News
13 February 2024
Commemoration of the 1944 Treble RAF Lysander SOE Mission (Mineur) at Luzillé, Loire, France (48km SW of Blois). President of the Norwegian Parliament, Masud Gharahkhan and Major General Joar Eidheim. Chief of the Norwegian Special Operations Command welcomed families of French agents and of the three pilots of 161 Squadron RAF - Dahl, Large & Ratcliffe. Per Hysing Dahl later became President of the Norwegian Parliament.
2 February 2023
Wings of Remembrance in School - Launch of Educational resource with Keita Systems - Polytechnique de Paris & West Island College, Alberta, Canada.
23 January 2024
120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale - French Ambassador's Residence, Kensington, London.
2023
27 November 2023
New chevaliers des National Franco-Britannique - The French Senate, Paris.
12 November 2023
RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire - Annual Memorial for 161 & 138 (Special Duties) Squadrons & SOE Agents.
11 November 2023
Camberley, Surrey - memorial plaque - Free French Forces former watime training base.
11 November 2023
Armistice Day, French Memorial at Brookwood Military Cemetery.
10 November 2023
Annual AFHG/GPFA Anglo-French Memorial Lunch, RAF Club, Piccadilly, London
21 October 2023
Thiepval WW1 Battle of the Somme Memorial - re-opening of the the largest CWGC memorial in the world following extensive renovation.
15 October 2023
10 October 2023
Special event at the RAF Club, London with Chiefs of RAF & Armée de l'Air. New crests for the French Squadrons formed within the RAF during WWII.
07 October 2023
Rachecourt-Suzémont, Haute-Marne, Champagne-Ardenne region near St Dizier - 80th anniversary memorial event to the crew of Lancaster DS689 OW-S of No. 426 "Thunderbird" Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force, based at RAF Linton on Ouse, near York.
20 September 2023
State Visit to France by HRH King Charles III & HRH Queen Camilla. Arc de Triomphe, Paris; State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles and visit to HMS Iron Duke, Bordeaux.
15 September 2023
Battle of Britain Day. The annual "ravivage" (re igniting of the flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior) beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, was attended by HE the UK Ambassador to France, Menna Rawlings along with Group Capt Jonathan Warren the new Air Attaché and General Henry de Roquefeuil. Representatives of many national air forces and especially those from the Commonwealth were in attendance. AFHG was represented by ian Reed, Bery Dennet Stannard and Cécile Coolen.
14 July 2023
National Day of France (Bastille Day) - Ambassador's Residence, Kensington Palace Gardens, London.
(photos with: Mdme Laurence Boone, French Minister of State for Europe; Lord Peter Ricketts; Sen Joelle Garriaud-Maylem; Sen Olivier Cadic & UK Minister of State, Rt.Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP; Amiral Hervé Hamelin, Defence Attaché & M. Samer Melki, Consul général de France à Londres
)
07 July 2023
L for Love - the unique Anglo/French/German Memorial in Dusseldorf has received full planning permission. See: https://afheritage.org/l-for-love-part-ii
29 June 2023
London visit by French S.O.E. & Special forces historians en route to former RAF Tempsford where S.O.E. flights were based. Mathieu Baudoin (Souv. français, Epernay), Aurélien Grenier (B.O.A. Aisne).
18 June 2023
l'Appel Commemoration of General De Gaulle's radio broadcast to France via BBC on 18 June 1940. Carlton Gardens, London, SW1Y 5AD. (De Gaulle's wartime headquarters).
17 June 2023
Reception at the Ambassador's Residence for members of the French Senate including the President of the Senate, Sen. Gérard Larcher. (photo: L/R - Bénédicte Paviot (France24); Sen. Gérard Larcher; Ian Reed; Simon Horsington)
06 - 12 June 2023
Normandy: annual commemorations of D-Day. Luc-sur-Mer 14530 - 46 Royal Marine Commando - Simon Horsington, Jeff Hewitt: 9 official ceremonies for 46 RMC and one official ceremony for Canadians at Rots. Ceremony at Duclair and wreaths laid at : Pegasus Bridge; Douvres (2) ; Luc sur Mer ; Bernieres ; Ranville ; Bayeux ; Sannerville ; Maizeret ; Sallenelles ; Ver-sur-mer, Troarn, Dozulé, Reux, Pont L’Eveque ; Beuzeville ; Duclair & Rots. Crosses laid at Hermanville.
