Memories of RAFG
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I read the book referred to. Its author made a contribution or two to another book, more anecdotal; 'The Call Up', he told a story about the wife of an officer who was besotted with her pet dog(s) involving he and other airmen in waiting at table while the local canine pets held a Birthday Party with Hats, Jelly and Ice Cream! He supposedly bumped into his form DI at a Service Station in the UK or something years later. The book he wrote from a personal perspective, was set in Germany at RAF Zeedorf which my brother described as identical to RAF Gutersloh. I believe the author was stationed there. I read his book circa 1976/77 and thought then that it told a rather negative if colourful story. THE corporal described as some sort of airman that time forgot, I kind of got to begin with and thought it was some sort of recurring phenomena in service life, like forgotten lifer in Southern State Penitentiary, but as I read on, the brutal 'Bull' obsessed Station Commander and the 'Corporal' seemed increasingly far fetched from my position as a teenage Air Cadet at the time. But I did enjoy it for all its over the top negative assault on service life generally.
Some years ago the author appeared in a TV documentary on National Service and mentioned the anecdote about the dog's party. I also thought the book gave a somewhat negative and over the top view of RAF life, but of course I didn't serve during the years of conscription. However at the end of the programme he did speak rather fondly of his time in the RAF.
Polecat
I read the book referred to. Its author made a contribution or two to another book, more anecdotal; 'The Call Up', he told a story about the wife of an officer who was besotted with her pet dog(s) involving he and other airmen in waiting at table while the local canine pets held a Birthday Party with Hats, Jelly and Ice Cream! He supposedly bumped into his form DI at a Service Station in the UK or something years later. The book he wrote from a personal perspective, was set in Germany at RAF Zeedorf which my brother described as identical to RAF Gutersloh. I believe the author was stationed there. I read his book circa 1976/77 and thought then that it told a rather negative if colourful story. THE corporal described as some sort of airman that time forgot, I kind of got to begin with and thought it was some sort of recurring phenomena in service life, like forgotten lifer in Southern State Penitentiary, but as I read on, the brutal 'Bull' obsessed Station Commander and the 'Corporal' seemed increasingly far fetched from my position as a teenage Air Cadet at the time. But I did enjoy it for all its over the top negative assault on service life generally.
Some years ago the author appeared in a TV documentary on National Service and mentioned the anecdote about the dog's party. I also thought the book gave a somewhat negative and over the top view of RAF life, but of course I didn't serve during the years of conscription. However at the end of the programme he did speak rather fondly of his time in the RAF.
Polecat
Yet another Gutersloh memory, not mine, but my wife's.
Some time c. 1969, there was a UXB discovered on or near the airfield. We assume it was one of ours from the war. She remembers the residents of the top patch being told to stay in their cellars, and that our children played darts until defusing or controlled explosion.
And I remember absolutely nothing of it.
Some time c. 1969, there was a UXB discovered on or near the airfield. We assume it was one of ours from the war. She remembers the residents of the top patch being told to stay in their cellars, and that our children played darts until defusing or controlled explosion.
And I remember absolutely nothing of it.
I have just heard that there is to be a reunion at Kings School, Gutersloh, in June/July 2019! I am not too sure of the exact dates. If you can access that 'book with the face on it', which I cannot, they are on there. See you there maybe?
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Originally Posted by Squiffy Pussy 
5p pieces used to fit in the cigarette machines as Dms in the OM.
Good job that a bunch of us 14-16yr old ish cadets on a visit to RAFG hadn't heard of that one and hadn't gone armed with bag fulls of 5ps and didn't get loads of cigs out of them, eh? 
5p pieces used to fit in the cigarette machines as Dms in the OM.
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Gp Capt James Stagg
Only recently came across a TV clip reporting that the good Grp Cpt in fact telephoned the furthest west lighthouse in Eire to check their weather state and on being told that it was improving rapidly, felt able to give D Day the go ahead. The reporter spoke to some aged crone who verified the story
https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/pressure
Gentleman Aviator
Can heartily recommend the Park Theatre. Senior Daughter used to live nearby and have seen a number of verty good productions there - and about 25% of West End prices.
