Our Branch News
May 2009 - Downham Market is one of a few towns asked to fly the flag and raise it on the 22 June from the Town Hall at the commencement of Armed Forces week. It is a new National idea and it was originally intended that only Borough Councils should be involved but we argued strongly for Downham to play its part. There are more details to work out, even more prestigious is the fact we as a town have been chosen to hold the county Standard Ceremony on 13 th September this was asked for as our war memorial looks so smart !
BRIEF ON EX MERCHANT SEAMAN
VICTOR NORMAN CORNEll
click here for pictures
Date of Birth : 21-09-1926
Service Dates: 10 December 1943 to 14 May 1947 ( Joined at age 17)
Ships Served: Highland Chieftain, Tynemouth ( Sandhoe), Samidway, Diomed and Essex Trader.
Mr Cornell, Victor, joined the Merchant Navy at the early age of 17 and joined his first ship, The Highland Chieftain, at Avonmouth
His first voyage was Liverpool to Port Said via Naples in Convoy KMF 028 - (The KMF series initially carried troops and equipment to North Africa in support of Operation Torch. When the Mediterranean became accessible the destination was extended further to Alexandria and Port Said)- she carried 1334 troops. There were 25 merchant ships and 23 Escorts in this convoy
Almost immediately they sailed from Naples to Oran under convoy NSF 014 and alternated between the two ports with convoys NSF 015, SNF 015 and NSF 016 and SNF 016 before returning to Liverpool with Convoy MKF 029 arriving 16 March 1944.
At Liverpool he left this ship had some leave and and signed on the Tynemouth on the 2 August 1944 at the Clyde. From where she sailed to Liverpool to join convoy ON 248S and sail for Halifax Nova Scotia wher she visited Sheet harbour before returning to Southend independantly
The sailed from Southend to Loch Ewe via Tyne and Methy before joining convoy ONS34 to Halifax wher the visted West Bay, Parrsboro Windsor and St Johns before returning to Liverpool mid October 1944 The ship went for repairs to Barry (Extensive damage to bottom about 40 plates!)
The ship signed off Victor in Liverpool and joined the Samidway, on 17 October 1944, a American Liberty ship built in 1943, At this time she had been alocated to The Russian convoy, but was stood down 24/October 1944, She was then sailed to New York returning December 1944. She then sailed for India via Port Said , Aden, Cochin, Colombo, Vizag, Madras and Calcutta. She returned the same way calling at Gibraltar on the 13 May 1945. From Gibraltar she was dispatched to Lagos and Freetown returning to Gibraltar in July 1945. She sailed to Marseilles Naples and Cassablanca arriving on September 8th 1945. The Samidway was in Marseilles for VJ day so I expect Victor took part in the celebrations there.
Mr Cornell stayed in the Merchant Navy until May 1947 when he returned to civilian life. He was awarded the 1939/45 Star, The Atlantic Star and the War Medal earlier this year
Prepared by Major (Retd) W D Kerr R.E.
The dinner, it took place on Saturday April 17th, 135 people attended, Dignitary's were Downham Town Mayor & Mayoress, John and Audrey Doyle, Deputy Major & Mayoress John and Margaret Fox, also attending County Chairman Colin Kemp with his wife Jan, as you know it took place in Downham Town Hall
The Remembrance parade in Downham Market was led by the Band of March Town ATC, The Parade consisted of many organisations, a detachment from RAF Marham, Downham Mayor Cllr John Doyle, Town Councillors, Royal British Legion, Deputy Borough Mayor of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Cllr Collin Sampson, MP for South West Norfolk, Group Capt Rep RAF Marham, Royal Air force Association, Royal Navel Association, Norfolk Constabulary, Chamber Trade, Rotary, Round Table, Lions, Lioness's, Royal Ancient Of Buffaloes, Norfolk Regiment, Korean Veterans Association, Navel Cadets, ATC, Army Cadets, Ancient order of Foresters, Red Cross, St Johns, Boys Brigade, Scouts, Brownies. An estimate of 450 people attended the service in St Edmunds Church
For 11 of 11 on Town Square many people attended including many school children, The Town can be proud.
On Sunday 13th September a ceremony took place to Re Dedication of Standards, very big event where about 30 plus Standard Bearers paraded to St Edmunds church for a service (Click Here for Pictures)
The bowler hatted gentleman is Major Bill Kerr (Retd) who handed the Armed Forces flag to the Mayor of Downham Market, Cllr John Doyle, to raise on the Town Hall's flag staff at the beginning of Armed Forces week. A short service was held on the Town Square. Major Bill Kerr is co ordinating the event of raising the County Standards on September 13th in Downham.
On
Sunday 24th March 2002, the Downham and District Branch held their 80th
Anniversary celebrations, a parade through Downham town centre followed
by a church service - exactly 80 years to the day since the branch was formed.
The day started with a wreath-laying ceremony led by Branch Chairman Horace
Cross, along with other members at the Downham War Memorial, in memory of
past branch members. During the afternoon standard bearers of the Royal
British Legion, Norfolk display team took centre stage and then the parade
formed led by Hilgay Band.
Wing Commander Mike Oldham, acting Station Commander at RAF Marham, took
the salute before the parade arrived at St. Edmund's church where the Rev.
James Mather conducted the special service. This included the blessing of
an 80th Anniversary pennant which will be attached to the Branch Standard.
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After 40 years of faithful service, our Standard has been replaced in a special dedication service held at Stradsett Church on Sunday 7th September 2003. The service was attended by 200 members and their guests.
The service was conducted by padre the Reverend John Freston and Downham vicar Father James Mather, whose parish also includes Stradsett. The Last Post was played by Bill Wells.
Our thanks to Sir Jeremy Bagge for allowing the service to be held at the church and for the use of the stables for refreshments and celebrations after the service
The event was
organised by Vice-president Albert Brown who also laid a poppy wreath on
the memorial stone of Sir Paul Hawkins a former branch president
Chairman's note: "I would like to thank all those, who thorugh their
help and donations made the acquistion of our new standard possible"
Horace
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Earlier this year a coach trip to Normandy which was organised by Branch Vice Chairman Gordon Stevenson. Legion Members many from Downham and District Branch, visits are made to Cemetery's and War Graves, on this particular trip it was a very emotional visit for Jack Ambrose who's photograph is on Web Site, when he visited Omaha Beach where he landed on 'D' Day
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on image for full size view
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The picture is of Jack Ambrose and Eric Covell who recently returned from a trip to Normandy, for Jack it was his first visit in 60 years who with other veterans joined the trip organised by Gordon Stevenson and Peggy Seymour of the Downham Branch. Having been invited to lay a wreath Jack placed a wreath at the Bayeux Cemetery, while Eric placed his at the Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha beach
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Last Year's 85th anniversary dinner for the Branch was such a success organisors have made it an annual event, more than 140 people attended this years dinner. Everyone who attended was welcomed with a glass of sherry, a gift from President Ivan Sneezum. Chairman Horace Cross welcomed civic guests and guest of honour, Warrant Officer Maurice 'Mo' Howard of RAF Marham and his wife Jacqueline
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on image for full size view
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Remembrance day parade and wreath laying,the parade was led by Kings Lynn Navel Cadet Drum Band, The RAF contingent was from Marham,After wreath laying the parade proceeded to St Edmunds Church where the service was held, the church was full, I was told that 450 people attended, with many youth organisations taking part, as you can see in the photographs. Town Memorial has recently been landscaped. click here to view pictures