Repatriation of Service personnel
07 February 2012
The repatriation of a soldier killed in Afghanistan took place on Tuesday 7 February with the plane landing at Brize Norton at 2.00pm and the cortege passing by the Memorial Garden (near Carterton) at approx 4.00pm.
Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung, 26 from Majthana in Nepal, of Royal Gurkha Rifles from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, died on Friday 27 January 2012.
From 1 September 2011, repatriations ceased passing through Royal Wootton Bassett as they moved from RAF Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton. A memorial garden has been established on the new route on the outskirts of Carterton (on Norton Way, Brize Norton - Google Map).
The memorial garden was designed by a small group of local people including the Royal British Legion, community representatives from Brize Norton and Carterton, and current and retired military personnel.
The design is intended to provide a focus for the public to pay their respects. At the centre of the garden is a flag pole where the Union Flag from Royal Wootton Bassett is flown on the days repatriations take place. The memorial was constructed using natural stone sourced from a local quarry in the Cotswold area.
The final part of the repatriation route from RAF Brize Norton to the John Radcliffe Hospital does not differ from the route from RAF Lyneham. The tradition of local people and members of The Royal British Legion turning out to pay respects at Headley Way in Oxford is therefore carrying on seamlessly.
For more information visit Oxfordshire County Council or call 01865 816345.
