Today in the wonderful sunshine, we were joined by members of the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Association. The FCAFA hold a couple of ceremonies at the cemetery each year and we were honoured to have them join us. The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Graham Cundy and Cllr John Kingsbury in his last role representing Woking Borough Council also attended.

We remembered Jaroslav Štěrbáček, who was a member of the Czech Air Force in the 30s, prior to transferring to the RAF in 1940. He was posted to the newly formed 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron which flew Hurricane Mk 1s. Jaroslav flew his first operational patrol flight on 19 August and five more during August.

At 13:00, 31 August, twelve 12 Hurricanes from 310 Sqn took-off for an operational patrol. At 13:25, flying at an altitude of 12,000 feet over the Thames Estuary, they saw a Luftwaffe bomber formation along with numerous Me 109 for fighter support. 310 Sqn Hurricanes attacked and in the resultant dog-fight, Štěrbáček’s Hurricane was last seen attacking a Do 17 before being shot down by a Me 109 about 13:30. His Hurricane was seen to go into a steep dive with Jaroslav managing to bail-out. The Hurricane crashed near Romford, Essex, but Jaroslav landed into the Thames Estuary and is believed to have drowned, his body was never found.

P/O Jaroslav Štěrbáček is commemorated on panel 10 of the RAF’s Runnymede Memorial. He has the dubious distinction of being the 1st of 511 Czech airmen inc 1 WAAF to be killed in RAF service during WW2. He was 27 years old.

Our bugler was Mrs Ruth Moore, the BLP Standard was paraded by Tom Milne and the Union Flag by Mrs Sue Stallard. We had an additional seven Standards on parade and a number of air force cadets.

After the ceremony we had some refreshments at The Trench Experience.

Today our Last Post ceremony was RAF themed, it being 100 years ago since the formation of the RAF. For this reason, we chose to extend our individual remembrance to four individuals, two from WWI and two from WWII.

Cadet Axel Bendix, 43rd Wing, Royal Flying Corps, aged 22 was undergoing training at Fort Worth, Texas, USA when he was killed on 21 January 1918.

Pte Francis Redwood, aged 30, of Wantage, Berkshire died on 19 November 1918 in unknown circumstances.

Both are commemorated on the WWI – The Brookwood 1914-1918 Memorial for those with no known grave.

Warrant Officer Terence Riordan, aged 22, RAFVR of 98 Sqn RAF and Flying Officer Ernest Fooks, aged 32, RAFVR of 180 Sqn RAF were both pilots of North American B-25 Mitchell Mark II bombers based at RCAF Dunsfold, Surrey.

Returning from a bombing mission attacking construction sites for V-1 ‘buzz bombs’ on 7th January 1944, their two aircraft collided and crashed close to the village of Rudgwick, West Sussex. All crew were killed. Six were buried in their home towns, while Riordan and Fooks were buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery.

Warrant Officer Riordan

Flying Officer Fooks

We will remember them.

For the first time, in many years, the Brookwood Last Post’s Union Flag was paraded by Mrs Sue Stallard. This flag was commissioned in 1968 and is now 50 years old.

The Brookwood Last Post Standard was paraded by Alan Lopez and there were several other Standards on parade.

Afterwards we went round to The Trench Experience for refreshments.

Today we held a short ceremony, with around a dozen people attending.

We read the poem ‘What I Miss Most’ by James Love.

I miss the lads.
I miss those crisp clear nights,
when the frost glistens in the moonlight.
I miss those lonely exposed hills,
lashed by the rain.
I miss the young and innocent faces,
some of whom we’ll never see again.
I miss the laughter and the crack.
I miss their morbid humour,
the childish pranks and unspoken laws.
I miss the sense of belonging,
that unique bond.
I miss youth at its best,
though I’ll grow old, unlike the rest.

What I miss most?
I miss the lads.

(C) James Love

We remembered Lieutenant Commander David I Balfour. Lt Cdr Balfour was aboard HMS Sheffield when it was hit by an Argentine Exocet missile on 4th May 1982 during the Falklands conflict. He was 37 years old and lived in Hindhead, Surrey.

We will remember them.

Afterwards we went round to The Trench Experience for mulled wine.