The brainchild of train enthusiast and RAuxAF stalwart Wing Commander Alfie Hall, Nene Valley Railway Wansford near Peterborough recently played host to a ceremony involving one of only nine surviving Battle of Britain Class steam locomotives. To mark the centenary of the Royal Auxiliary Airforce, the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society was keen to support the commemoration with a temporary name change of the 1946 train, No 34081 from ’92 Squadron’ to ‘Royal Auxiliary Airforce’ for the duration of the steam season.
Taking the foot plate on its inaugural run was His Royal Highness, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Honorary Air Commodore in Chief of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force).
Throughout 2024 events are taking place throughout the United Kingdom connected mainly with RAuxAF squadrons, to honour the many men and women who have served as RAF volunteer reserves over the last one hundred years.
Did you know…..? During World War II a quarter of the RAF squadrons which fought in the Battle of Britain were Auxiliary Air Force squadrons and they accounted for a third of the aerial combat victories.
The steam locomotive not only carries the name Royal Auxiliary Air Force but features the medal ribbon of the state honour for Reserves (The QVRM/KVRM – Queen’s/King’s Volunteer Reserves Medal) painted on the locomotive cab side in recognition of the high regard in which the work of the RAF Volunteer Reserve is held.
Wing Commander Alfie Hall, who bought the nameplates and organised the days’ events recently completed one hundred ten kilometre runs in one hundred days to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Royal Auxiliary Airforce Foundation commented, “The Duke of Gloucester is also a keen rail enthusiast and even has a locomotive named after him. He is a wonderful man and is a patron of the RAuxAF Foundation. The whole event proceeded flawlessly. A print was commissioned and presented to him at the end of the event. Once the nameplates are removed, they will go to auction, with proceeds going to the RAuxAF Foundation.”
with a print of the occasion. Crown Copyright
