The Thailand Trip November 2010
July 2007 saw the first reunion by veterans of what has become the Op/Post Crown phenomenon. Three years and a few months later, after two well attended Salisbury reunions, three National Arboretum meetings and a visit by four veterans to Buckingham Palace as guests of The Princess Royal, the 'Mother' of all reunions went ahead. It was an extremely optimistically expressed wish for a reunion at the airfield in Thailand that bought this visit about, but the programme of visits and participation of The Remembrance Ceremony in Ubon Ratchathani before finally holding a Remembrance Ceremony of our own at the airfield, could hardly have been imagined at that time. The group comprised appropriately, of a number of the cap badges that served on Crown as well as some of the veterans partners, who seem to be enjoying this nostalgic journey we are on, as much as the veterans themselves? Indeed the group gelled as a whole and relationships newly started at the beginning of the trip blossomed into firm friendships during it. A number of the party with pretty serious health issues, stepped out of their comfort zone to make this trip. I'd like to take this opportunity to express my admiration for the likes of Teresa Collar, Alan Myers, Dave Young and Joan and Arthur Nix for the determination to participate and enjoy the trip as indeed they did. The eighteen day trip has many memories for us all, far too many for me to cover in this brief account, however, I'm currently writing a more in-depth account on the 'opcrownchat' website in the Op/Post Crown Association/Thailand Reunion 2010 forum. Copy and paste this link
http://opcrownchat.myfastforum.org/about154.html&highlight=
I will mention the visits to the War Graves at Kanchanaburi and the ride we took on the 'Death Railway'. These visits proved to be an emotional time for some of the party in particular and maybe they will write an account of what it meant for them, to be posted on this site at a later date? The Remembrance Ceremony held on 11th in Ubon Ratchathani also must be mentioned. Held to honour 'Little Mother Ubon' who with her daughter repeatedly fed starving Allied POWs during WW11, despite threats to her own safety, this ceremony started in 2006 by ex-pats living in Ubon after the visit of relatives of some of the POWs. It is growing year on year and we felt highly honoured to attend as representatives of FEPOW (Far East Prisoner Of War) Association. As 'Buck' Brown could not make the trip due to health issues, it was felt as an ex WO11, Alan Myers was the man to deliver the speech on behalf of the Op/Post Crown Association. Alan's opening greeting in Thai raised warm applause from the Thai guests, he went on to give a statesman like oratory of the prepared speech before closing in Thai, 'Kap Khun Mac', 'thank you very much'. Wreaths were laid by John Lloyd on behalf of the REME, John Knowles for the OP/Post Crown Association and Agnes Smart presented a Bouquet of Flowers to a descendant of 'Little Mother Ubon' on behalf of FEPOW. The group hired two mini-buses (air-conditioned, all mod cons), to travel up to the airfield on the 12th, staying at the Pudin Hotel in Loeng Nok Tha. We called in at the Giant Buddha in Amnat Charoen to view it in it's modern setting and take in the changes forty three years have made. The group members obviously were able to come and go as they pleased with a couple travelling up to Loeng Nok Tha after the Ubon Remembrance Ceremony on the 11th. Mick Allen and Terry Evans spent Friday the 12th scrambling around the airfield doing an in depth survey and having fun doing it by all accounts. Mick has referred to their adventure on opcrownchat, copy and paste this link
http://opcrownchat.myfastforum.org/ftopic80-0-asc-10.php
to view Mick's post. They had left the airfield by the time the main group arrived to visit the field and camp area. Noel and Somrak Jackson had recruited Somrak's father to provide us with Buddhist monks as he is an elder of his local temple. It was felt by the group to hold a Remembrance Ceremony of Buddhist prayers would be appropriate, as we did not know what religion the three men who died on Crown were, or if indeed they were religious. Buddhist monks were in attendance at the opening of the airfield and road, indeed they even blessed the Caterpillar D8 blades as I recall. Prayers were offered by the monks, to remember the lives of Sapper James Box RE, Sapper Anthony Denner RE and Driver Tucker RCT. RIP The group took part in this ceremony, again, it proving to be an emotional time for us all. I would like to offer my thanks to Noel Jackson, his wife Somrak and Somrak's Dad, for making this ceremony happen at very short notice. Saturday 13th saw the group split to choose their own activities for the day. The vets accompanied by their partners took the mini buses to Mukdahan for some souvenir shopping in the markets, whilst the remainder went to Kok Samran (Kok Talat) to search for old acquaintances amongst the local population. Both parties were successful in their quests, hopefully I can persuade the likes of Alan Myers and John Lloyd to write about their experiences amongst the locals? We returned to Ubon and then to Bangkok to finish our trip before the flight back to the UK. Without doubt the trip was a great success with everyone enjoying it immensely. Will I be doing it again? You bet I will!!
