Repatriation for Afghanistan soldiers tomorrow

1:02pm Wednesday 6th June 2012 in Witney

The repatriation of two servicemen killed in Afghanistan is due to take place tomorrow.

The plane carrying Corporal Michael Thacker and Private Gregg Stone will land at RAF Brize Norton at about 1.30pm on Thursday, June 7.

The cortege will pass the memorial garden on the edge of Carterton at about 4.15pm and arrive at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford at about 5pm.

Cpl Thacker, 27, from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, was killed by small arms fire on Friday and Pte Stone, 20, from 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, was shot and killed on Sunday.

Comments(5)

WitneyGreen says...
1:59pm Wed 6 Jun 12

Once again the cortege will be passing through West Oxfordshire at a time when most of us are still at work. I'd really like to be able to pay my respects, but by the time I leave work the cortege will be at the JR. A little later, or a weekend, would mean many more working people in West Oxfordshire AND Oxford could line the streets.

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Bartsimpson_uk says...
2:49pm Wed 6 Jun 12

Oh sorry Witney green..I'll have a word with the bereaved families and the forces if they could arrange this around your busy working day. What a crass comment.

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WitneyGreen says...
4:28pm Wed 6 Jun 12

It is not a crass comment aimed at the families of the servicemen. It is a practical comment aimed at the organisers of the repatriations - Oxfordshire County Council, the RAF and the Police. If they really want Oxfordshire to get behind the armed forces and support the returned fallen, they will rethink the plans to hold repatriation corteges when the only non-family present are the retired and the unemployed. As it stands, many working people cannot take time off at short notice to attend the repatriation of a stranger, however much they wish to do so, and hence even a slight change to the timetable would mean more support for the bereaved families.

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WitneyGreen says...
8:58pm Wed 6 Jun 12

No, let's make it at 6pm on a weekday, or a Saturday morning, so many more people of all ages can show up to pay their respects. As it stands, I can't unless I take time off work during the day which is virtually impossible because of the job I do. But whatever, the bullies of the board have had their say. God forbid a local should come up with a sensible idea.

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amberlistic says...
7:53am Thu 7 Jun 12

Is there ever going to be a 'perfect time' to bring home a lost, loved, hero! As a serving soldier and friend I find it distasteful that your personal agenda has become such a talking point. Be there in spirit if not it body, its the tought that counts!

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