laid everything on the line for us who remain.
As always I thought of friends who died in action or in training accidents through the years. May you rest in peace.
My gratitude and admiration goes, as ever, to all those who down the years laid everything on the line for us who remain.
You make an interesting point, MB. I was just outside the RAF Club on Saturday when I was approached by a very polite gent (who sounded Spanish) who asked me the same question. He was fascinated to learn what it's all about and seemed quite moved by it.
As always I attended our town's own tribute. The format subtly changed this year and sadly for the worse in my view. Four cadet sentinels as ever stood at the four corners of the memorial but this year they were unarmed so, instead of resting on arms reversed (a complicated drill movement that they accomplished with much skill in previous years), they were bizarrely stood at ease throughout. The reason for all this I have no idea, but my feeling is that military mourning etiquette is precise for a purpose. If you use sentinels they should be armed, otherwise don't.
Nonetheless the laying of wreaths, crosses and poppies by the high and the low, official bodies and anonymous individuals, was as poignant as ever. It is the young that always impress me the most with their natural awareness of the solemnity of the moment. No-one cares that they cannot yet march properly, they make up for it in the pride of their pack or their group and reverence for the occasion.
CM, I too saw the BC Memorial recently and like you was impressed with its formal dignity and also with the personal tributes laid at the feet of the seven man crew, for they show that this is a living memorial, cherished and respected by the families that had to wait so very long for it.
Nonetheless the laying of wreaths, crosses and poppies by the high and the low, official bodies and anonymous individuals, was as poignant as ever. It is the young that always impress me the most with their natural awareness of the solemnity of the moment. No-one cares that they cannot yet march properly, they make up for it in the pride of their pack or their group and reverence for the occasion.
CM, I too saw the BC Memorial recently and like you was impressed with its formal dignity and also with the personal tributes laid at the feet of the seven man crew, for they show that this is a living memorial, cherished and respected by the families that had to wait so very long for it.
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Many thoughts this weekend where I still fell very honoured to have known and befriended some great men who served during WWII with the RAF ... people like W/C David Pennman DFC (Lancasters Augsburg Raid), F/L Mac Hamilton DFC (Lancasters 617 Sqd) and F/L Roger Hall DFC (Spitfires BoB) ... all inspirational characters.
My only comment about the form and reverence shown at the RBL Festival of Rememberance at the RAH was the inane whooping and hollering "performed" by a certain Rod Stewart when he sung Old Lang Syne ... Not necessary or appropriate IMHO.
Coff.
My only comment about the form and reverence shown at the RBL Festival of Rememberance at the RAH was the inane whooping and hollering "performed" by a certain Rod Stewart when he sung Old Lang Syne ... Not necessary or appropriate IMHO.
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 12th Nov 2012 at 16:48.
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I was in Luxembourg for the weekend, no British military cemetery there, so yesterday I took my German partner to the German military cemetery; she had never visited such a place.
Here lie c.11,000 German dead - 5,000 of them in one mass grave, as space was at a premium. Most of the low stone crosses mark the grave of x4 men, ie x2 each side of the cross, though some graves contain x6 total. Most of these men died in the 'Battle of the Bulge'.
I was moved to see that clearly some British people had visited the cemetery that morning and had placed their wooden poppy crosses at the graves of unknown German soldiers. A more gracious & humbling gesture, I could not envisage.
The peace and tranquility of this leafy glade was shattered however, by the arrival of an American family (who turned out to be military), which included the noisiest & wildest children I have ever seen. The children were climbing & running up/down/over the 5k mass grave, then slaloming along the rows of headstones, yelling with glee. All the while, Mom & Dad were busy taking photographs, totally oblivious to this; an ageing grandmother was trying in vain to contain this spectacle. When one of the kids took a large branch and started whacking the headstones, I could endure no more; the parents & I had a largely one-way conversation regarding suitable behaviour & respect in such a place, on such a day. I observed to them that such behaviour would not be tolerated in the American military cemetery (1km away), which they had just visited. In fairness to them they expressed regret & left directly, though I could still hear their yelling kids until they reached the car park, some 300m away.
I know that our American cousins are valuable contributors to this forum; I would ask them please to 'spread the word' to their fellow countrymen on subjects such as this; these places are not theme parks. Though these fallen German soldiers may not have had our respect in life, they deserve the respect & dignity due to all servicemen who have shed their blood.
HB
Here lie c.11,000 German dead - 5,000 of them in one mass grave, as space was at a premium. Most of the low stone crosses mark the grave of x4 men, ie x2 each side of the cross, though some graves contain x6 total. Most of these men died in the 'Battle of the Bulge'.
I was moved to see that clearly some British people had visited the cemetery that morning and had placed their wooden poppy crosses at the graves of unknown German soldiers. A more gracious & humbling gesture, I could not envisage.
