Repatriation of the Heroes
19th November 2008
Every day, we listen carefully to the news and because we live in a community that has a neighbourly bond with military life, particular attention is paid when the newsreader has to sadly announce that another member of our armed forces has been killed in either Afghanistan or in Iraq. 

Over the weekend we hear of the latest announcement from the Ministry of Defence “It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Colour Sergeant Krishnabahadur Dura, of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday 15 November 2008.

Colour Sergeant Dura was taking part in a road move in the Musa Qaleh district of Helmand when the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle he was travelling in was struck by an explosive device.

Colour Sergeant Dura is the third member of the armed forces who has tragically been killed in the last week. The death, the second from the battalion in just over a fortnight, takes to 125 the number of British servicemen killed in Afghanistan since operations began. 

Repatriation (from late Latin repatriare - to restore someone to his homeland) is the process of return of soldiers to their homes, most notably following a war.

When a member of the armed forces loses their life on operations, a great deal of care and effort is expended throughout the whole process of bringing them back to this country. The process begins with a simple but moving ceremony at the airhead in theatre, where colleagues gather together to pay their respects to a fallen comrade. This is a significant and poignant moment for the service community. Two Warrant Officers travel out from the UK to accompany the body back to the UK and to ensure that at every stage due dignity is maintained.

There then follows a poignant ceremony at RAF Lyneham as the coffin arrives back in the UK. For the family, this is an important and highly emotional moment when their loved one is welcomed back to British soil. It provides an important focus in the difficult and sometimes long period between receiving the news of the death and the day of the funeral.

Personnel from Royal Air Force Lyneham visit the family the night before the ceremony to explain what they can expect the following day, and to give them the opportunity to ask questions. This means that when they arrive on station there are familiar faces to greet them. The family escorted by the Visiting Officer, are brought to Lyneham before the C-17 transport aircraft arrives, carries out a low-level flypast and then lands. The VIP lounge in the passenger terminal is given over for their use, and a number of station personnel are involved in making the process as smooth and as comfortable as possible. These include the RAF Police, Base Support Staff, Air Movements Staff, stewards, medics and drivers. At least one of the Lyneham chaplains is always present throughout, in addition to a senior chaplain, such as an Assistant Chaplain-General, representing the service of the deceased.

The role of the chaplains is to offer pastoral care to those who are going through an extremely painful ordeal; they also offer support for the station personnel, who can be faced with a highly emotional atmosphere.

The family are invited outside to watch as the aircraft approaches RAF Lyneham and makes a fly past before landing. This can often be a moment of relief as their loved one is now home.

The ceremony is succinct and is performed with tremendous dignity. It accords great significance to the life and sacrifice of the fallen. Whilst it is acutely painful for the family, it can also be an important step on the long journey of grief. The fact that the ceremony is brief and simple belies the amount of planning and meticulous preparation that goes into making each and every repatriation run without a hitch. Great care is taken to ensure that staff know how many family members will attend, and what their names and relationship to the deceased are.  A detailed planning meeting is held before each ceremony.

For many of the staff involved repatriation ceremonies have been a twice-weekly event on occasions. In addition to the amount of time invested in making each ceremony work, to be in the presence of such intensity can be an emotionally draining experience. The local community have also felt the impact of these special duties. This is shown in many ways not least in the way that Wootton Bassett shows their respects to each of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The emotional cost that repatriations have within the RAF Lyneham community is also of note, not least for those who have loved ones out of area. Those who have recently suffered a bereavement of their own have also shared their pain at regularly witnessing the tragic loss of lives that the repatriations display. These are perfectly natural emotions and a part of what makes us human. 

When each repatriation is carried out, elegantly every one of the members of the armed forces that is returned home, the parade is carried with the highest respect and dignity from all aspects of the services, civilian and members of the local community. The pride, care and emotion is always focused to ensure the homecoming is to the highest military standard and pride is attributed to the fallen heroes.   

Since April 2007 Royal Air Force Lyneham has been responsible for the repatriation of the fallen comrades from Iraq and Afghanistan. The statistics detail how many ceremonies the station has performed magnificantly but it is with the utmost respect that we must realise that each one is carried out with the finest tradition.

The station commander of the Wiltshire airbase, Group Captain Mike Neville is all to familiar with having to deal with these tragedies. He was duty commander on the day during his last tour, as a squadron commander to No 47 Squadron, when the news was breaking through that Hercules XV179 Hilton 22 was reported as missing on 30th January 2005. He had the hardest job, to firstly to come to terms with that he had lost a team of the finest airmen 'truely the best' and to personally break the news to loved ones, that their family member was one of the ten onboard the Hercules.

With first hand knowledge of the tragedy, he strongly believes that the repatriation is something for care, compassion and dignity. He regularly praises his station personnel both military and civilian for their equalled respect paid to the families and loved ones. Group Captain Mike Neville recalls: "I can safely say that I have never met a more professional, caring and respectful unit of men. I feel humbled and proud when I think of their commitment. I have also been humbled by the commitment and respect shown by the Wootton Bassett community who line the High Street as the cortege passes. The Wiltshire Police Force, Ministry of Defence Police and Thames Valley Constabulary has been immense in their continued efforts and my thanks go to them."

"I have seen nothing but exemplary behaviour and understanding across the entire station. Every family we have looked after has commented upon RAF Lyneham's willingness to help, smartness, behaviour, friendship in times of need and outstanding attitude. I thank you all."

The final journey of the repatriated, the dignified escorting of the entourage from RAF Lyneham to their final destination involves three police forces. With tightening constraints placed on the police, they still ensure the poignant journey is carried out with the minimum disturbance. The Ministry of Defence Police send a team of Officers as mutual aid to Wiltshire Constabulary in lining the static Points in Wootton Bassett. Along with that is the Lyneham Neighbourhood team who escort front and rear of the entourage. It is appropriate to recognise what the Wiltshire Constabulary Road Policing Unit and Wootton Bassett Officers do, but it should be known the Thames Valley Police send their Road Policing Units to continue the entourage to the final destination John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxfordshire.

Finally, we would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone, whether directly or indirectly involved with the repatriation process. No matter what part you play, the key players, the good people of Lyneham, Wootton Bassett and the local community who spare those precious minutes to pay your respects, you all share a common cause, to ease the pain for the families, colleagues and loved ones in these difficult times. Thank You