ANZAC REMEMBRANCE... 2026

For the past four years, the sun has shone for our ANZAC ceremony at Stonefall Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Harrogate. This year was no exception as the sun turned out for the ceremony but proved rather too hot for a number of the RAF cadets who were in attendance.

This year, ANZAC REMEMBRANCE was delighted to have marched onto the parade ground, superb flags that had been donated by both the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces. For this, we thank them. We were also delighted and proud to welcome the attendance of personnel from RAF Leeming including members of 90 Signals Unit, 607 (Durham) Squadron and Yorkshire University Air Squadron. Not only did their attendance add to the ceremony, but no doubt some 40 RAF cadets and several Sea Cadets experienced a new level of military presence and procedure.

Trustee Richard Barrett opened the ceremony with a brief address to His Majesty the King’s representative Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Captain Stephen Upright RB, Mayor of Harrogate Chris Aldred and other distinguished military guests, invitees and members of the public. Included in that speech were the words…

“Stonefall cemetery is the final resting place to 1,013 individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of comradeship and peace. Nine hundred and fifty four of those men were aviators whose average age when they died, was around 23 years old. These young men, who travelled the seas to England and fought under the banner of the Royal Air Force, dreamed each time they took to the skies that one day… when it was all over… they would return to their family and the ones they loved. When they left those far shores, mothers kissed their boys farewell, knowing deep down that they would most probably never see them again. It would have been heartbreaking, but everybody on both sides of the world, lived with hope. Today, we are all here to give thanks to these aviators whose young lives, once assigned to a fighting squadron, would only have been, on average, six weeks.

Leading the assembled crowd of some 200 individuals who had gathered to honour the Australians and New Zealanders buried in Stonefall, Jo Dexter with the support of the amazing Harrogate Band, led the assembled crowds with I VOW TO THEE MY COUNTRY.

Between Waltzing Mathilda and the traditional New Zealand love song Po Karekare Ana, addresses were offered by Air Officer North, Air Commodore Adam Sansom on behalf of the Royal Air Force, Squadron Leader Ataman Iskender on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force and Captain Morgan Findlay of the Royal New Zealand Defence Force.

Gareth Gibbs (retired) of the Welsh Guards, once again offered the Act of Remembrance, followed by the placing of 24 wreaths by dignitaries, military officials and representatives from associations and squadrons. He then read the Kohima Epitaph… 'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.'

ANZAC REMEMBRANCE Chair of Trustees Kate Spencer gave her address, which included a message from Mayor Andrew Little of Wellington, New Zealand whose words included… “Whenever Wellington City Council meets, a silver mace is placed on the council table. One side the of mace is the City of Wellington Crest. On the other is the Harrogate Crest, with the words “To Be Of Service”…When the guns fell silent in 1918 the worry was Lest We Forget. In the longstanding sister city bonds between Wellington and Harrogate you can be assured that this day, and on every Anzac Day, and at every council meeting too, we will never forget.”

Kate recalled in her speech the sacrifice of just one young aviator from the far north of New Zealand. Sidney William Cains was a young farmer who was engaged to be married but died on Valentine’s Day 1943 when the Halifax on which he was the Wireless Operator and Air Gunner crashed due to engine failure. Part of Kate’s speech included the words… ”And then, one sunny afternoon just a few days after Sid and Val would have been thinking of each other on Valentine’s day, life instantly and forever changed. Sid’s parents Dick and Gertie, his two sisters and of course his devoted fiancé Val, who was the love of his life, would never be the same… Dick and Gertie Cains had raised four children on their farm. Both sons had been taken. Sid was 24 years old. A handsome, simple farmer who was engaged to be married and dreamed of going home… when it was all over.” Kate pointed out that having met members of Sid’s family, she is fully aware of the grief that still hangs over them. She finished by saying that Sid was just one example of such men who made the ultimate sacrifice… “Sidney William Cains. You came from the far reaches of New Zealand. Today, we can with all honesty and love say… You are NOT forgotten”.

Australians and New Zealanders buried here at Stonefall are just 120 of ‘THE FEW’ who made that ultimate sacrifice for us. The ceremony closed with the National Anthems and then the sound of The Flowers of the Forest played by Peter Spencer of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Pipe Band who played as the crowds dispersed and were handed ANZAC biscuits by the Trustees.

Laying wreaths this year were...

His Majesty the King's Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire - Captain Stephen Upright RN
Mayor of Harrogate – Chris Aldred
On behalf of the New Zealand High Commission - Kate Spencer
On behalf of the Royal Air Force - Air Officer North, Air Commodore Adam Sansom
On behalf of the Royal Air Force Menwith Hill - Squadron Leader Mark Smith
On behalf of RAF Leeming - Wing Commander David Buckingham
On behalf of the Australian Defence Force – Squadron Leader Ataman Iskender
On behalf of the Royal New Zealand Defence Force - Captain Morgan Findlay
On behalf of the Royal New Zealand Air Force - Wing Commander Katherine Ingram M.B.E.
On behalf of the United States Space Force - Colonel Justin Hodge
On behalf of The Royal British Legion Harrogate- Mike Comerford
On behalf of The Royal British Legion Pudsey & Farsley - Damon Sugden
On behalf of The Royal British Legion Bikers - Steve Upton
On behalf of North Yorkshire Constabulary - Chief Constable Tim Forber
On behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Gareth Hardware
On behalf of ANZAC REMEMBRANCE C.I.O. - Trustee Jacqueline Perry K.C.
On behalf of 77 Squadron - Yorkshire Air Museum Director Jonathan Brewer
On behalf of the Yorkshire Air Museum - Ian Richardson
On behalf of Harrogate International Partnerships - Alderman Michael Newby
On behalf of Soroptimist International Harrogate - President Heather Shipman
In remembrance of RNZAF Pilot Alfred Lockyer from Wellington - Jean & Simon Everson
In remembrance of his Australian grandfather Private L.S.Fitz-Alan - Jake Rundle
On behalf of Timaru Boys High School for Pilot Denis Kyne - A.R.C.I.O. Trustee Alan Chivers
On behalf of 57/630 Squadron in remembrance of RNZAF aviators - Mike Wood
On behalf of the AFC & RAAF Association Queensland Division - RAF Cadet Conor Morrison
A wreath was laid by a young cadet on behalf of the RAF cadets,