I needed to put in writing an eye witness statement of the first repatriation through Brize Norton.

Recently I started work at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

On Thursday 8th September I left work as usual catching the bus to Water Eaton park and ride. This was a start of a journey I shall never forget.

Leaving the JR site passing the church on the corner where a number of ex servicemen gather and banners from the British Legion and perhaps other organisations. This they have been doing for many months.

I reached the par and ride picked up my car and headed off home. Joining the A40 at Cassington travelling west toward Brize Norton. In Eynesham a small number of people had gathered on either side of the road neer to thepetrol station and car show room as I proceeded in a weterly direction i saw even more people gathering, on reaching the Evenload pub a larger crowed had gathered together with a fire engine and crew, carrying on withmy journey there were people gathered in small numbers at various places all the way to the Witney Bypass. Expecting to see the cortarg coming in the opposite direction continued on as I approached the Four Pillars turn off there was a lady alone carrying a Union Jack handbag over her shoulder, obviously waiting to pay her respects, I carried on ther were cars in the lay-bys cars and people gathered on the bridges that spanned the A40 on one I counted three police cars.

I exited the A40 at the Carterton turn, at the end of the slip road were a youth football team clad in their kit and parants and many others, heading toward Carterton parked along the road were many bystanders, still no cortage, on reaching the out skirts of traffic was now at a halt. The cortage approached I felt a tear in my eye and was overwhelmed with the number of people gathered from school children, servicemen, ex service, and the ordinary person.

Being an ex serviceman myself, I and other service people and the families of our dead heroes really appreciate the home coming.

Based on information supplied by Robert Cleary.