- Cpl Thomas Priday
- Dunkirk
- Hurricane
- The invasion of Poland
- Luftwaffe
- Messerschmit
- Dogfight
- The Blitz
- Lancaster
- Spam
- Dambusters
- Tommy
- Normandy
- Turpitz
- Juno
- Spitfire
- Winston Churchill
- Johnny Johnson
- Auschwitz
- Stalingrad
- Guy Gibson
- The Battle of Britain
- Stuka
- V1 flying bomb – Doodlbugs
- The Battle of the Bulge
- Biggin Hill
- Holocaust
- The jerries
- Charles de Gaule
- Panzer
- Heinkel
- Dresden
- Keep calm and carry on
- Blackout
- Enigma
- Private Charles Havlat
I began this list and ended it with two names. Names you’ve probably never heard of. They were the first and last casualties of the war in Europe. One was 26, the other 34. In the years that the war raged in Europe, over 8million service persons died. Some were as young as you.
These are some of the key names, places, events and sayings that are synonymous with WW2 in Europe. Many evoke a sense of Britishness and positivity that kept the country moving during the darkest days. I’m sure that some of you have even heard them – that’s important, as they are part of the fabric of our society. Woven into us from adversity. An adversity that we fought by stoically remaining positive and focussed.
Indeed, keep calm and carry on..
This week’s events, and tonight in particular, are a celebration of 80 years since peace was declared in Europe.
Tonight, we join those celebrations, though we also remember. We remember the events, the people, the successes and the losses.
We remember them to honour them. We remember them to keep them alive.
Over time, memories can fade. But some memories must be kept. They must be cherished, nourished and shared.
Where we have come from is as important as where we are going. We cannot forget, we cannot allow the same mistakes to be made. We must remember what they stood for and sacrificed for us.
We ask you, the cadets, to remember. We ask as you are our next generation. You are our future.
You must shine bright, you must remember and teach your next generations the lessons you have learned, just as we have learnt ourselves.
Never forget.
We will remember them.”
Fg Off Matthew Storey 470 (Falkirk) Squadron