Might try and make "Pressure" .....
Might try and make "Pressure" .....
After fighting my way through the junk stored possessions in the loft, I've managed to find a photo of the Gutersloh NAAFI tramp.
Apologies for the quality; I've tried to scan from a 48 year old 35mm slide.
g'sloh bar tramp 1.jpeg
Apologies for the quality; I've tried to scan from a 48 year old 35mm slide.
g'sloh bar tramp 1.jpeg
Some of you may find this interesting. We recently saw "Pressure" at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford...it's a superbly written and well-acted play, at the Park Theatre, London N4 from Mar 28 until Apr 28.
https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/pressure
https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/pressure
I believe that I once met Stagg, but I am sure that he did not remember me!
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Posted on Facebook today:
Whatever has happened to the usual high standard of maintenance by the CWGC?
Back in 1976 Elaine and I became the proud parents of a Son. Barry was our only child and sadly we lost him at 5 weeks old. We were advised to have his remains buried at the military cemetery located at RAF Rheindahlen. This meant that "His grave would be tended and cared for throughout time". This advice was taken and on 23rd December 1976 the funeral took place. For more than 40 years now we have travelled every year to pay our respects. When the military left the region some years ago now, the upkeep of the site was passed to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). In that time the Cemetery has become more and more distressed.
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Hmmmm well in their defence, photos taken on a winters day when it is wet will never make anything look pristine.
The damaged stone looks like frost damage and replacement may be in hand though it does look like it has been like that for a while, but again see the first comment.
The damaged grave statue etc is possibly due to careless mowing, but do you leave them damaged or remove them, as either is likely to cause upset.
The stones do look like they could do with a good wash, but again refer to the first comment and regular scrubbing and using detergents may damage the stones.
Finally such a tragedy to lose their only son at such a young age and my heart goes out to them
The damaged stone looks like frost damage and replacement may be in hand though it does look like it has been like that for a while, but again see the first comment.
The damaged grave statue etc is possibly due to careless mowing, but do you leave them damaged or remove them, as either is likely to cause upset.
The stones do look like they could do with a good wash, but again refer to the first comment and regular scrubbing and using detergents may damage the stones.
Finally such a tragedy to lose their only son at such a young age and my heart goes out to them
A bit of thread drift, but the talk about the CWGC raised my interest as I'd posted earlier a piece about the CWGC cemetery in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, which shows they do look after the graves in their charge.
I was stationed at RAF China Bay in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1957 and didn't know until a visit in 2002 that a war graves cemetery existed in Trincomalee, just across the bay from China Bay where I was stationed - read on.
One of the far-flung Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries is the Trincomalee Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in north eastern Sri Lanka which is one of six commonwealth war cemeteries in Sri Lanka.
The Trincomalee cemetery was originally the Combined Services Cemetery, but was taken over by the Admiralty from the military in April 1948 for use as a permanent naval cemetery. On the withdrawal of UK Forces from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1957 it became the property of the Sri Lanka Government who granted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission security of tenure in perpetuity. Save for a few post-war and non-war graves it is purely a war cemetery. The non-war graves are those of men of the Merchant Navy whose death was not due to war service and of civilians, of whom some were employees of the Admiralty; while the post-war graves were dependents of servicemen, civilian employees of the Admiralty and dependents of such employees. The cemetery contains 360 named graves and 4 unknown.
As expected most graves contain the remains of naval servicemen who died when the Japanese bombed the Royal Naval Eastern Fleet base at Trincomalee in April 1942. (Photo taken in May 2002 shows the caretaker responsible for the upkeep of the cemetery holding the cemetery visitors book and very proud to show visitors the entry signed by Princess Ann that she made on a visit to Trinco, date unknown).
One of the far-flung Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries is the Trincomalee Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in north eastern Sri Lanka which is one of six commonwealth war cemeteries in Sri Lanka.
