Earlier today an act of remembrance for the thirteen Fleet Air Arm men who perished on Operation Fuller took place in the church. The service started at 12:30pm to correspond with the time that the six Fairey Swordfish biplanes left Kent on their fateful mission over the English Channel.
A video of the service can be viewed on our Facebook page here www.facebook.com/TheFleetAirArmMemorialChurch/videos/332823138769758 and a copy of the Order of Service can be found at this OneDrive link https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnAg34NiB0Hzil6lihT3hRgQzqKr?e=y9SWps
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There will be a short Act of Remembrance in the church next Saturday, 12 February 2022, at 12:30pm to commemorate the Fleet Air Arm aircrew lost in ‘The Channel Dash’ 80 years ago.
All are welcome to attend. For those not able to join us in person, we are hoping to live stream the service via our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheFleetAirArmMemorialChurch A service of commemoration will be held at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton on Wednesday 25 May 2022 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. The service will be open to all Fleet Air Arm veterans, either first or second line, including any armed forces veterans, Merchant Navy and civil servants who are now based at the air station. We would also welcome families of deceased Fleet Air Arm Falklands veterans or their representatives.
Further details and application forms are available from the Chaplaincy on 01935 455257 or by email: tina.cullen889@mod.gov.uk. The church will be open for most of the week commencing Monday 23 May 2022 for visitors to view the Falklands Memorial Plaque and see the names of those Fleet Air Arm personnel lost during the conflict in the Roll of Honour. We are pleased to announce that the church will reopen starting with a Eucharist service on Sunday 6 February 2022 at 10:30 am.
All are welcome. Eighty years ago today, just before 11:00 pm, the British escort carrier HMS AUDACITY (D10) sank in the Atlantic Ocean having been hit by several torpedoes fired from the German submarine U-751.
Of HMS AUDACITY's 298 crew, a total of 73 souls were lost. Among those ‘Missing Presumed Killed’ were 17 Fleet Air Arm aircrew and maintainers. There were only two Fleet Air Arm survivors from the sinking; Sub Lieutenant Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown Royal Navy (later to become one of the most celebrated pilots in the history of Naval Aviation) and Leading Air Mechanic William Churchouse (previously shipwrecked from SS Aguila and HMS ARK ROYAL). The HMS AUDACITY Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour can be found at this OneDrive link: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AnAg34NiB0Hzil1nWskATW_KLk8b Message from the Commanding Officer, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton:
'It is with great reluctance that I have directed St Bart’s to be closed for the Christmas period with consequent cancellation of the majority of the planned Christmas Services, although the Chaplain of the Fleet has agreed that he will conduct the Midnight Mass on 24 December 2021. CV-19 measures (and Omicron in particular) are at the centre of this and I have a duty to protect my people and maintain my directed tasking. I have already re-implemented a stringent policy at Yeovilton to see us through the next few weeks. As many of you will also know, Reverend Allsopp is currently ‘single-handed’ at RNAS Yeovilton as the only CofE Padre able to conduct Services at St. Barts, outwith his principal duties of supporting RNAS Yeovilton personnel and our outputs. You may also be aware that Mark recently became symptomatic with CV-19, and is still recovering and certainly not yet in 100% health. I appreciate the upset this news will cause but please be assured that I will instruct the re-opening as soon as possible.' Yours Aye, Niall Griffin Commodore N R GRIFFIN MBE RN | Commanding Officer, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton l YEOVIL | Somerset | BA22 8HT Today, working alongside Navy Wings, the church hosted a heritage day for 75 Phase 2B Air Engineering Technicians from the air station at Yeovilton. The trainees were divided into small groups, rotating through selected points of interest inside and outside in the Royal Naval Cemetery. The stances were the Falkland’s Conflict Memorial tablet, a brass plaque listing the four naval aviation Victoria Cross recipients, the resting place of Honorary Vice Admiral Sir Donald Gosling KCVO Royal Naval Reserve and the graves of those who lost their lives in a Lynx helicopter operating from HMS Portland in 2004.
Individuals within the groups had been previously nominated to research and then deliver a short talk to their colleagues on the relevant subjects. The day provided a sombre reminder of how important their future roles in the Fleet Air Arm would play in operating naval aircraft safely ashore and afloat. It also gave the trainees an opportunity to learn about the heroic exploits of earlier generations and to honour their sacrifice. Whilst visiting the Navy Wings hangar they were able to get up close to the historic Sea Vixen FAW2, Sea Fury FB.11 and two Swordfish aircraft. The following services will take place over the Christmas period:
Crib Service 4:00 pm on 24 December 2021 (Christmas Eve) - Cancelled Midnight Mass 11:00 pm on 24 December 2021 (Christmas Eve) Sunday Eucharist 10:30 am on 26 December 2021 (Boxing Day) - Cancelled Everyone is welcome. At the eleventh hour yesterday, Thursday 11 November 2021, representatives from the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton gathered alongside veterans in the Royal Naval Cemetery to pay tribute to those lost in both world wars and other conflicts. The new Base Warrant Officer, Nick Seal, also read out the names of men and women who had died in the Naval Service during this year just before the two minute silence. A Wildcat helicopter flew over the the Royal Naval Cemetery as a mark of respect during the service.
We will remember them. |
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