March:
email received from Tony Rambling
To Members, As far as I can tell there are only 3 0f the 61sr Recce left
my self Don Aiken and one other who has got dementia . I live Nr Colchester and Don lives in Blackpool. Keep up your good work.
Tony
Thanks Tony makes it all worthwhile.
August:
email received from Derek
Derek. J. M Edmonds 14378693 (Trooper)
I was in the 61st Recce who landed in a Bren Gun Carrier in the second wave at 4pm on 6th of June 1944. I was the Troop wireless operator and Lt. Rainier was troop leader. I was slightly wounded I think on D+3 the same day as Col. Sir William Mount was shot by a sniper. The only picture I have is a picture of the troop in Izegem with our troop leader called Ginger.I took part in the drive up to try to link up with the Airborne in Arnhem and later on when we had to go back to Roulers to get our equipment back to go to help with the Ardennes fighting when we got as far as Beuraing. When 50 Div was split up I volunteered for tanks and was sent to Ypres to join the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, and with them I went up to Lubeck and when the Yeomanry Regiments were split up I spent the rest of my service in the !0th Royal Hussars. I met Jimmy Elphick some years ago before he went to Canada. A friend I have kept in touch with who joined th Fifes after the war. I was group 50 and left the army in May 1947. I am now nearly 91 and I live in Ottery St. Mary in Devon..
Great to hear from Derek another member of the 61st.
August
Lytham War Weekend we had the rare privilege of meeting up with two 61st Recce veterans Eric Postles and Don Aiken.
We hope they had a memorable time we certainly did.
emailed received from Eric
Hi Dave and all the Enactment Team
We must say a most grateful thanks for the arrangements you made to enable us to have such an exceptional weekend with all of you at Lytham.
It was so kind of you to make us feel part of the Team and make everything so enjoyable.
It was also so pleasing to be able to meet up with Don and his wife . I think
getting Don in and out of the Dingo was hilarious but it made his day. I hope
you continue to have a successful season and God willing we shall meet
up again next year at Lytham. Finally I must say many thanks for my Beret
and the books which I found most interesting Once again especial thanks
to you Dave for all that you did for us.
10602580 ex Corporal Eric'.
email received from Don
Dear Dave,
Thank you for your email. I look forward to seeing the photos and I give my heartfelt thanks to all of the group for the wonderfully warm reception given to Brenda and myself on Sunday.
We thoroughly enjoyed meeting you all, spending time with you and being given the opportunity to look at and hold some equipment which I haven't seen for 70 years.
Reliving the sensation of sitting in a Dingo was simply 'out of this world' and something that I never dreamed that I would ever be able to do again. My grateful thanks to you all for getting me in there and, most importantly, getting me out again !.
I have now had the opportunity to properly look at the book which you kindly prepared for me. The pictures are great, but the inscription and your signatures make it so special. It is something that I will always treasure, together with
the beret and lanyard.
It was indeed good to meet up with Eric and once again to share and compare our memories and experiences.
We hope to call on him at his home in the near future.
We really look forward to meeting you all again, and would like you to pass on to all the group "All our Best Wishes for the future".
Best Regards
Don
October
Email received from Pat Townsend
Hi,
My dad, who has just turned 93, was in the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment. John Townsend, 10602588.
Would you have any information about his service? I have a copy of mail received by my grandparents when he was wounded. I also have photos of him including a head and shoulders one showing his hat badge.
Where will your next display be? I would love to bring him along.
Best wishes
Pat Townsend
email received from Tony Rambling
To Members, As far as I can tell there are only 3 0f the 61sr Recce left
my self Don Aiken and one other who has got dementia . I live Nr Colchester and Don lives in Blackpool. Keep up your good work.
Tony
Thanks Tony makes it all worthwhile.
August:
email received from Derek
Derek. J. M Edmonds 14378693 (Trooper)
I was in the 61st Recce who landed in a Bren Gun Carrier in the second wave at 4pm on 6th of June 1944. I was the Troop wireless operator and Lt. Rainier was troop leader. I was slightly wounded I think on D+3 the same day as Col. Sir William Mount was shot by a sniper. The only picture I have is a picture of the troop in Izegem with our troop leader called Ginger.I took part in the drive up to try to link up with the Airborne in Arnhem and later on when we had to go back to Roulers to get our equipment back to go to help with the Ardennes fighting when we got as far as Beuraing. When 50 Div was split up I volunteered for tanks and was sent to Ypres to join the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, and with them I went up to Lubeck and when the Yeomanry Regiments were split up I spent the rest of my service in the !0th Royal Hussars. I met Jimmy Elphick some years ago before he went to Canada. A friend I have kept in touch with who joined th Fifes after the war. I was group 50 and left the army in May 1947. I am now nearly 91 and I live in Ottery St. Mary in Devon..
Great to hear from Derek another member of the 61st.
August
Lytham War Weekend we had the rare privilege of meeting up with two 61st Recce veterans Eric Postles and Don Aiken.
We hope they had a memorable time we certainly did.
emailed received from Eric
Hi Dave and all the Enactment Team
We must say a most grateful thanks for the arrangements you made to enable us to have such an exceptional weekend with all of you at Lytham.
It was so kind of you to make us feel part of the Team and make everything so enjoyable.
It was also so pleasing to be able to meet up with Don and his wife . I think
getting Don in and out of the Dingo was hilarious but it made his day. I hope
you continue to have a successful season and God willing we shall meet
up again next year at Lytham. Finally I must say many thanks for my Beret
and the books which I found most interesting Once again especial thanks
to you Dave for all that you did for us.
10602580 ex Corporal Eric'.
email received from Don
Dear Dave,
Thank you for your email. I look forward to seeing the photos and I give my heartfelt thanks to all of the group for the wonderfully warm reception given to Brenda and myself on Sunday.
We thoroughly enjoyed meeting you all, spending time with you and being given the opportunity to look at and hold some equipment which I haven't seen for 70 years.
Reliving the sensation of sitting in a Dingo was simply 'out of this world' and something that I never dreamed that I would ever be able to do again. My grateful thanks to you all for getting me in there and, most importantly, getting me out again !.
I have now had the opportunity to properly look at the book which you kindly prepared for me. The pictures are great, but the inscription and your signatures make it so special. It is something that I will always treasure, together with
the beret and lanyard.
It was indeed good to meet up with Eric and once again to share and compare our memories and experiences.
We hope to call on him at his home in the near future.
We really look forward to meeting you all again, and would like you to pass on to all the group "All our Best Wishes for the future".
Best Regards
Don
October
Email received from Pat Townsend
Hi,
My dad, who has just turned 93, was in the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment. John Townsend, 10602588.
Would you have any information about his service? I have a copy of mail received by my grandparents when he was wounded. I also have photos of him including a head and shoulders one showing his hat badge.
Where will your next display be? I would love to bring him along.
Best wishes
Pat Townsend
