On Mike Westwood's recent resignation as Association Chairman ………
We have had numerous complimentary emails referring to Mike Westwood’s recent resignation as our Association Chairman, all thanking him for what he has done to promote the Association over the ten years he has spent in the role. Regrettably we cannot publish them all here but the one below from Robert McClements, son of WW2 10 Squadron Halifax air gunner Robert McClements, sums up the spirit of gratitude and our appreciation for what Mike has done over the years for us…….
To Mike,
On behalf of the McClements family, my late father Mac, mother Iris, and extended members, sister Gill and nephew Oliver, I want to express our deepest gratitude for your exceptional service to the 10 Squadron Association over the years.
You’ve gone above and beyond in your role, and your passion for it has inspired everyone around you. Your commitment has truly set a high standard for us all, and we are incredibly fortunate to have had you at the helm.
Thank you for your selflessness, hard work, and the countless hours you’ve invested in ensuring our success. Your contributions have not only helped us achieve our goals but have also created a lasting legacy that will benefit many in the years to come. I hope you will continue to attend the Association functions and that we will see you on Remembrance Sunday.
With heartfelt appreciation, - Robert McClements
*****
Good on yer Mike and thank you from us all.
Following a meeting with our Chairman Mike Westwood at a social event in 2023, and more recently at the Bomber Command Memorial, London, in June this year, the Australian High Commission’s Air Attaché, Group Captain Scott Woodland, RAAF, was invited to West Wales on 13th August and given a tour of the Pembroke Heritage Centre by John Evans, the Patron of the Pembroke Dock (Sunderland) Heritage Trust.
During WW2 Nos 10 and 461 Squadrons RAAF, had been stationed at Pembroke Dock with their Sunderland flying boats before moving to Mountbatten, Plymouth.
Scott with his wife Megan and daughter Ava, were met at the Heritage Centre by John Rattenbury, a 10 Sqn Association member who was a former RAF 10 Sqn V-Force pilot and who now lives nearby. It was he who arranged the visit, thereby encouraging and attracting more contact between the UK and Aussie squadrons..
The Woodland Family from Australia/London with members of the Pembroke Heritage Centre
Gp Cpt Woodland is a former RAAF F/A-18 Hornet pilot and weapons instructor. His grandfather was Sgt Lance Woodland, an RAAF flight engineer on 461 Squadron in Coastal Command, based like 10 Sqn RAAF at Pembroke during WW2. Sgt Woodland flew a number of missions with a Flt Lt Dudley Marrows, DSO, DFC, including the one in July 1943 when their Sunderland attacked three German U-boats in the Bay of Biscay. The Sunderland sank one of them; coincidentally numbered U - 461 (the same as their squadron number). Having dropped a lifeboat to the U-boat crew who all survived, its captain and Marrows met up after the war and became good friends.
See the following link for more interesting information about this premier Aussie WW2 aviator.
Flt Lt Dudley Marrows DSO,DFC:
https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/an-outstanding-pilot---dudley-marrows-dso-dfc
and also
Gp Cpt Woodland also met Dudley Marrows about 18 months before Marrows passed away in March 2019 and he still maintains contact with his daughter.
We are delighted that there is a link between the two 10 Squadrons and the RAAF in general and hopefully look forward to more associations in the future. We are also grateful to Martin Cavaney, of the Heritage Centre for allowing us to see his photos of the Aussie visitors and Welsh local helpers at the Centre.
Pembroke Heritage Centre Patron John Evans (left) with
Gp Cpt Scott Woodland, his wife Megan and daughter Eva.
with 10 Sqn Association's John Rattenbury (right)
Many will have switched on daytime television on 6th June to see the live BBC broadcast from Normandy at the newly-completed British Memorial which was the scene for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day activities.
Association members Jim Beard and Susanne Pescott attended the Memorial with their respective other halves, Suzanne and Roger. Susanne P (with an 's') has kindly written an article for all to see including a few photos taken on the day. Click below to read of the day.
In May 2024, Mike Westwood handed over a copy of Irvin Hanson’s recently-published book entitled, ‘Third Time Lucky’, to Wg Cdr Jim Rycroft, OC10. This was in gratitude for the Squadron allowing Irvin access to its memorabilia, whilst writing of his father’s time on 10 Squadron’s Whitleys in WW2, prior to becoming a PoW for the rest of the war in 1941.
On behalf of its author Irvin Hanson, Mike Westwood donates a copy of 'Third Time Lucky' to Wg Cdr Jim Rycroft, OC10.