05 June 2023
Dedication of the new Royal British Legion, Normandy Branch at Le Mesnil de Bavent Memorial (3rd Parachute Bgde, 6th Airborne Div) by Chairman, Rodney Curtis and later at Pegasus Bridge, Bénouville. If you wish to be a member of the new Normandy Branch No. BR4045, click here: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/things-to-do/membership/become-a-member, or telephone 0044 800 3077 773.
30 May 2023
British Embassy, Paris: Presentation to RAF French Liaison Staff on the history of French and British air force co-operation during World War I & II.
27 May 2023
French National Day of Resistance
19 May 2023
Award of Chevalier, Assoc Nationale de Franco Britannique to AFHG/GPFA President, Simon Horsington at the British Embassy, Paris. (Grp. Capt. J. Warren RAF; Prof. Claude Bartos; Mdmes Brigitte Williams; Cécile Coolen; Genèvieve Moulard; Dr. Vivienne Forrest. Messrs Frederick Goldberg; Charles Campbell - with special thanks to Eleanor Hickey of the British Embassy.).
19 May 2023
Unveiling of the plaque to SOE Agent Lilian Rolfe at her former family home, 32 Avenue Duquesnes, Paris, 7.
In attendance: "The Rolfe Family"; Deputy Mayor of Paris; Dep. Mayor of 7th Arr; Mayor of Nargis (NW France), M.Theo Ryecroft, Deputy UK Ambassador; Grp. Capt Jonathan Warren, UK Air Attaché; Bill Beauclerk, RBL Paris; Sqd.Ldr (Ret) Beryl Dennet-Stannard, RAFA SW France; Cécile Coolen, Simon Horsington & Ian Reed, AFHG/GPFA.
See: https://afheritage.org/lilian-vera-rolfe-beyond-courage-paul-mccue
12 - 13 May 2023
AGM and Annual Commemoration for Association des Ancients et Amis des Groupes Lourds (Heavy Bomber Groups), Grand Camp Maisey, Normandy. 80th anniversary and unveiling of additional memorial plaques. Wing Cdr. Allan Stubbs RAF in attendance.
08 May 2023
Victory in Europe Day
25 April 2023
Groupes Lourds "Ravivage" Arc de Triomphe, Paris (re-lighting the flame of the Unknown Soldier) on behalf of the French Heavy Bomber Groups (346 & 347 RAF), stationed in England during WWII.
ANZAC Day commemorated at the National Memorial Arboritum, Staffordshire and the Arc de Triomphe, Paris - Gallipoli & Dardanelles International, Association Nationale pour le Souvenir des Dardanelles et Fronts D'Orient & AFHG/GPFA.
In attendance, members of the Paris Fire Brigade (sapeurs-pompiers) for the 4th anniversary of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire - 15th April 2019.
12 April 2023
Presentation of 11 very rare Parisienne newspapers printed during the week of Liberation in August 1944 to the Musée de l'Ordre de Liberation, Hôtel des Invalides, Paris by AFHG/GPFA. Presentation included: Général Baptiste, Musée des Invalides; Vladimir Trouplin, Director; Theo Ryecroft Chargé d’Affaires, British Embassy; Cécile Coolen & Ian Reed AFHG/GPFA; Grp. Capt. Antony McCord: UK Air Attaché.
23 March 2023
60th anniversary of the establishment of the Order National du Mérite by General De Gaulle. Commemoration event by ANMONM London.
14 March 2023
Presentation of Grand Cross of the Legion d'Honneur to Marcel Berthomé, former Halifax radio operator/navigator in No. 347 "Tunisie" Squadron RAF, at Base 106 Bordeaux/Merignac. Marcel will be 101 on April 4th and until recencly was the oldest serving mayor in France. (story to be published here soon).
04 March 2023
AGM Association Membres de l'Ordre de Palmes Academiques du Royaume Uni, Knightsbridge, London.
08 February
AFHG/GPFA Director & Vice President meeting with Madame Patricia Miralles, French Secretary of State for Veterans & Remembrance and the new French Ambassador to UK, Madame Hélène Duchene.
02 February 2023
AGM Ordre Nationale du Mérite, French Consulate, London.
26 January 2023
Reception for the new French Consul General in UK, Monsieur Samer Melki, Kensington, London. With François Richardson (AMOPA); Marie José Clayton (ANMONM), Bernard Masson (ANMONM & G&DI)
24 January 2023
AGM - Association des Mutilies, Anciens Combattants et Victimes de la Guerre en Grande Bretagne, Special Forces Club, London.
