Guest 2304- Registered: 11 Sep 2017
- Posts: 20
Hello Patrick,
First, many apologies for the delay in replying but family health issues have diverted my attention and, in addition, there are now plans to try and carry out some remedial work on the grave of Sgt Whibley, the rear gunner on P/O McFarlane's aircraft, who died of the wounds received in the Channel Dash.
Thank you for the update on future arrangements and I will make a note of them. Sgt Whibley's niece may be coming to the UK early next year so it would be good if it could coincide with the service.
PatrickS
- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
Marine Parade, Dover - Channel Dash (Operation Fuller) Memorial Service 12 February 2019
Although 2017 saw the last Remembrance Service, smaller commemorations continued in 2018 and today, 12 February 2019, the 77th anniversary of events that took place in the Channel just after midday on 12 February 1942 during WWII.
The account set out at #1 above by Gordon Whitehead of his father's recollection - serving in RAF 80 (Signals) Wing (The Beam Benders) - of events leading up to this Operation are well worth another read.
In addition The memorial on Marine Parade has a fascinating account of the action that day, who took part, and what followed thereafter.
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Guest 2304- Registered: 11 Sep 2017
- Posts: 20
Thank you for posting this, Patrick, and drawing attention to my father's recollections relating to the Channel Dash. I did expect some comment/discussion on this (although that was not my reason for posting it) as I have never some across any account of the Channel dash which gives a specific reason for the German ships going undetected other than generalisations such as "misinterpretation of a radar screen".
There is a sequel to David McFarlane's work to get 83 Squadron (and 12 Squadron once we discovered it) added to the Dover memorial. On David's father's aircraft a young (18 years old) member of the RAAF, Sgt. Leonard Garth Whibley died as a result of wounds during the attack on the German ships; this had been his first mssion. As his family were all in Australia, he was buried in a grave in Hebburn owned by his uncle and over the years this has fallen somewhat into disrepair as the immediate family have died. David's original intention was to get permission to reinstate the grave to its original state at the time Sgt Whibley was buried, but he then decided to approach the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and ask them if it were possible to add a CWGC headstone to the grave. They investigated this and found that this had been raised at the time of Sgt Whibley's death by the CWGC and the family were not in favour of having a CWGC memorial stone; once made, this decision stands. However, the CWGC are investigating the possibility of restoring the grave to its original state.
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Guest 2304- Registered: 11 Sep 2017
- Posts: 20
I must apologise for an error in the second line of my post above on 16th February. Sgt. Whibley was 23 or 24 at the time he died and not 18.
Guest 2304- Registered: 11 Sep 2017
- Posts: 20
Referring to my post of 16th February, 2019, I can now confirm that the CWGC has reinstated Sgt. Whibley's grave in Hebburn Cemetery, row G, plot 44. Below are photos showing the grave before and after reinstatement.
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Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
nice one
PatrickS- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
The 2020 Annual 'Services of Remembrance', remembering those who took part in Operation Fuller ('Channel Dash') in February 1942 during WWII, were held in Ramsgate and on Dover Marine Parade seafront on 12 February 2020, in somewhat blustery conditions especially for the standard bearers.
http://www.channeldash.org/swordfish17.html
Photographs from the Dover Service:
PatrickS- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
'Channel Dash' Memorial, Marine Parade, Dover 12 February 2020
Battle Stations
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Guest 2304- Registered: 11 Sep 2017
- Posts: 20
Many thanks for posting these excellent photos, Patrick, it's very much appreciated. I will print the pages out for my friend David.
PatrickS- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
79 years on - neither cold nor Covid could prevent the Anniversary commemoration of 'Operation Fuller' (The Channel Dash) from being remembered, today 12 February 2021 at Dover Seafront Memorial.
The usual service may have had to have been cancelled owing to the current pandemic but it did nothing to deter those who were called to remember those fateful days of April 11 - 13 1942 and the lives lost.
