WHAT'S NEWS WITH A.R.C.I.O.?
AUGUST 2025
As we sail through the holiday season on this side of the globe, I am already planning my trip to New Zealand at the end of November. Apart from looking forward to catching up with family and friends spread the length of the country, I am also planning my official visits. Whilst in Wellington I will once again be meeting with the Senior International Relationships Advisor at Wellington City Council, discussing the twinning relationships between Harrogate and Wellington and strengthening the ANZAC REMEMBRANCE charity which the council fully support. My second official visit will be with the Deputy Chief of The Royal New Zealand Air Force at Defence H.Q. in Wellington to discuss our yearly ceremony and to strengthen our existing relationship.
So here goes with our latest news.
OUR FIRST BIRTHDAY
In just a couple of weeks ANZAC REMEMBRANCE will be celebrating its first Charity Birthday! And, what a year it’s been! Having started with just three Trustees, we now have a solid bank of six who are totally committed to the charity. Apart from myself – with a list of professions that range from teaching to journalism, we now also have a serving member of the Royal Air Force on board.
Our amazing first year has also seen the construction of our website and the raising of sufficient funds to cover the costs of the ANZAC REMEMBRANCE ceremony held on the 27th April 2024 at Stonefall cemetery. These costs included the band, singer, piper, sound system, wreaths, programmes, catering, and chairs for those who need them.
In order to celebrate our birthday I would like to reaffirm the Purpose of our Charity as set out with the Charity Commission of England and Wales.
THE PROMOTION OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN PARTICULAR BY PLANNING, ORGANISING AND STAGING ANNUAL ANZAC REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES ON THE SUNDAY CLOSEST TO THE 25TH APRIL, ALONGSIDE OTHER COMMEMORATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
REMEMBERING AVIATORS BURIED IN FRANCE
ON THE ÎLE DE RÉ and LA ROCHELLE
Whilst on holiday recently for five days in La Rochelle on the west coast of France, we carried out a few visits to cemeteries in the area on behalf of ANZAC REMEMBRANCE. Our first visit was to the LA ROCHELLE (ST. ELOI) COMMUNAL CEMETERY situated to the east of the city. Buried there was an aviator of the Royal Air Force. Buried around him are over 200 French and Senegalese soldiers from the First World War.
A couple of days later, my husband Richard (Trustee) went on a mission to pay tribute to two Royal New Zealand Air Force and five Royal Air Force aviators who are buried on this rather beautiful island off the south west coast of France. Having left La Rochelle on a bus at the crack of dawn, he travelled for 90 minutes to the top of the ÎLE DE RÉ to visit ARS-EN-RÉ COMMUNAL CEMETERY. Following that visit, he jumped on another bus which took him to LE-BOIS-PLAGE-EN-RÉ COMMUNAL CEMETERY and then finally to SAINTE-MARIE-DE-RÉ COMMUNAL CEMETERY at the bottom of the island. See the map below for the three cemeteries.
If you would like to read more of the history of the seven men that ANZAC REMEMBRANCE were able to visit and honour – buried so far from home but beautifully cared for in perpetuity by the COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION, please click on the PDF above.
YORKSHIRE AIR MUSEUM – ELVINGTON, YORKSHIRE
As mentioned in June’s News Page, the YORKSHIRE AIR MUSEUM is an absolute MUST for a visit. Their theme for 2024 and 2025 covers one of the most significant twelve months in World War II, starting from just before D-Day. The theme covers the role of the aircraft in the museum and the part they played in the war during that period in history. Included in that theme is the arrival of the two French Bomber Command Squadrons that were based at Elvington until their return to Bordeaux, France in October 1945. Their story can also been seen on our website by clicking on the link here...
Upcoming August events at the Yorkshire Air Museum that you might like to think about visiting when you are in the area. For further information on these events visit…
https://yorkshireairmuseum.org/plan-your-visit/events
10th August - Womens' Memorial Day
11th August - Museum 40th Anniversary
23/24th August - Military Vehicle Display
28th August - Victor K2 Tanker Unveiling
VISITS TO CEMETERIES
In carrying out our Charity Purpose and as Trustees of ANZAC REMEMBRANCE, we are often wandering around cemeteries! We rely a great deal on information that can be gleaned from the COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION. If you are trying to find a relative… I suggest the CWGC website is a great place to start. A link to that website is here…
Aviators came from NEW ZEALAND and AUSTRALIA to fight with the Royal Air Force. As such, we do not forget those RAF personnel when we are wandering around the cemeteries!
Over the past year, we have paid homage to a number of aviators - some buried quite remotely in France.
Please click on the PDF above for more information about these young men - where they came from and how abruptly their young lives ended in the fight for freedom.
THE TWENTY THREE
For those who are following the progress of the book I have written about the lives and families of the 23 New Zealanders buried in Stonefall and how the war in Europe affected them all, there is currently no news. Unfortunately, Penguin Random House made an unfavourable decision but my agent Bill (ex-RNZAF) in New Zealand has now placed it with a specialist Kiwi publisher. So…please… all fingers crossed again.
FIVE BOYS FROM WELLINGTON
Just a reminder for those who haven’t seen this booklet… please take a look. I researched this in 2021 but, having discovered another Wellingtonian buried in Stonefall whilst writing THE TWENTY THREE, I have now updated and rewritten the booklet.
You can read the booklet by turning to the WELLINGTON & HARROGATE page, or you may go directly there by clicking the button below.
Thank you for taking the time to read our AUGUST update and for supporting ANZAC REMEMBRANCE CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION. if you would like to make a donation... you can do so by turning to our DONATE page.
KATE SPENCER
CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
ANZAC REMEMBRANCE C.I.O.
975641 SERGEANT WILLIAM JOSEPH BRAZIER - RAFVR
AIR GUNNER - BURIED AT ARS-EN-RE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
HONOURING A FEMALE PILOT
Eleanor Lettice Curtis (known as Lettice) was an English aviator and a flight test engineer who ferried Spitfires and other military aircraft all over England during WWII. She was a member of the Air Transport Auxilliary and the first female pilot to be trained on four engine heavy bombers. As a solo pilot, Lettice delivered Lancaster, Halifax and Stirling aircraft where they were needed. She is a legend!
This is the handsome Toby Thompson from Titirangi in Auckland, New Zealand. He is one of THE TWENTY THREE.and was the pilot of a Vickers Wellington that crashed on 23rd March 1944 during a night training exercise. He is buried in Stonefall near his Navigator and Bomb Aimer who were both Australians.
Eleanor Lettice Curtis
(1 February 1915 – 21 July 2014)
Terence McKinley DFC... Born in Nelson and attended school in Wellington. Pilot. Died age 21.
