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Sergeant D I Barwood from Carterton in Oxfordshire, died whilst on operations in Iraq in 2008. Squadron Leader M R Sills from St Ives in Cornwall, died whilst in service in 2009. SAC P Payne from Chippenham in Wiltshire and Sergeant S P Entwhistle both died whilst in service during 2010. Their names engraved on a tablet of York stone were laid at the foot of the 90SU memorial alongside nine other members and previous members of 90SU.
The ceremony started in bright sunshine as Group Captain Philiban read his address and continued as Wing Commander Padre Andrew Hewitt conducted his service. Wreaths from the RAF, 90SU, 90SU Tactical Communications Wing and the RAF Association were laid at the memorial, as was a wreath dedicated to Marine N Foster, laid by Flight Sergeant Leathem on behalf of Marine Foster’s family who sadly were unable to attend the ceremony due to ill health. Marine Foster was a former member of 90SU but had left the RAF and had joined The Royal Marine Corps.
The act of remembrance was read by Senior Aircraftsman Barker from 2 (Field Communications) Squadron 90SU, after which a trumpeter from the RAF College band sounded the last post and ensigns were lowered. As the first bar of the last post was finished, a light rain began which quickly developed into heavy downpour. Staff from the National Memorial Arboretum and officers from 90SU quickly handed out some umbrellas to the guests, but as the ceremony continued, so did the rain whilst those paying respects and onlookers took the brunt of this deluge and remained steadfast in paying their respects.
Once the closing blessing had been made, families, guests and servicemen moved to the shelter of a private refreshment tent where they could mingle and exchange fond memories of their fallen comrades. Very soon afterwards the sky cleared and once again the National Memorial Arboretum was bathed in warming sunlight, enabling families to individually pay their respects at the memorial stone.
Group Captain Philiban said: “This simple, yet important act of remembrance allows us to honour those personnel who have passed away whilst serving, or who have previously served on 90 Signals Unit or Tactical Communications Wing. The stone was commissioned by 90SU in 2008 as a fitting memorial within the National Memorial Arboretum and acts as the Units focal point of remembrance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those remembered in the original dedication and those we have regrettably added to the memorial stone during this service.”
Photographer: SAC Dave Turnbull |
