A very special lunch at The RAF Club, 8th November 2025

On Saturday 8th November I was invited to the annual lunch of the Allied Forces Heritage Group at this prestigious venue, by Ian Reed MBE their Director.  The group shares its aims with the Association Nationale Franco-Britannique: to acknowledge and encourage those who work to maintain the commemoration and history of both world conflicts and to promote the Franco-British alliance.

The event started with wreath-laying at the beautiful Bomber Command Memorial opposite, in Green Park. I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the museum. Fitting both because we revere the memory of all who served in the RAF not just those who flew from Tangmere and also given my devotion to the Special Duties pilots in particular, whose squadrons were part of Bomber Command. (The Lysanders having previously been employed as light bombers.)

After lunch I was one of three guests to receive an award.  In recognition of the work I do promoting the contribution made by the Free French and the French Resistance to the liberation of their country and indeed Europe. Whereas I am incensed by De Gaulle’s famous declaration in August 1944 that Paris had liberated herself, I do acknowledge, respect and promote all the sacrifices made and the price paid by French patriots during the terrible Occupation.

The Association dates from 1933 and the Award (Chevalier) was used to recognise the ties between France and Britain during WW!.  Later, De Gaulle presented it to former combattants, special agents and resistants.  I was therefore truly humbled to receive this. The other recipients that day were Guy Audibert former member of French Special Forces Navy and David Harrison a fellow historian and researcher.