The Trincomalee cemetery was originally the Combined Services Cemetery, but was taken over by the Admiralty from the military in April 1948 for use as a permanent naval cemetery. On the withdrawal of UK Forces from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1957 it became the property of the Sri Lanka Government who granted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission security of tenure in perpetuity. Save for a few post-war and non-war graves it is purely a war cemetery. The non-war graves are those of men of the Merchant Navy whose death was not due to war service and of civilians, of whom some were employees of the Admiralty; while the post-war graves were dependents of servicemen, civilian employees of the Admiralty and dependents of such employees. The cemetery contains 360 named graves and 4 unknown.
As expected most graves contain the remains of naval servicemen who died when the Japanese bombed the Royal Naval Eastern Fleet base at Trincomalee in April 1942. (Photo taken in May 2002 shows the caretaker responsible for the upkeep of the cemetery holding the cemetery visitors book and very proud to show visitors the entry signed by Princess Ann that she made on a visit to Trinco, date unknown).
Ricardian, you have my deepest sympathy. Mention of Princess Anne in another post prompts me to suggest a note to Admiral Sir Tim, who is, I think, Vice-Chairman of CWGC
Wander OO. Without in any way wishing to demean Sir Tim, as a Junior Towers FC (99Entry ) and part of an early DS "stand on your hind legs!" session, I was asked to predict my RAF career.
So off I went,spouting away all my route up to CAS amid typical Cadet cat-calls and derision. The DS summarised:
'Well Haraka, the only thing you seem to have missed out was your marriage to Princess Anne".
So that explains it........
So off I went,spouting away all my route up to CAS amid typical Cadet cat-calls and derision. The DS summarised:
'Well Haraka, the only thing you seem to have missed out was your marriage to Princess Anne".
So that explains it........
Ref. Rheindahlen Military Cemetery:
The CWG has sent the following message to a gent called Lee Hammond.
"Hello Lee,
Thank you for your message - this morning we forwarded it as a matter of urgency internally. Having spoken with our team who are responsible for the maintenance of Rheindahlen Military Cemetery they were able to confirm that the cleaning of headstones usually takes place at the start of March each year. Due to adverse weather in Germany this year there was a delay of three weeks in being able to complete this.
The headstones have now all been cleaned, as can be seen by the attached photograph which was taken last Thursday, 5 April.
We would like to reassure you that we continue to carry out the maintenance of this cemetery on behalf of the MoD to their specifications."
It looks a lot better now.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...7672304&type=3
The CWG has sent the following message to a gent called Lee Hammond.
"Hello Lee,
Thank you for your message - this morning we forwarded it as a matter of urgency internally. Having spoken with our team who are responsible for the maintenance of Rheindahlen Military Cemetery they were able to confirm that the cleaning of headstones usually takes place at the start of March each year. Due to adverse weather in Germany this year there was a delay of three weeks in being able to complete this.
The headstones have now all been cleaned, as can be seen by the attached photograph which was taken last Thursday, 5 April.
We would like to reassure you that we continue to carry out the maintenance of this cemetery on behalf of the MoD to their specifications."
It looks a lot better now.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...7672304&type=3
Last edited by insty66; 9th Apr 2018 at 17:19. Reason: Added link
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My work takes me to numerous places across Europe and the Middle East. Whenever I have the time, I try to spare a few moments at a local Commonwealth War grave. This week was Lt J Morgan, Royal Engineers who died in Oct 1918.
Without exception I've yet to see a grave, or set of graves, that haven't received the appropriate level of respect, care and attention (yes, I know there are occasions where an idiotic act has taken place). My own grandfather is buried at the Florence War Cemetery, Italy, a truly beautiful place.
Without exception I've yet to see a grave, or set of graves, that haven't received the appropriate level of respect, care and attention (yes, I know there are occasions where an idiotic act has taken place). My own grandfather is buried at the Florence War Cemetery, Italy, a truly beautiful place.
