17thth August 2025 – our bi-annual Runnymede Air Forces Memorial commemoration of SOE, MI9
agents and special duties aircrew with no known grave. A superb ceremony in excellent weather (and a
following lunch for 23 participants) was organised by our Information Officer, Carol Browne. Wreaths placed
included those on behalf of the families of F Section SOE agents Yolande Beekman and (by relative John
Rolfe) Lilian Rolfe and on behalf of AJEX in memory of MI9 agent Aba Bardicev. Several Friends
participated in the ceremony: Chair, Louisa Russell was MC for the occasion; Sheryl Green delivered a bible
reading; Paul McCue outlined the agents’ service and read the poem ‘Lilian’ (written by Joan Munden, née
Rolfe, a relative of Lilian Rolfe); Ian Titman spoke of Flight Lieutenant James Lamberton, a Lysander pilot
who was the representative loss from the Special Duties squadrons; Nick Fox gave the Exhortation and Tracy
Watson (Supporter and representing the WAAF, WRAF, RAF(W) Association) the Kohima Epitaph. We were
very grateful for the services of locally based bugler Hannah Griffin who played as good a Last Post and
Reveillé as any of us had ever heard.
Along with Carol, another ‘star’, for the second time, was Runnymede’s local vicar, the Reverend Will Bissett
– who served in the British Army and the RAF, including special operations and intelligence elements. Will,
now a Supporter of Secret WW2, not only led the thoughtful service, but also acted as piper, both at the
beginning and during wreath laying. The Royal British Legion (Surrey) standard bearer party provided their
usual smart and professional presence and were joined by the standard bearer of the WAAF, WRAF, RAF(W)
Association. Mike Hillman took the excellent photos. Many thanks to all involved.