542 Squadron from RAF Westonzoyland Reunion

 UPDATE: 11 December 2013.

It seems more people are interested in finding former members of  542 Squadron.  I have started a new page dedicated to those that we know were in RAF 542 Squadron.

___________________________________________________________

 
Brian Giles from Sussex has spent many years trying to contact his old buddies that were stationed with him during WWII in RAF Westonzoyland in Somerset, he was especially keen to find his old buddy George Mills.  He made an attempt to try to find them by coming to Bridgwater in July 2012 and asking at local establishments such as the council offices but to no avail.  In one last desperate attempt he placed an advertisement in the Bridgwater Mercury.

As a genealogist, I have many email alerts that flag-up any such notifications and this small, rather innocent article that Brian placed in the Bridgwater Mercury was to cause a whole chain of events.

 __________________________________________________________

During the organisation of the reunion, Brian and George spoke many times and two other RAF pals were located and invited.  Brian and his wife, Brenda travelled about 180 miles from Sussex to Bridgwater a day before the reunion took place.

The reunion itself was held on the 4th of August 2012 in the Castle Club in Bridgwater.  Brian, his wife Brenda and myself arrived early and you could feel the emotions running high in Brian.  Every time someone came through the door he would ask if it was George.

It seemed forever before George arrived but the wait was very much worth it.  As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words and this one certainly does.

George and Brian meet for the first time after 58 years

George had managed to contact two other RAF buddies who also attended the reunion, that being Ron Trunks and John Black.

George Mills, Brian Giles, Ron Trunks and John Black.  George accepting a gift from Brian, framed photos of memorabilia in Westonzoyland church and a photo of the bomber memorial at Beachy Head Eastbourne.

Many stories were told and many memories relived.  There was talk of other RAF pals who as of yet, had not been traced. 

George and Brian present me with a lovely bottle of red wine

 These 542 Squadron badges were commissioned as a

 small surprise for George, Brian, Ron and John

This week (May 2013) I found a comment on Somerset Genealogy's Facebook page regarding the photos in Westonzoyland Church that Brian had sent me last year.  You can view the comments here (you don't need a Facebook account to view these)

A little investigation lead me to another Facebook page called 'The Canberra Experience'.  Steven Beeny is writing a book about RAF Squadrons with connections to the aircraft 'Canberra'.  I emailed him and put him in contact with Brian and George as I knew that had flown in and worked on this aircraft.  Steven hopes to feature both Brian and George in his book which I believe is the just recognition that both deserve for their war efforts.

Hopefully this story will grow and more old RAF buddies will be reunited.

Another strange twist of events took place the day after emailing Steven Beeney.  Whilst looking online for possible connections, I found this article regarding a planned Memorial to RAF Westonzoyland.

 Watch this space!

Find us on Facebook. (Still under the old name of Bridgwater Gene Pool).
http://www.somersetgenealogy.uk.com/