The peace and tranquility of this leafy glade was shattered however, by the arrival of an American family (who turned out to be military), which included the noisiest & wildest children I have ever seen. The children were climbing & running up/down/over the 5k mass grave, then slaloming along the rows of headstones, yelling with glee. All the while, Mom & Dad were busy taking photographs, totally oblivious to this; an ageing grandmother was trying in vain to contain this spectacle. When one of the kids took a large branch and started whacking the headstones, I could endure no more; the parents & I had a largely one-way conversation regarding suitable behaviour & respect in such a place, on such a day. I observed to them that such behaviour would not be tolerated in the American military cemetery (1km away), which they had just visited. In fairness to them they expressed regret & left directly, though I could still hear their yelling kids until they reached the car park, some 300m away.
I know that our American cousins are valuable contributors to this forum; I would ask them please to 'spread the word' to their fellow countrymen on subjects such as this; these places are not theme parks. Though these fallen German soldiers may not have had our respect in life, they deserve the respect & dignity due to all servicemen who have shed their blood.
HB
Last edited by Halton Brat; 12th Nov 2012 at 14:13. Reason: Spulling......
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Although there are no military cemeteries in Luxembourg, there are 8 cemeteries which contain military graves; 26 in total.
Read in columns (that takes me back!)
Cemetery Country Number of graves
BAS BELLAIN CHURCHYARD Luxembourg 3
DIEKIRCH COMMUNAL CEMETERY Luxembourg 1
FOLSCHETTE (RAMBROUCH) CHURCHYARD Luxembourg 3
HEINERSCHEID (HUPPERDANGE) CHURCHYARD Luxembourg 2
LUXEMBOURG (HOLLERICH) COMMUNAL CEMETERY Luxembourg 9
MAULUSMUHLE ISOLATED GRAVES Luxembourg 3
MERTERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY Luxembourg 2
PETANGE (LAMADELAINE) COMMUNAL CEMETERY Luxembourg 3
Read in columns (that takes me back!)
Cemetery Country Number of graves
BAS BELLAIN CHURCHYARD Luxembourg 3
DIEKIRCH COMMUNAL CEMETERY Luxembourg 1
FOLSCHETTE (RAMBROUCH) CHURCHYARD Luxembourg 3
HEINERSCHEID (HUPPERDANGE) CHURCHYARD Luxembourg 2
LUXEMBOURG (HOLLERICH) COMMUNAL CEMETERY Luxembourg 9
MAULUSMUHLE ISOLATED GRAVES Luxembourg 3
MERTERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY Luxembourg 2
PETANGE (LAMADELAINE) COMMUNAL CEMETERY Luxembourg 3
FODPlod mentions Beane and his younger brother at Post 2.
The younger Beane's death was particularly tragic. He was flying an Audax at 1 SFTS and the aircraft was stopped awaiting permission to take-off. It was struck by another aircraft and Beane received severe head injuries from which he died.
Old Duffer
The younger Beane's death was particularly tragic. He was flying an Audax at 1 SFTS and the aircraft was stopped awaiting permission to take-off. It was struck by another aircraft and Beane received severe head injuries from which he died.
Old Duffer
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Ricardian - that must be almost every young person on the island!
Our local Army Cadets did their usual sterling job. Having spent time selling poppies earlier in the week these boys and girls attend two parades on the day, the main one in the city centre and then our little local one at 15:00hrs. They were already present when I passed the War Memorial at 14:25! Great young people, very smartly turned out and for once they had blue skies and bright sunshine instead of the traditional low cloud/fog and/or rain.
Our local Army Cadets did their usual sterling job. Having spent time selling poppies earlier in the week these boys and girls attend two parades on the day, the main one in the city centre and then our little local one at 15:00hrs. They were already present when I passed the War Memorial at 14:25! Great young people, very smartly turned out and for once they had blue skies and bright sunshine instead of the traditional low cloud/fog and/or rain.
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DX Wombat said
The photograph was taken at Kirkwall's war memorial which is just alongside Kirkwall Cathedral - population of Kirkwall is about 8,500.
On Stronsay about 40 adults and 15 children gathered at the Stronsay war memorial for a short service including the 2 minute silence and the laying of two wreaths (one by an adult, one by two youngsters). It's a very exposed place and it was bitterly cold and windy but the rain held off.
Ricardian - that must be almost every young person on the island!
On Stronsay about 40 adults and 15 children gathered at the Stronsay war memorial for a short service including the 2 minute silence and the laying of two wreaths (one by an adult, one by two youngsters). It's a very exposed place and it was bitterly cold and windy but the rain held off.
I was lucky enough to be at the Bomber Command memorial yesterday. I arrived at around 1050 when there were an estimated 150 people there. At 1055 the police stopped all traffic on Piccadilly, and we were easily able to hear the 11 o'clock gun from St James Park to start the two minutes silence. Afterwards chatted to some very interesting people including a 90 year old RA officer wearing the MC he won at Kohima. In the crowd was a USAF 3 star general with his retinue - would have been nice to have seen someone of similar rank from the RAF, or maybe I missed them.
A memorable visit and I commend the memorial to anyone who had not yet seen it
A memorable visit and I commend the memorial to anyone who had not yet seen it
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"A green and pleaant land..."
The day was celebrated in a number of New Zealand towns including Cambridge [New Zealand] where this chap made an appearance via Lake Karipiro in the Waikato.