2022
10 December 2022
Salon du livre résistant, Grand Salon de la Fondation de la Résistance, Blvd des Invalides, Paris. Madame Odile de Vasselot de Régné joined the French resistance in 1940. In 1944, under the code name ‘Jeanne’, she became responsible for aiding 100’s of allied airmen escape via the “Comet Line” to Spain and then back to England. French film director Cécile Coolen met her along with Vladimir Trouplin, Director of the Musée de l'Ordre de Résistance, Les Invalides. We wish Madame de Vasselot a very happy 101 birthday on January 6th.
24 November
Annual Meeting of Association Nationale des Membres de l'Ordre National du Mérite, London.
15 November
Conférence: "Les forces spéciales britanniques pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale", par Pascal Le Pautremat, Les Invalides, Paris.
(Photos: Cécile Coolen)
11 November
French Military Medal Awards to British servicemen - Ambassador's Residence, London.
11 November
French National Military Memorial, Brookwood International War Cemetery, UK.
(photos courtesty of Cecile Coolen; Ray Windmill; Françoise Richardson)
10 November
Normandy Memorial Trust, Churchill War Rooms, London - Launch of plans for the new Learning Centre at the British Normandy Memorial, Vers sur Mer, Normandy.
Click here to support: https://www.britishnormandymemorial.org/donate.
10 November
AFHG/GPFA Annual Lunch & Remembrance Commemoration, RAF Club & Bomber Command Memorial, London.
(photos courtesy of Françoise Richardson & Cécile Coolen)
Amiral Hervé Hamelin Defence Attaché of France to UK Général Xavier Foissey Dep. Dir. Grp. Aérien Europeen
Group Capt Antony McCord UK Air Attaché to France Colonel Xavier Rival French Air Attaché to UK
Air Cmdre John Maas RAF Aeralis & Lecturer Canterbury Uni S/Ldr Beryl Dennet Stannard Chair, RAF Assoc SW France
Jean François le Gal Prés. Fed. Assoc Français de GB Marie-José Clayton Pres. Ass Nat Membres de l’ONM
Simon Horsington Vice Pres. AFHG & ANMONM Françoise Richardson Pres. Assoc Palmes Academiques
John Edmonds Architect, Nottingham University Iza Bazin Dir. Opérationnelle Air Legend
John Crowe Pres. Gallipoli & Dardanelles Int Paul & Mrs Anne Bogaert Prés. Assoc des Groupes Lourds
Ian Reed Director AFHG /GPFA Marie-Noelle Jaffre Music Consulant Kawa Cultural
Jon Swain Journalist & Author Cécile Coolen Film Director / Réalisatrice
Liam O’Connor Architect, D-Day & Bomber Cmd Guy Audibert President AMAC en GB
Dr Kate Vigurs Historian & author Thomas Reed UK Civil Servant RPA
Anke ter Doest Author art, architecture, historian Brigitte Williams Fondation de France Libre GB
Anne Alexandre Daughter of SIS network head Ian Titman-Reade Secret WW2 Learning Centre
Jeff Hewitt 46 Royal Marine Commando Assoc Erica Horsley Daughter 50 Sqd "Comet" evader
Sharon Spinos Secret WW2 Learning Centre Sumitra Tikaram FANY & G&DI
Carole Austin WW2 Veteran daughter Elizabeth Lake WW2 Veteran daughter
Joy Hanauer SOE links Ray Windmill SWW2LN
Penny Maas Hugues-Marie Foissey
8 November
80th anniversary of the Battle of Bir Hakeim commemoration - Souvenir française. Lycée Charles de Gaulle, Kensington. SW7.
- Plaque to Capt. Philippe Kieffer & 1st Btn de Fusiliers Marins Commando (1er BFMC)
- Display of the Battle of Bir Hakeim
- Plaque commemorating 3rd & 4th SAS (Special Air Service) Regts.
(Photos Simon Horsington & Thomas Liaudet)
4 November
Meeting with Lyliia Kuzyk, Ukrainian Lawyer and social media activist. Photo at Gare de Montparnasse, Paris, near the plaque commemorating the surrender of the invading NAZI forces to Général Leclerc on 25 August 1944.
3 November
Assemble Nationale Paris, meeting Deputé Alexandre Holroyd with FAFGB President Jean-Philippe Le Gal.
2 November
Paris with Federation Assoc Français de Grande Bretagne (FAFGB), meeting Senator Olivier Cadic at the French Senate in Paris.