RAF Gutersloh spotters page
I came across this well documented enthusiasts website on Gutersloh with hundreds of images over the decades from WW2 to very recently
Startseite ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
Übersicht Fotos ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
A couple of interested events where VMA-231 visited twice first with AV-8A Harriers in 78 then in 86 with the AV-8B Harrier II
Gastflugzeuge des USMC - VMA 231 ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
Spanish Naval Aviation AV-8S/TAV-8AS Matadors
Gastflugzeuge der Armada Esc008 ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
THe civvy movements are interesting too
Zivile Gastflugzeuge aus Großbritannien ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
- Mike Carlton privately owned Hunters, Britannia Airways 737 and obligatory classic BA 747-200 and L-1011 Tristar.
cheers
Startseite ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
Übersicht Fotos ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
A couple of interested events where VMA-231 visited twice first with AV-8A Harriers in 78 then in 86 with the AV-8B Harrier II
Gastflugzeuge des USMC - VMA 231 ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
Spanish Naval Aviation AV-8S/TAV-8AS Matadors
Gastflugzeuge der Armada Esc008 ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
THe civvy movements are interesting too
Zivile Gastflugzeuge aus Großbritannien ? Die Geschichte des Flugplatz Gütersloh
- Mike Carlton privately owned Hunters, Britannia Airways 737 and obligatory classic BA 747-200 and L-1011 Tristar.
cheers
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Latest update from Lee Hammond:
1. The CWGC has to work withing specifications laid down by MoD. Because Rheindahlen is not a "War cemetery" it obviously if not near the top of the priorities list like Mons, Ypres etc. This I find fully understandable.
2. There are no staff at this cemetery and the gates are opened & locked by a representative. The gardens are the responsibility of a local professional contractor who understandably does not work during the winter months.
3. They are aware of the damaged headstones. Currently they are responsible for over 1.8 million graves. Each year thousands of these headstones have to be replaced due to damage or age. The damaged ones at Rheindahlen are on the list for replacement but obviously this takes time.
4. The damaged trinkets etc at some of the graves are the result of the winter storms. For legal reasons CWGC cannot remove these items without permission. They can only shift them if they are classed as offensive in nature.
5. All the green had amassed since last September due to the adverse weather, that I can relate to as we had an awful winter as well.
Finally, the CWGC were made aware of things even before I threw my toys out of the cot. A complaint was made to MoD more than a week ago (person unknown to me). Last Thursday the initial Spring clean up was completed and looking at the photographs sent to me it looks to have vastly improved the situation. I can't post these photos as they were sent to me in word document form (but take my word for it, things look better}.
I am hoping that once Vera has visited tomorrow she can confirm all is well.
Both Elaine & myself are feeling much reassured and would like to thank everybody for their help. Also thanks to CWGC for being so understanding to our concerns.
2. There are no staff at this cemetery and the gates are opened & locked by a representative. The gardens are the responsibility of a local professional contractor who understandably does not work during the winter months.
3. They are aware of the damaged headstones. Currently they are responsible for over 1.8 million graves. Each year thousands of these headstones have to be replaced due to damage or age. The damaged ones at Rheindahlen are on the list for replacement but obviously this takes time.
4. The damaged trinkets etc at some of the graves are the result of the winter storms. For legal reasons CWGC cannot remove these items without permission. They can only shift them if they are classed as offensive in nature.
5. All the green had amassed since last September due to the adverse weather, that I can relate to as we had an awful winter as well.
Finally, the CWGC were made aware of things even before I threw my toys out of the cot. A complaint was made to MoD more than a week ago (person unknown to me). Last Thursday the initial Spring clean up was completed and looking at the photographs sent to me it looks to have vastly improved the situation. I can't post these photos as they were sent to me in word document form (but take my word for it, things look better}.
I am hoping that once Vera has visited tomorrow she can confirm all is well.
Both Elaine & myself are feeling much reassured and would like to thank everybody for their help. Also thanks to CWGC for being so understanding to our concerns.
Living at JHQ for a total of 9 years, I visited the cemetery from time to time when I needed a little peace and reflection.
I am so pleased that it is indeed maintained and cared for. Truly the days of the British presence at Rheindahlen were golden, and remain so in many hearts.
I am so pleased that it is indeed maintained and cared for. Truly the days of the British presence at Rheindahlen were golden, and remain so in many hearts.
