The History of RAF Yatesbury
RAF Yatesbury
The Who, What, Where & When
Why, when and by whom was the White Horse cut?
Why, when and by whom was the Monument built?
Who built Silbury Hill?
What do Guy Gibson VC and Billy W akeyW akey" Cotton have in common?
Who arrested the Station Warrant Officer?
Who threw the Station Warrant Officer in the Static Water Tank
Who threw the contents of guardroom fire bucket over the Duty Officer
Why did some airmen not have to salute on pay parade?
Where is RAF "Gatesbury"?
What happened when the Germans bombed the Station?
When and to whom did the Station Commander surrender (with a photograph to prove it)?
Why was the Harris factory based in Calne?
What were RAF Townsend and RAF Cherhill?
When did everybody get sent home for an extra week of leave?
Where did Joseph Priestly discover oxygen?
Who shot at the Orderly Officer?
When was a Greyhound Race Meeting held on camp?
When was Yatesbury used for "Square bashing"?
Who ran "Blossom's Pirate Coaches"?
What was special about the Meteor jet fighter that guarded the gate from 1956 to 1960?
How was RAF Yatesbury involved in the invasion of Suez?
The answer to all these questions, (except two), you will find in
"The History of RAF Yatesbury" ,
Available now, it has 300 - A 4 pages, incorporating 39 colour and 70 black and white photographs.
"If only all airfields could be treated this way" FlyPast May 2005
The price is £18.00,
Postage & PackingPacking: UK £5.00 Europe £ 7.50
Rest of the World: £7.5 0-Surface £15-Airmail
Available from:
P. Tomaselli, 146 Stockwood Lane, Bristol BS 14 8TA
The Great War: Calne District Soldiers
Remembrance Day
When you ask people about what Remembrance Day means to them they may think of poppies or a minute silence for the dead or iconic scenes of the war graves of France and Flanders. These days we lead such busy lives that “who were these soldiers”, “why were they fighting” and “what happened to them” are questions that we can rarely allow ourselves the privilege of asking.
Having asked the questions, this November some of them can finally be answered. An exhibition will be taking place in Calne Heritage Centre and will tell the stories of the many men from the Calne District who became casualties of the Great War. It will give a unique insight into the men who volunteered to fight and those who were conscripted. Author of ‘The Great War: Salisbury Soldiers’, Richard Broadhead, has produced the exhibition which is based on the research he undertook for his second book ‘The Great War: Calne District Soldiers’.
The men of Calne and the surrounding villages were to play their parts in this conflict which was to become known as the Great War and it would change people’s lives for ever. This history provides not only details of those who fell on active service, but also personal information, including letters and photographs for many of the men featured.
The exhibition brings the history of the Great War to life with graphic pictures, true stories and thrilling accounts gained from archives and regimental histories. As you journey through the exhibition it also touches on such subjects as those soldiers shot at dawn, the casualties and accidents associated with Yatesbury aerodrome and the forgotten heroes, some of whom are buried in the Calne and the surrounding villages but receive no recognition for their part on any war memorial.
Should you be trying to trace a soldier relative or their service history, Richard will be on hand every day between 12noon and 2pm to give advice and information. Through his research he has amassed information on over 10,000 casualties with connections with Wiltshire; including some military records, news articles of the time and even photographs of the soldiers or their graves.
During the exhibition there will also be a number of evening talks by Richard who will give an insight as to what life was like during the Great War and for those left behind; looking into gas rationing, air raids, exploding ships and horse recruitment. The evening talk will include an opportunity for question and answer interaction with the audience.
The exhibition will run from the Wednesday 4th November to Thursday 26th November from 10:30am to 4pm at the Calne Heritage Centre, (check web site for more details). If you are interested in attending one of the evening talks please ring 07771 803150, places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If you wish to pre order a copy of The Great War; Calne District Soldiers please call the same number or email Richard@hrrec.co.uk.
Once you have attended the exhibition, on Remembrance Day you will remember the people, and not the day, and why it is important that these memories live on.