(photos courtesy of Jean-Philippe Le Gal & Olivier Cadic)
5 October
92nd Anniversary of the crash of the R101 airship - Beauvais, Picardy. Commemoration organised by Bill Beauclerk.
25 September
Blois - unveiling of the Memorial to Lise de Baissac & Andrée Borrel - the first female S.O.E. agents to parachute into Occupied France - 80 years ago on this day - Cécile Coolen.
(Photos: Cecile Coolen)
21 September
S.O.E. lecture: 'Mission France: the true history of the women of SOE' by Dr Kate Vigurs, at the British Ambassador's Residence, Paris.
15 September
82nd Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Commemoration at the Arc de Triomphe with French Secretary of State for Veterans & Commemoration HE Patricia Miralles, British Ambassador, Military Governor of Paris, Chief of Armée de l'Air, military representatives of 15 other nations.
14 September
Book of Condolence for HM Queen Elizabeth II, British Embassy, Paris
14 July
Bastille Day - French Ambassador's Residence, Kensington Palace Gardens
6 July
Handover to the new British Defence Attaché, from Air Commodore Tim Below to Brigadier Al Veitch at the UK Ambassador's Residence, Paris with Dame Menna Rawlings.
25 June
Le Tréport, Normandy - inauguration of the memorial to the 123 Free French airmen "missing in action" during WW2.
24 June
Franco-British Maritime Colloquium - Painted Hall, Greenwich
20 June
70 years of Dassault jet aircraft in service with the Armée de l'Air et Espace. New exhibition at Les Invalides, Paris until 20 September 2022. Dassault MD450 "Ourgan" (#297) 1952 and the latest Rafale.
18 June
"l'Appel" 82nd anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle's BBC broadcast to the people of France establishing the intention to support Britain and fight on.
(Photos: Derek Williams)
9 June
D-Day Memorials: Dozulé, Beuzeville and Pont-L’Eveque - 6th Airborne Div and 46 Royal Marine Commando.
Photos; AFHG & Simon Horsington)
7 June
D-Day Ranville Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery.
6 June
78th Anniversary of the D-Day Normandy Landings (debarquement)
2 June
HM Queen Elizabeth II - Jubilee Commemoration with President Emmanuel Macron - Arc de Triomphe, Paris
(Photos: AFHG & Felix Mitchell)
6 May
Annual Meeting - Association des Mutiles, Anciens Combattants et Victimes de la Guerre (GB) - Civil Service Club, London
18 April
77th Anniversary the French Heavy Bomber Group (Groupes Lourds) last mission of WW2. Nos 346 "Gutenne" & 347 "Tunisie" Armée de l'Air (within RAF Bomber Command). Re-igniting the Frame of the Unknown Warrior, Arc de Triomphe, Paris.
15 March
Visite de la Compagnie Motocyclistes de la Préfecture de Police de Paris avec le Brigadier Stéphane Pécher et Air Commodore Tim Below, Attaché de la Défense UK.
(Photos: Prefecture de Police, Paris)
5 March
Order des Palmes Academique - AGM London, talk on Anglo French history by Ian Reed.
(Photos: Françoise Richardson)
5 March
RAFA SW France AGM - Chateâu Balestard Le Tonnelle, Sainte Émillion.
9 February
Ordre National du Mérite - AGM London
2021
26 November
French Ambassador's Residence, Kensington Palace Gdns, London. Formal reception for the Presentation of the Legion d'Honneur to the AFHG Director, Ian Reed MBE, and the Officier Ordre National du Mérite to the President of ANMONM, Mdme Marie-José Clayton. In attendance: French Ambassador, Defence Attaché, Military Attaché, Consul Général, UK Air Attaché (Paris), heads of Anglo/French Associations, colleagues, families & friends.
14 November
Remembrance Sunday - National Commemoration - The Cenotaph, London SW1A
11 November
Annual Commemorations at Brookwood CWGC Cemetery, Sussex with French Ambassador in attendance.
10 November
AFHG Annual Commemoration of the French & British aviators of WWII and Annual lunch at the Royal Air Force Club attended by French Defence Attaché, French Air Attaché and 30 representatives of Anglo/French associations.
29 October
Annual Memorial Service Gallipoli & Dardanelles International, All Saints Church. Kings Lynn - www.gdinternational.org.uk - www.facebook.com/gallipolianddardanellesinternational.
