Servicemen and women remembered at outdoor service at wartime training base

ABOUT 80 people attended a “wild church” Remembrance service in Henley on Sunday.

The service took place in the grounds of Fawley Court, off Marlow Road, which played a vital role in the Second World War as a base for the Special Operations Executive which trained recruits on the site before being sent to Occupied Europe.

The service was led by Rev Sue Morton, associate priest for the Hambleden Valley group of churches, who welcomed guests.

The grounds were opened to the service by Mrs Aida Hersham, the owner of Fawley Court.

The service started with a moment of silence then a prayer by Rev Morton. She said: “Almighty and eternal God, Lord of the universe and maker of all that is: we praise and thank you for all those who denied themselves and laid down their lives for their friends. Amen.”

Rev Morton then introduced Fawley Court and the history of the Special Operations Executive on the site, encouraging people to take in nature.

She said: “At wild church we often start by looking around us and, seeing what we notice about our surroundings and about God’s world. As we stand in this place, deep in the English countryside, the River Thames flowing by just a few 100 metres away, it is difficult to imagine what took place here during the war.

“But I would like to invite you to look around you, and also down at your feet, because we are standing on the very ground where courageous people, many of whom went on to perform very courageous acts, trained and learned their craft. Many did not return from their missions.”

The wild church choir and congregation then sang Eternal Father Strong to Save. Rev Morton then spoke about the history of the house.

She said: “In July 1941 the Special Operations Executive was formed from the Secret Intelligence Service, parts of MI6 and the research branch of the War Office.

“The Special Operations Executive was a plan hatched by Churchill to ‘set Europe ablaze’ and undercover agents were sent to France to sabotage and to gather information. Of the 50 women sent to France, 39 were members of the Nursing Yeomanry.

“The Signals Section was essentially made up of wireless operators and coders but there were also technical experts, drivers, clerks and administration staff. The female recruits were trained mainly at Fawley Court, which was known as Special Training School 54a.

“A complex of huts was installed to the southwest of the main house, where recruits of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry trained, whilst living in the attics of the original house, making do with spartan accommodation.”

Katie Deakin then read Micah 4:3-4 and then her son Oscar, a Royal Marine cadet, read the Exhortation, to which the crowd said in unison: “We will remember them.”

The Last Post was played Jo Hutchins on the flute, everyone fell silent for a moment’s reflection then she played the Reveille again on her flute. Ania Kozniewska, of Harcourt Close, then said a prayer. She said: “Almighty and eternal God, Lord of the universe and maker of all that is: we praise and thank you for all those who denied themselves and laid down their lives for their friends.

“Grant to those who are remembered here, and in our hearts, that their names may be written in your book of life; and to us who remember them give grace to walk in the same way of love and faith, that we may come at the last with them to that eternal kingdom where you live and reign in the perfect unity of love, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”

Lieutenant Elaine Gunstone from the Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps, formerly known as the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, said: “Ania and I are honoured to be here today to represent those who served our country in both world wars. Today the corps is a thriving charity whose volunteers continue to support the police, the military and civil authorities in crisis. We were deployed following the Westminster, London Bridge and Manchester bombing terror attacks and Grenfell Tower fire. More recently we supported the Nightingale hospital and London coroners during covid.”

The hymn Jerusalem was then sung and Rev Morton read the final blessing: “Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage. Hold fast that which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Help the afflicted.

“Show love to everyone. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you, always. Amen.”