Archive for Armed Forces

Supporting our Armed Forces – Help to Buy Extension

October 7, 2016 Armed Forces Comments Off on Supporting our Armed Forces – Help to Buy Extension

helptobuy-jpegThe Conservatives launched the Forces’ Help to Buy scheme in April 2014. This was aimed at helping members of the Armed Forces afford a deposit to buy their first home. Already this has ensured that 10,000 personnel have already been successful. For many being able to have a home of their own is a dream come So the Government is now extending the scheme until 2018 so that more can benefit.

HTB2It is worth remembering that fewer than half of the Armed Forces own their own home. Overall home ownership rate in he Armed Forces is around 47 per cent.  Amongst non-officer other ranks such as non-commissioned officers, warrant officer ranks and below only 40 per cent own their own home, falling to only 30 per cent for other ranks in the Army.

Our Armed Forces keep us safe and we are committed to giving our service personnel and the unsung heroes – their families – the support they want in return for all they do for our country. So extending this scheme more troops will get this extra help, they will be able to give armed-forces-covenanttheir families the stability that many of us take for granted.

Conservatives enshrined the Armed Forces Covenant in law and are strengthening it by doubling operational allowances and abolishing council tax relief for Forces on operations; spending over £1 billion providing better accommodation for Service personnel, which includes 2,000 new homes and over 8,000 new single rooms, and improving healthcare provision and mental health support for veterans.

Waterbeach Barracks 514 Squadron reunion

June 13, 2015 Armed Forces Comments Off on Waterbeach Barracks 514 Squadron reunion

The former Waterbeach Barracks has a long and important history dating from the Second WB6World War, through the post war years as an RAF base and then as home to the Engineer Regiment from 1966 to 2013.

Today was the annual 514 Squadron reunion, held at the Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum. To be able to talk to the former servicemen was a humbling experience.

The 514 Squadron was based at Waterbeach Barracks from November 1943 through to August 1945. There motto was ‘Nil Obstare Potest’ – nothing can withstand.

WB8During that time they flew 3675 sorties on 218 bombing raids, dropped 14,650 tons of bombs. They played an active role in supporting the D-Day operations and thereafter, in October 1944 saw a peak of 386 sorties. The losses encountered were high with 426 aircrew and nine ground crew losing their lives whilst serving with the squadron. Especially when you consider that in April 1944 there were a total of 373 ground crew personnel and 291 aircrew personnel.

WB5When operations were completed in August 1945, it is sad to note that there was no formal recognition or events at the time to mark the disbanding of the Squadron.

As many of you know, the Waterbeach Barracks closed a few years ago. With Urban and Civic now managing the site some facilities are coming back into use. This includes the Museum (with about 5-10% of it collection on display). Since then a Trustee group has been working hard to fully re-open the Museum. The good
news is that this is coming to fruition with the Museum expected to be back in full operation later in the year.

The 514 Squadron website is certainly worth viewing to fully understand their contribution during the Second World War.

On this day – 33 years ago – Naval Task Force set sail to the Falklands

April 5, 2015 Armed Forces Comments Off on On this day – 33 years ago – Naval Task Force set sail to the Falklands

hms-invincible-en-route-falklands-1982Today marks thirty three years since the Naval Task Force was despatched from Portsmouth to recapture and free the Falkland Islands.

The whole task force eventually comprised 127 ships: 43 Royal Navy vessels, 22 Royal Auxiliary ships and 62 merchant ships with 28,000 armed forces personnel.

It was an incredible achievement to mount such an ambitious operation, just three days after Argentina forces landing on the Falkland Islands.

A short film on the Statement to Parliament by Prime Minister and our forces leaving Portsmouth can be seen at; http://www.britishpathe.com/video/british-task-force-to-sail-for-falklands.

Let us never forget the 255 armed forces personnel that gave their lives in service of our country.