Parade salutes flying heroes (From Gazette Series)

Parade salutes flying heroes

THE 28 Flying Air Corps who died in action in the First World War were remembered during a special parade on Sunday.

The Yate, Sodbury and District branch of the Royal British Legion were represented at the Anzac Day parade in Leighterton, near Tetbury.

Secretary and treasurer of the branch Penelope Thomas has organised the parade every year since 1981. Also secretary of the Anzac committee, she was responsible for inviting the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire Henry Elwes, who represented the Queen, and Lt Cdr Brizes Hooper who represented the Royal Australian Navy.

Mrs Thomas said: "We had a really good turnout, we always do. The weather was really good which certainly helps with a parade."

The Women's Section of the Royal British Legion, the Dursley and Cam branch of the Royal Air Force and the Air Training Corp were also involved to march.

Anzac Day, on April 25, commemorates the 28 Australian and New Zealand pilots who were killed in 1918 on the front-line in France.