View the slideshow below for a selection of pictures of the trip. Copy and paste the link below to visit the Thailand 2010 Album on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/operation_crown_association/sets/72157624948235357/
http://opcrownchat.myfastforum.org/about154.html&highlight=
I will mention the visits to the War Graves at Kanchanaburi and the ride we took on the 'Death Railway'. These visits proved to be an emotional time for some of the party in particular and maybe they will write an account of what it meant for them, to be posted on this site at a later date? The Remembrance Ceremony held on 11th in Ubon Ratchathani also must be mentioned. Held to honour 'Little Mother Ubon' who with her daughter repeatedly fed starving Allied POWs during WW11, despite threats to her own safety, this ceremony started in 2006 by ex-pats living in Ubon after the visit of relatives of some of the POWs. It is growing year on year and we felt highly honoured to attend as representatives of FEPOW (Far East Prisoner Of War) Association. As 'Buck' Brown could not make the trip due to health issues, it was felt as an ex WO11, Alan Myers was the man to deliver the speech on behalf of the Op/Post Crown Association. Alan's opening greeting in Thai raised warm applause from the Thai guests, he went on to give a statesman like oratory of the prepared speech before closing in Thai, 'Kap Khun Mac', 'thank you very much'. Wreaths were laid by John Lloyd on behalf of the REME, John Knowles for the OP/Post Crown Association and Agnes Smart presented a Bouquet of Flowers to a descendant of 'Little Mother Ubon' on behalf of FEPOW. The group hired two mini-buses (air-conditioned, all mod cons), to travel up to the airfield on the 12th, staying at the Pudin Hotel in Loeng Nok Tha. We called in at the Giant Buddha in Amnat Charoen to view it in it's modern setting and take in the changes forty three years have made. The group members obviously were able to come and go as they pleased with a couple travelling up to Loeng Nok Tha after the Ubon Remembrance Ceremony on the 11th. Mick Allen and Terry Evans spent Friday the 12th scrambling around the airfield doing an in depth survey and having fun doing it by all accounts. Mick has referred to their adventure on opcrownchat, copy and paste this link
http://opcrownchat.myfastforum.org/ftopic80-0-asc-10.php
to view Mick's post. They had left the airfield by the time the main group arrived to visit the field and camp area. Noel and Somrak Jackson had recruited Somrak's father to provide us with Buddhist monks as he is an elder of his local temple. It was felt by the group to hold a Remembrance Ceremony of Buddhist prayers would be appropriate, as we did not know what religion the three men who died on Crown were, or if indeed they were religious. Buddhist monks were in attendance at the opening of the airfield and road, indeed they even blessed the Caterpillar D8 blades as I recall. Prayers were offered by the monks, to remember the lives of Sapper James Box RE, Sapper Anthony Denner RE and Driver Tucker RCT. RIP The group took part in this ceremony, again, it proving to be an emotional time for us all. I would like to offer my thanks to Noel Jackson, his wife Somrak and Somrak's Dad, for making this ceremony happen at very short notice. Saturday 13th saw the group split to choose their own activities for the day. The vets accompanied by their partners took the mini buses to Mukdahan for some souvenir shopping in the markets, whilst the remainder went to Kok Samran (Kok Talat) to search for old acquaintances amongst the local population. Both parties were successful in their quests, hopefully I can persuade the likes of Alan Myers and John Lloyd to write about their experiences amongst the locals? We returned to Ubon and then to Bangkok to finish our trip before the flight back to the UK. Without doubt the trip was a great success with everyone enjoying it immensely. Will I be doing it again? You bet I will!!
View the slideshow below for a selection of pictures of the trip. Copy and paste the link below to visit the Thailand 2010 Album on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/operation_crown_association/sets/72157624948235357/
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