Recent Activities and Events
WREATH LAYING CEREMONY.
DOVER STRAITS.
12 FEBRUARY 2008.
At 1345hrs. Tuesday 12th February 2008 the Association laid wreaths on the waters of the Dover Straits to honour all personnel lost or injured during the heroic attempt to prevent the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen ‘Dashing’ through the Straits en-route from Brest, France, to their home ports in Germany. To assist with this, the Royal Navy made available HMS Ledbury, a Hunt Class Minehunter HMS Raider, a P2000 fast Patrol Boat attached to Cambridge University Royal Naval Unit. Also, a Thames Pilot Boat belonging to Estuary Services Limited was kindly made available and Sundowner, the Dunkirk Little Ship Veteran attached to Ramsgate Maritime Museum. Also taking part in the ceremony was an AgustaWestland 109 helicopter, owned by local Thanet businessman Ken Wills. The helicopter overflew the convoy with photographers and a TV news camera crew and, following the Wreath Laying Ceremony, flew past as a salute to the Veterans onboard HMS Ledbury.
HMS Ledbury departed from the Port of Dover with the Chairman of Thanet District Council and his Lady. The Mayor and Mayoress of Ramsgate representative of the Esmonde-White and Kingsmill families. Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force. The CDA Chaplain, Reverend Peter Adams conducted the Memorial Service.
HMS Raider, with the Mayor's of Margate and Broadstairs and Veterans and Standard of the Royal Artillery Association with other Veterans Associations departed from Ramsgate Harbour escorted by a Pilot Cutter and Sundowner. Standards from several Associations lined the jetty as the Flotilla sailed.
All the vessels rendezvoused in the Dover Straits where the Wreath Laying Service and Ceremony was held.
Following the ceremony the CDA Chairman announced the launch of the Fairey Swordfish Memorial Appeal.
Click on the links below for TV News coverage of the event:
Meridian News:
http://www.itvlocal.com/meridian/news/?&void=151295
BBC News:
WREATH LAYING CEREMONIES
BELGiUM & HOLLAND
The Channel Dash Association (CDA) were invited to participate in a number of wreath laying and memorial parades in Holland and Belgium during the weekend Friday 2 to Sunday 4 November2007. The invitation, from Algemene Vereneging Oud Marine (AVOM) Afdeling Zeeland, Holland, via Ramsgate Royal Naval Association also involved the Submariners Association, East Kent Branch and the Royal Marines Association, Isle of Thanet Branch.
The CDA laid a wreath at Eede in Holland along with the Town Mayor and members of the Canadian Military. CDA Members and the other UK Veterans Associations also paraded and laid wreaths at Aardenburg, Sluis, Knokke, Entranchement Oosthoek-Knokke and at the Canadian, Polish and British War Cemetery at Adegem with our Dutch, Belgian and Canadian colleagues.
It was a very moving weekend and the Channel Dash Association wish to thank everyone involved from Holland and Belgium. This includes the members of the Veterans Associations, Town Dignitary's and in particular the towns people of all the places we paraded for the very warm reception and wonderful hospitality we received over the entire weekend.
Special thanks also go to the Canadian Consul and members of the Canadian Military who made up the majority contingent by far for also making us feel most welcome.
IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
VICTORIA CROSS PRESENTATION
The Association was honoured to have been invited to a very special presentation in October 2007 at the Imperial War Museum, London where the Esmonde and Esmonde-White families have placed the Victoria Cross Medals awarded to two family members. The medals can be viewed in the Victoria Cross and George Cross Gallery.
The first VC was awarded to Thomas Esmonde for action in the Crimea War and was presented for display at the Imperial War Museum by Lieutenant Colonel John Esmonde-White.
The second VC was awarded Posthumously to Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde RN for action during 'Operation Fuller'. 825 Naval Air Squadron commanded by Esmonde pressed home an attack against the German Battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the Cruiser Prinz Eugen and accompanying protective flotila and air cover provided by the luftwaffe.
Eugene Esmondes medal presented by Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Esmonde.