06/06/2008
NEWS IN BRIEF
Birthday Celebrations For War Veteran
A World War I veteran is celebrating his 112th birthday. Henry Allingham, born on 6 June, 1896, is also believed to be the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Mr Allingham, from Clapham, London, was one of the founding members of the RAF. To celebrate his landmark birthday and the 90th anniversary of the RAF, a series of events have been organised. There will be a fly past by the Battle of Britain Flight and a demonstration by the RAF Falcons parachute display team. It is also expected that pupils from Cranwell primary school will present Mr Allingham with a special birthday cake. The event will be attended by Air Vice Marshal Peter Dye (retd) and Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns. The WW1 veteran has won many medals and honours including the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Legion D'Hanneur, the highest accolade awarded by France. Mr Allingham who has joked that the secret to longevity is "cigarettes, whisky and wild women" is one of 20 oldest verified people in the world and Britain's oldest man. The RAF was formed from the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and the Army's Flying Corps in 1918.
Army To Explode WW II Bomb
A controlled explosion will be carried out on a World War II bomb in east London. The unexploded bomb was found near Sugar House Lane, close to Bromley-by-Bow Tube station on Monday by a group of civilian contractors working on the 2012 Olympics project. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the bomb is the largest explosive found in London since 1975. Soldiers from the 33 Engineer Regiment and Royal Engineers will carry out a detailed operation on the device which contains 1000 kg of explosive. Members of the public are being kept at a 500 metre distance as a safety precaution. Senior Explosive Ordanance Disposal Commander Simon Oates said: "We can't say how long the whole procedure will take, but we plan to have the situation cleared s soon as we can". The 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) was formed from the Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal companies, formed during the Second World War to deal with German unexploded bombs.
(DS)
A World War I veteran is celebrating his 112th birthday. Henry Allingham, born on 6 June, 1896, is also believed to be the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Mr Allingham, from Clapham, London, was one of the founding members of the RAF. To celebrate his landmark birthday and the 90th anniversary of the RAF, a series of events have been organised. There will be a fly past by the Battle of Britain Flight and a demonstration by the RAF Falcons parachute display team. It is also expected that pupils from Cranwell primary school will present Mr Allingham with a special birthday cake. The event will be attended by Air Vice Marshal Peter Dye (retd) and Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns. The WW1 veteran has won many medals and honours including the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Legion D'Hanneur, the highest accolade awarded by France. Mr Allingham who has joked that the secret to longevity is "cigarettes, whisky and wild women" is one of 20 oldest verified people in the world and Britain's oldest man. The RAF was formed from the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and the Army's Flying Corps in 1918.
Army To Explode WW II Bomb
A controlled explosion will be carried out on a World War II bomb in east London. The unexploded bomb was found near Sugar House Lane, close to Bromley-by-Bow Tube station on Monday by a group of civilian contractors working on the 2012 Olympics project. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the bomb is the largest explosive found in London since 1975. Soldiers from the 33 Engineer Regiment and Royal Engineers will carry out a detailed operation on the device which contains 1000 kg of explosive. Members of the public are being kept at a 500 metre distance as a safety precaution. Senior Explosive Ordanance Disposal Commander Simon Oates said: "We can't say how long the whole procedure will take, but we plan to have the situation cleared s soon as we can". The 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) was formed from the Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal companies, formed during the Second World War to deal with German unexploded bombs.
(DS)
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19 March 2008
RAF Flies High With Milestone Anniversary
The Royal Air Force is gearing up to celebrate its 90th anniversary. The RAF was created when the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) merged on April 1, 1918.
RAF Flies High With Milestone Anniversary
The Royal Air Force is gearing up to celebrate its 90th anniversary. The RAF was created when the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) merged on April 1, 1918.
29 January 2009
Funeral Held For World War I Veteran
The funeral of the last British serviceman to have served in both World Wars has today taken place. William "Bill" Stone, 108, a former chief stoker in the Royal Navy, was buried today following a service at St Leonard's Church, Watlington, in Oxfordshire.
Funeral Held For World War I Veteran
The funeral of the last British serviceman to have served in both World Wars has today taken place. William "Bill" Stone, 108, a former chief stoker in the Royal Navy, was buried today following a service at St Leonard's Church, Watlington, in Oxfordshire.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.