825 refers to 825 Naval Air Squadron
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2021/february/12/20210212-channel-dash
http://www.channeldash.org/swordfish19.html
‘In my opinion the gallant sortie of these six Swordfish constitutes one of the finest exhibitions of self sacrifice and devotion that the war has yet witnessed. ‘ Admiral Ramsey
“The mothball attack of a handful of ancient planes, piloted by men whose bravery surpasses any other action by either side that day.” German Admiral Otto Ciliax
The Channel Dash Association are planning a fitting 80th Anniversary Commemoration next year.
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Guest 2304- Registered: 11 Sep 2017
- Posts: 20
Thank you for these excellent photos; David McFarlane and I are once again in your debt for keeping us posted on the Dover Memorial.
David and I have already talked about coming down to Dover next year and it is good to know that the Channel Dash Association are planning to mark the 80th anniversary.
I am keeping the niece of Sgt L G Whibley, RAAF, of 83 Squadron Bomber Command, RAF who was fatally wounded during the Squadron's attack on the German ships informed in the hope that she may be able to come over from Australia for the 80th anniversary.
PatrickS- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
Glad to keep you posted.
It was bitterly cold here yesterday with a biting NE wind. Not such a good place to linger for too long but despite the conditions I saw 4-5 attending the memorial between 11am and noon.
Let us hope that 2021/2022 serves us all better.
Regards
Patrick
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PatrickS- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
2022 marks the 80th Anniversary of the 'Channel Dash'.
After the pandemic cancelled the 2021 commemoration (albeit not deterring some from attending the Dover seafront memorial despite wintry weather and covid) a special commemoration event on this 80th Anniversary was held in Hanger 3 at Manston Airport - the airfield where the swordfish aircraft of 825 Naval Air Squadron took off on their heroic, yet fateful attack on German Naval forces transiting the English Channel.
see -
http://www.channeldash.org/80th2022.html
and
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/channel-dash-disaster-remembered-80-years-on-262356/
The following day - 13th February - wreaths were laid at the Dover Seafront Memorial.
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PatrickS- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
This is likely to be the last commemorative event organised by the CDMT.
Guest 2304- Registered: 11 Sep 2017
- Posts: 20
Thank you for the update, Patrick, and for the, as always, excellent photos.
David and I are very much aware of the significance of this year but were unable to get down for the 80th anniversary (in my case as I am recovering from a cataract op and in David's case as he is recovering from a major back op), but we intend to get down later this year, all being well in the widest sense. Meanwhile, thank you for keeping us informed over the past five years since the memorial was first dedicated; your work has been much appreciated here and in Australia where the niece of Sergeant L. G. Whibley of 83 Squadron who was killed in action that day lives.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,911
So many brave people
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PatrickS- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
Gordon, I wondered if you managed to get to Manston.
Here is a link to Thanet News that covered the Hanger 3 service.
https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2022/02/15/channel-dash-80th-anniversary-marked-at-manston-service/Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,911
Looks like a good turnout as well
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PatrickS- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
The "Channel Dash" (Operation FULLER) 2023 Remembrance Services took place at Ramsgate and Dover on 12 February.
The Ramsgate Royal Naval Association has taken on the organisation of the service after the Channel Dash Memorial Trust closed down last year.
The Dover branch of the Royal British Legion has taken over the service at Dover.
Dover Service
Youtube video clips
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Guest 2304- Registered: 11 Sep 2017
- Posts: 20
Many thanks for the photos and video link, Patrick, and for the info on who is looking after things now the Channel Dash Association has been wound up. I will pass this on to David when I next see him.
Apologies, too, for not replying to your post last February. I did contact the Association with an enquiry as to arrangements for the 80th anniversary, mentioing mine and David's link with the memorial in Nov/Dec 2021, but received a reply to the effect that there would be the event at Manston with the suggestion that "due to security, space and the limitation of invited guests" it would not be open to the general public and there was no more space for invited guests. The service for February 13th, 2022, was referred to, but by that time David was unable to travel following a back operation, which he is still recovering from, and additionally Covid may have in any case got in the way of things.
If you hear anything about arrangements for 2024, I would be grateful if you would let me know and I'll see what David and I can do about getting down, age permitting on my part then as I will be just short of 80.
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