RAF Centenary Bench
Intro
F/O Leslie Pulfrey RAFVR was killed on-board ME840/BQ-V when it failed to return on 16/17 June 1944 from a raid to Sterkrade, Germany. The aircaft was lost over The Netherlands.
The photos attached are of a RAF 100 Memorial bench commissioned with a local sculptor in Penistone. The timber used is from fallen and felled trees and all the carving is done using only a chainsaw. The timber used came from the grounds of a former WW1/2 POW Camp near Lindholm near the former RAF Station. There is the eagle either end of the bench and the backrest the shape of a propeller blade. The bench is 13ft in length and weighs over one ton.
| 
|
| 
|
The bench is situated in the grounds of Penistone Grammar School, near their own War Memorial.
On Saturday 21st September at 11.00 at Penistone Grammar School there is a Dedication Service to Commemorate RAF100, the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, in which the RAF played such an important role, and the 75 Anniversary of the loss of the S/Ldr G S Smith crew of ME840/BQ-V.
Members of the Association would be most welcome to attend and participate in this event.
Dedication Service
The Dedication service for the RAF Centrary Bench was a great success. Key in the organisation of this event was Joe Joe Pinguey a relative of F/O Leslie Pulfrey.
Three wreaths were laid on the memorial dedicated to the crew of Lancaster ME840/BQ-V. One wreath came from the van Eerden family, one from the Municple of Aalten and finally one from Peter Rhebergen.
Photos from the event are shown below. Thanks to Joe Pinguey for making the photos available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|