Ceremony in Commemoration of the Crew of Lancaster W4234 DX-P of 57 Squadron - Lierde, Belgium, 29 September 2012
I was honoured to represent the Association on 29 September, at a ceremony to commemorate the crew of Lancaster W4234 DX-P of 57 Squadron which was shot down by German night fighters on 21 December 1942 over Belgium. Six of the seven crew were killed, but Sgt Roden Pickford RNZAF, managed to bale out and was taken POW in Stalag Luft III. Roden died in his native New Zealand in 1986.
The crew of DX-P (one of the crew took the photo)
On my way to the memorial ceremony, I took time out to visit the Geraardsbergen Communal Cemetery where the crew of DX-P are laid to rest alongside a crew from a downed Halifax of 426 Sqn and a Lancaster on 514 Sqn. While paying my respects, the 57 Squadron Standard Party arrived to do the same which was a very pleasant surprise.
57 Squadron Standard Party behind the graves of the crew of DX-P in Geraardsbergen Community Cemetery
Although no relatives had been able to make to trip to Belgium, there was a great turnout from the local commune of Lierde. There were also representatives of British and Belgian veterans associations, a RAF party from SHAPE, Belgian and American military officers. In addition there were representatives from the Embassies of Australia, New Zealand and Britain's deputy Ambassador to Belgium. It was also fantastic to see the 57 Squadron Standard on parade with a contingent from RAF Wyton led by OC 57, Sqn Ldr ‘Wes’ Wesley.
The Memorial to the crew of DX-P
Belgian Veterans Organisations muster
at Kekebeke, Lierde, Belgium
The memorial is in the tiny hamlet of Kekabeke, close to the crash site and was inaugurated in 2000 when our President David Houghton a was member of the 57 Squadron party led by Wg Cdr ‘Kiwi’ O’Meeghan. After a moving ceremony at the memorial which involved national anthems, the laying of wreaths and so on, short speeches were given by the Deputy Mayor of Lierde, yours truly and OC 57.
57 & 630 Squadrons’ Association Wreath
Tony Gunby speaking at the Memorial
(If you have access to YouTube, a video clip of the wreath laying can be seen at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGaLQqVVvCI)
I was also asked to read a poem, specially written by George Hanks, to the crew of DX-P which appears below. The ceremony ended with a flypast by a Piper Cub aircraft of 369 Squadron and the exhortation was read RAFA’s Honorary Chaplain, Walter Peeters, followed by the Last Post.
(If you have access to YouTube, you can watch a video clip of the Squadron Standard being marched off parade at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvz6VDUhdz0)
You can watch a video of the flyover of the Lierde ceremony taken from the cockpit of a Piper Cub of 369 Squadron
here
Then it was off to the City Hall in Lierde, a fantastic modern assembly hall with catering facilities and an auditorium. Here, our hosts and organisers, Wings of Memory, conducted a marvellous academic session telling in film the story of DX-P, her crew and their final flight in 1942.
This radio-controlled scale model of DX-P has been flown just once, but proved too unstable in flight!
On a recreation of a Commonwealth War Grave, the government representatives were invited to sprinkle some soil from Australia, Britain and New Zealand and to plant a memorial cross.
The academic session recreation of a Commonwealth Grave
Speeches followed from the government representatives and once again yours truly. At the invitation of Wings of Memory, I concluded my speech with messages from relatives in Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. It was a truly emotional session and so the refreshments offered afterwards by the Town Council were very welcome!
The Story of DX-P is told in great detail in a Commemorative brochure prepared by Wings of Memory and presented to them to the principal guests; copies will also be sent to relatives. If you are reading this report on our Association website, you can access this brochure by clicking on the logo of Wings of Memory below.
Tony Gunby
Vice-President
2 October 2012
