Sunday 1st July 2012

Yesterday (30th June) was Armed Forces Day, a day dedicated to celebrating and supporting the work of service personnel past and present and honouring the sacrifices they and their families make.


The 575 Sherwood Foresters Field Squadron (Air Support) (Volunteers) receive the Freedom Scroll from the Mayor of Chesterfield

Throughout the UK, services and parades were held in towns and cities, and The Olympic Torch was held aloft at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire - carried by war hero Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, who was awarded the VC after saving the lives of 30 fellow soldiers during the Iraq conflict.

Chesterfield was no exception - and, at the end of a week that has seen other events take place to promote and raise awareness of the Forces - yesterday awarded one local regiment the Freedom of Entry to The Borough.

Hundreds of residents lined the streets of Chesterfield at 11am to watch the 575 Sherwood Foresters Field Squadron (Air Support) (Volunteers) receive the Freedom Scroll from the Mayor of Chesterfield (pictured above) outside the Town Hall.

The regiment, based at Wallis Barracks, has a proud and long association with the town, and has been a feature here for 53 years, having been created in 1961.



After receiving the honour they paraded through a busy High Street and past the Crooked Spire, onto Vicar Lane and back to the Town Hall. They were applauded and cheered all the way around by shoppers and supporters enjoying the warm sunshine (above).



On their return, the Roll of Honorary Freeman of the Borough was signed (above) and a Civic Reception held for the Squadron, and their family and friends.

The Unit's Commanding Officer Major Callingham presented a gift to the Borough (below).



Three members of the Squadron received Lord Lieutenant Certificates for Meritorious service - Staff Sergeant Long, Corporal Harker, Corporal Hill with Sapper Mcmanus receiving the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal (VRSM).

All were presented by the Lord Lieutenenant William Tucker, who had inspected the troops with the Mayor outside the Town Hall ahead of the parade (below).



Speaking after the Parade, the Commanding Officer of the Squadron, Major
Patrick Callingham told us just what the honour meant to them...
"It's a n honour and privilege to be awarded the Freedom of the local Borough, so it's a proud day. It was lovely to walk around and feel the support from the crowd - I know what it feels like to be an Olympic Torch bearer now!

"There were a lot of people in town - it was good. Most of the lads come from town, a few from outlying towns so it's a huge honour for them in their local town in Diamond Jubilee year."



Major Callingham told us next about the Squadron...
"We've a long history of Territorial Army in Chesterfield, we originally formed in 1859 out there and then over the years it's changed a bit. Since 1961, it's been the Royal Engineers.

"Our current role is to provide cover and military engineer support to the RAF on off-base operations. So expeditionary operations - Afghanistan is a good illustration of where air support is really vital, and we provide support for our regular counterparts in the Air Support Role. So it could be anything to maintaining the runway or the water, power and electricity supplies."



There are a lot of young lads in the Squadron, how is recruitment?
"We went through a difficult patch a few years and ago and it was right down. I don't know quite why, but over the last 18 months, recruitment has come on, whether it's coincidence, with the economy, I don't know, but at the moment we have more recruits than trained soldiers which is good. The trick though is to keep them, to retain them - that's the challenge!"



The Squadron will not be resting over the summer, having been mobilised to play a part in London 2012...
"We report on the 17th July and will spend 5 weeks supporting the Olympics. The main focus is likely to be venue security and support the police - on top of that we have a busy training year. There's never a dull moment!"


The Mayor of Chesterfield, Officers and dignitaries take the salute outside the Town Hall

The Mayor of Chesterfield Cllr Donald Parsons, who has personal history with the 575 Squadron told The Chesterfield Post that he had been delighted to bestow the honour...
"I'm more than proud - I used to be a member of 575 many years ago, in the early 70's, so to take the salute and present the Freedom Roll made for another emotional day - and the thanks I received from the Colonel in Chief, from the soldiers themselves and from the Veterans - there's not much more that I can say, I'm just full of pride."


The Roll of Honorary Freemen signed at the Town Hall

When you served in the Regiment you must never have dreamed that you would be handing out this Freedom as Mayor?
"It was beyond my dreams! This is why today is so special - I'm doing it on behalf of my family too.

"My granddad was a member of Sherwood Foresters, he fought and got wounded in Galipoli. My father fought in WW2 but he was a regular soldier serving in India when the war started and transferred to the Sherwood Foresters from the Royal Artillery, the link has always been there and hopefully one of my children will become part of the Armed forces."

The turn out and support from Chesterfield has been vocal and visual today...
"Yes that means a lot to all our soldiers, they see the public come out and show their appreciation and once again, the people of Chesterfield have shown their gratitude - and I thank them for doing that."

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