RAF Engineering & Airfield Construction Branch Association

Annual Reunion, AGM and Gala Dinner

2026 Reunion – 21st-23rd September 2026. The Annual General Meeting and Gala Dinner will take place on 22nd September at the Lakeview Holiday Inn in Cambridge.
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If you are interested in attending, please email RAFEngACBA.Treasurer@gmail.com

National Remembrance - Royal British Legion Cenotaph March, Whitehall, London

The Association is immensely proud to represent those that have served, amongst 10,000 veterans at the annual national act of remembrance in London.

2026 Remembrance – 8th November. Applications are now closedand 80 members of the RAF Eng & ACB Association will beparticipating.

2027 Remembrance – 14th November. We have already begun thework to formulate the 2027 contingent and welcome proactive‘expressions of interest’ including any enquiries about theevent.

Timeline: Allocation, Response and Submission Deadlines are subject to change by the RBL.

The Association lodges its allocation request in March/April to the RBL and the RBL confirms the allocation by mid-June. Deadline for Applications this year was September.

All Association members will receive a reminder correspondence as to the application process during May each year, so if you change your e-mail please let us know.

If you would like to take part please get in touch early, drop us an e-mail to rafengacba.cenotaph@gmail.com

St Clement Danes Church Carol Service – 7th December 2025

The RAF Engineering & Airfield Construction Branch President already has his ticket to the annual Carol Service. If you are interested in attending, then please book through the Church website.

Our Association in the Community Great Chart Remembers - Annual Service of Remembrance.

The village and community of Great Chart, Ashford, Kent, hold an annual service of remembrance, and 2024 represented the 80th Anniversary of this incredibly moving event. Strong ties have been built with the local community, Ashford Borough Council and local Mayor through the years, with our veteran members.
Instrumental in building these ties, a remarkable man Mr Ian Wolverson whose work to document the historic events of service personnel and their exploits with great stories of local supporting families is simply inspirational. A special thanks to our Association President Geoffrey Chesher-Brazier who has ensured that many such events are well represented. It is important that we support and expand such relationships as a an Association and we thank 5001Sqn for their exemplary support over the years.

These Services commemorate the lives of 15 RAF Construction Unit staff, killed by a single WWII 1000lb bomb dropped on the night of 21st/22nd May 1944 at RAF Camp, Great Chart at Colemans Kitchen, all these personnel were members of RAF 5003Sqn.

The commemorations will also remembers the 25 Officers from 3 nations who were lost on missions out of RAF Ashford between Autumn 1943 and late Summer 1944.

The site of RAF Ashford opened in 1943 and was one of the first Advanced Landing Grounds(ALG) to be constructed. This prototype ALG was the basis for future building of temporary landing grounds in France that provided air support to the troops advancing after D-Day.

The Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Army Air Force all flew from RAF Ashford. It was from this airfield that the American P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft carried out countless raids over Europe in preparation for, and to support the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944.

The courage, bravery and sacrifice of our service personnel of all ranks and those of our allies, should not be forgotten.

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Events

Annual Reunion, AGM and Gala Dinner

National Remembrance - Royal British Legion Cenotaph March, Whitehall, London

St Clement Danes Church Carol Service – 7th December 2025

Our Association in the Community Great Chart Remembers - Annual Service of Remembrance.