Bernard Chell (Joe 90) a Borderer is in palliative care in the Stoke University Hospital. For various reasons he has fallen on hard times and hasn’t any means of covering any funeral costs. Because of this Ackie Murray has set up a “go fund me page” hoping to help with these pending costs.
Click the link to view fund details.
OPERATION INFATUATE -THE LIBERATION OF WALCHEREN 1944
The 75th anniversary of the assault across the Scheldt and liberation of Walcheren will take place over the weekend 25 – 27 October. This operation involved 52nd Lowland Division which included both 4 and 5 KOSB. It was a huge operation entailing an amphibious assault across the River Scheldt in order to secure Flushing and the Island of Walcheren and so enable supplies to be shipped safely into Antwerp, which had been liberated in September 1944.
The outline plan for the weekend is as follows:
Fri 25 Oct:
0930 Leave Flushing by car to visit Bergen-op-Zoom Cemetery. Arrive about 10.30am for short service, laying of wreaths & placing of crosses on graves.
(N.B All of the 4 & 5 KOSB casualties who were killed in action in the assault on Flushing are interred at the Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery)
Afternoon: Visit to Kapelle War Museum (on Beverland causeway) and the adjacent Kapelle Cemetery (the burial site of all French casualties (including Free French Commandos) killed in action in the Netherlands during WW2). There will be a short service laying a wreath and putting crosses on the graves.
Evening: Meal together in the evening which will be arranged later.
Sat 26 Oct:
1000 Official service & ceremony in St Jacobs Church, Flushing followed by wreath-laying ceremony at Uncle Beach & re-enactment of landings.
1930 – Official Concert in St. Jacobs Church, Flushing.
Sun 27 Oct:
Morning: Visit to Breskens on ferry across the River Scheldt from Flushing.
All the groups are welcome to come along. (It follows route of landings so you can get pictures on the way back).
Some people with family connections to Borderers who took part in the operation are already planning to go across for the weekend.
If anyone is interested in going or is already planning to go, please will they contact Ian Gibbs – ian-gibbs@btconnect.com / 01787 227002 by 24th August 2019.
People will be required to make their own transport arrangements to get there.
Herewith the words for ‘Always a Borderer’, sung by Alan Brydon at Berwick on Saturday.
ALWAYS A BORDERER
They marched on the mile to the beat of the drum
A spark of the regiment they would become
Their call to advance is the rally cry “Once
A Borderer Always a Borderer”
Barracks at Berwick with honours abound
Drawn from the lowlands and proud Border towns
With salmon run rivers and hills all around
The Borderers always a Borderer
Chorus
Over the land, and overseas
Willing to stand, Aye to defend
In the hour of need
And as the Tweed flows to the sea
They’ll always be
KOSB
They formed on the line to the beat of a drum
Then all the Blue Bonnets went over as one
Inspired by the pipes till the battle was won (once)
A Borderer Always a Borderer
—
Chorus
—-
With Roses for Minden and poppies galore
To honour the fallen in conflict and war
We vow to remember their names evermore
As Borderers always a Borderer
Bernard Chell (Joe 90) a Borderer is in palliative care in the Stoke University Hospital. For various reasons he has fallen on hard times and hasn’t any means of covering any funeral costs. Because of this Ackie Murray has set up a “go fund me page” hoping to help with these pending costs.
OPERATION INFATUATE -THE LIBERATION OF WALCHEREN 1944
Herewith the words for ‘Always a Borderer’, sung by Alan Brydon at Berwick on Saturday.