Farewell to Nimrod crew

Volume 48, No. 20, November 2, 2006

LAMENT: Piper SGT Dean Worsley and bugler PTE Danny Deilkens.  Photo by LAC Andrew Eddie

By FLTLT James Parton

A LONE piper playing ‘The Flower of Scotland’ was the sombre beginning to a memorial service by 92WG to remember the 14 servicemen who died in an RAF Nimrod crash in Afghanistan on September 2.

The service was held on October 13 at the WWII Flying Boat Squadrons Memorial at RAAF Base Edinburgh as a mark of respect for the tragic loss suffered by the entire community of RAF Kinloss.

More than 200 members from 92WG and Edinburgh heard OC 92WG GPCAPT Chris Carruthers recognise, in particular, the servicemen and women who have close relationships with 120 Squadron either by exchange postings, lateral recruitment or participation in international operations and exercises.

“I try to imagine what impact this tragedy must have had on those left behind back at base in the Middle East, and of course back in Kinloss. I find it hard to imagine the impact a similar event would have here in our own community,” GPCAPT Carruthers said.

“It is those left behind that are still feeling the pain of loss – the friends, families, children, wives and girlfriends who now have a hole in their lives that once a maritime aviator filled.”

In his response, the Air Adviser to the British High Commission, COL Roger Hooper, thanked the Wing for its tribute and reiterated the inherent closeness of the RAF and RAAF.

His speech concluded with an excerpt from a letter written by the British Chief of Air Staff ACM Sir Glenn Torpy to CAF AIMSHL Geoff Shepherd, thanking him for his letter of condolence.

The ‘Last Post’, played by musician Danny Dielkens, brought emotion and poignancy to the service as SQNLDR Col Smith captained a single ship fly-past by an AP-3C, with one engine shut down as a mark of respect, to break the minute’s silence and herald the ‘Rouse’.

Piper SGT Dean Worsley piped the lament ‘Sleep, Dearie Sleep’ as GPCAPT Carruthers and COL Hooper laid wreaths at the memorial.

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