12 February 1942 - 70th Anniversary Remembrance Events
The first event will be a Memorial Service at the Ramsgate Monument on Saturday 11th February 2012 commencing at 12.25hrs followed by wreath laying. Prior to the service HMS Trumpeter, a Fast Patrol Boat of the Royal Navy, accompanied by a Thames Pilot Launch, will depart Ramsgate Harbour to lay a wreath on the waters of the English Channel simultaneous to the monument wreath laying.
Saturday evening 11 February 2012 there will be a Fund Raising Dinner in the Officer’s Mess at RAF Manston, the RAF airfield from where the 6 Fairey Swordfish took off on that fateful day, 12 February 1942. The dinner commemorates a party thrown for Lt Cdr Esmonde on his return from Buckingham Palace on 11 February 1942, where he had attended to receive the DSO from HM King George for his Squadrons part in the successful attack on Bismarck the previous year. All proceeds from the evening will go towards the the new 'Operation Fuller' Memorial Monumen which will be erected and unvielled in May 2012, see further information below. Dinner Application Form For further details please contact the CDMT Treasurer on treasurer@channeldash.org
Sunday 12th February 2012 we are holding a 70th Anniversary Memorial Service at St Mary-in-Castro Church, Dover Castle, commencing at 14.00hrs and dedicated to everyone who took part in ‘Operation Fuller’ from all three services. On conclusion of the service our members and guests will have a tour of Admiral Ramsey’s secret War Rooms in the tunnels below Dover Castle from where ‘Operation Fuller’ was commanded. Memorial Service Application Form
Our remaining and most significant event to commemorate the 70th Anniversary will take place on Saturday 19 May 2012 when we will unveil and dedicate our ‘Operation Fuller’ Memorial Monument at Marine Parade, Dover, on the seafront and in the shadow of the castle and War Room. The event will be attended by members from all three Armed Services and veterans.
This event is still in the early stages of development and will grow as we get closer to the event.
Our Patron, Admiral the Lord Boyce will preside at each event with his Deputy Brigadier Simon Wolsey OBE.