13 October
Major Commemoration of No. 346 "Guyenne" & No. 347 "Tunisie" RAF Bomber Command / Armée de l'Air at Base 106, Merignac, Bordeaux. (the base to which the two heavy bomber squadrons (RAF Elvington) returned to a liberated France in October 1945).
Formal presentation of a part of Halifax "L for Love" which was discovered at Wersten near Dusseldorf in 2019 and returned home 77 years later. (see https://afheritage.org/tha-man-who-fell-from-the-sky-l-for-love-part-i)
29 September
Belgians Remember Them - tribute to RAF airmen who fell in Belgium and the Resistance involved in their rescue. Annual ceremony at the Rebecq Memorial, Walloon Brabant, Wednesday, 29 September 2021, 10 a.m. HM the King represented. Details & applications: belgian.remember@gmail.com
16, 17, 18 September
8pm until midnight- Enfants de Paris, WWII plaques / art video installation. Le Pantheon, Paris. In English: https://afheritage.org/children-of-paris. - en français: https://afheritage.org/enfants-de-paris-avant-que-la-memoire-ne-sefface-philippe-apeloig
15 September
Battle of Britain Commemoration, Arc de Triomphe, Paris. "Ravivage" - relighting of the flame of the Unknown Warrior with Mdme Geneviève Darrieussecq, French Minister for Remembrance & Veterans; British Ambassador HE Menna Rawlings & Air Marshal Sir Graham Stacey RAF. The event was attended by representatives of other nations and was accompanied by troops and orchestra of 2nd Blindée (Armoured) Division "Lcclerc" (the French division which liberated Paris in 1944).
A following event at the British Embassy included the presentation by the British Ambassador to France of the British wartime medals to the family of former French Battle of Britain pilot Adj Yves J. Briere who was KIA in 1941. (see end of: https://afheritage.org/the-battle-of-britain-80th-anniversary ) and the M.B.E. to the AFHG Director.
(Photos: Felix Mitchell, British Embassy, Paris)
18 June
Annual commemoration, at General De Gaulle's former wartime, Carlton Gardens, London SW1, of his BBC Radio broadcast to the people of Occupied France on 18th June 1940, fundamentally establishing the committment to fight on as Free French. (limited due to pandemic).
6 June
Official Opening of British D-Day Memorial - Ver sur Mer, Normandy. https://www.britishnormandymemorial.org/
(Photos: Normandy Memorial Trust)
22 to 29 January
The Night of Ideas on-line Souvenir français - www.nightofideas.co.uk/whats-on
2020
16.12.20 AFHG presentation to Members of the Ordre National de Mérite via Zoom.
09.12.20 AFHG Director addresses French Air Force officers at Ecole Militaire, Paris, on traditions and patrimone.
30.11.20 - Luc sur Mer - Trophy for local investment awarded by the President of the Calvados Region for the creation the Memorial Square and Memorial with the Hommage to the British 46e Commando. This award decided by the Mayors of Calvados is a great honour for the Maire and Luc-sur-Mer.
Click here: https://afheritage.org/luc-sur-mer-on-sword-beach-a-personal-mission
(Photos: Simon Horsington)
23.11.20 80th anniversary commemoration of Hampden Crash – Vannes 56000.
See: https://afheritage.org/hampden-crash-1940-vannes-commemoration
11.11.20 Many commemorative events were cancelled due to pandemic restrictions including the annual AFHG/GPFA events at the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London and at the RAF Club. Smaller and restricted access events still took place at war memorials. Here in the City of York, the unique AFHG wreath (British & French roundels combined) lays alongside those of regional and national regiments, squadrons and services.
19/20.09.20 Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary Walk following the historic coastal route near Manston to finish with a presentation at Hawkinge. 09.00 Manston museum & airfield memorials - commence at 10.00 from Sandwich. Contact: https://freedomtrailtreks.com/
15.09.20 - Annual Battle of Britain Ceremony, Arc de Triomphe, Paris. (restricted due to pandemic)
18/19.08.20 Official ceremonies of 78th anniversary of Operation Jubilee - the Dieppe Raid. Exhibitions throughout the summer Municipal Theatre, Memorial: Place Camille-Saint Saëns.
06.08.20 76th anniversary of the crash of 151 Squadron RAF, Mosquito, Jonsac 17500 (54 mls north of Bordeaux SW France. 17h45 at Jonsac Railway Station. RAFASW France.
18.07.20 100th anniversary Assoc. Nationale pour le Souvenir des Dardanelles et Fronts d’Orient, Paris 17. (see: https://afheritage.org/hello-world )
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