Desert Rats Association Open Day Parade 2014
Led by the Drummers of 901 Marine Cadet Troop and Piper, the Standards of the Royal British Legion and other associations march to the Desert Rat Memorial for the yearly Open Day service of remembrance. They are followed by veterans of WW2 and conflicts since.
The Desert Rat Association is there to remember the Men of the 7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats), 4th Armoured Brigade (The Black Rats) and 7th Armoured Brigade (The Green Rats) from WW2 and subsequent conflict and Army formations ever since.
Each year it holds and open day at the Memorial for veterans and the public to meet up and remember the events of the past. This year commemorates the Normandy Campaign which the Desert and Black Rats were part of. Please see desertrats.org.uk/assoc/index.htm
Installation of the Desert Rats Memorial and the Inauguration Ceremony 1998
This is a video about the installation of the Cromwell tank on the Desert Rats Memorial, A1065, near Mundford. Norfolk and the latter Inauguration Ceremony (including the rehearsal) on 23rd October 1998, the 56th Anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein. There is also a clip of the some of the veterans and their families enjoying lunch afterwards.
In the video you will see the founder of the association and the driver for the memorial Les Dinning and Field Marshal Lord Carver, who was Desert Rat for all the entire war, becoming Commanding Officer of 1st Royal Tank Regiment and later 4th Armoured Brigade.
The Desert Rats Association would like to thank the veterans who kindly donated a copy to us.
Desert Rats Open Day 2018
The opening address from the 2018 service of remembrance, at the Desert Rats Memorial Open Day, High Ash, Mundford, Norfolk.
Desert Rats Open Day 2015 - Form Up Parade
This was filmed on 21st June 2015 at the Open Day at the Desert Rat Memorial, north of Mundford. It shows modern day service personnel and veterans marching to the Desert Rats Memorial, before the start of the service or remembrance.
Desert Rats Open Day 2015 - Lone Piper & Wreath Laying.
This was filmed on 21st June 2015 at the Open Day at the Desert Rat Memorial, north of Mundford. The Lone Piper plays the lament Flowers of the Forest while veterans and modern day service men lay wreaths on the Desert Rat Memorial. At the end there is a short prayer.
Cromwell Tank at Desert Rats Memorial
Cromwell Tank starting up and move back from the memorial after the 2014 Open Day. The 7th Armoured Division was entirely equipped with the Cromwell, until other British, Commonwealth and Polish Armoured Divisions and Brigades, who were mainly equipped with Shermans.
This Cromwell carries markings of 1st RTR until end July1944 or 5th Inniskillen Dragoon Guards from August 1944. It does not as yet have the combined AoS sign normally carried by 22nd Armoured Brigade Regiments.
It was a great attraction on the day and just listen to the power in the Meteor engine.
Desert Rats Open Day 2016 - Lone Piper & Wreath Laying.
This was filmed on 19th June 2016 at the Open Day at the Desert Rat Memorial, north of Mundford. The Lone Piper plays the lament Flowers of the Forest while local dignatories, veterans and modern day service men lay wreaths on the Desert Rat Memorial
desert rats ride of respect 2018
Desert Rats Remembrance day November 2018
Mundford rave
Mundford rave
Cromwell Tank Being Parked Up at Desert Rats Memorial
The Cromwell Tank that attended the Open Day on 15th June 2014, is shown being parked up for the night at the end of the event, before travelling home the next day.
memorial ride out
200 hundred scooters what a day fabulous
Little John Wayne rippin it up in Mundford Crown!
No one saw it coming but at the end of the little john wayne gig rolphie banged out some beats and did a blinding set! This is Norfolk village pub style!
Part 1 of 3 :)
'Allo 'Allo! blue plaque reveal goes 'off script'
Cast members of classic BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! gathered in Norfolk to unveil a blue plaque in honour of the show - but things didn't go completely to plan. The British Comedy Society unveiled the plaque at Lynford Hall, Mundford, near Thetford. The courtyard at the hall, which is now a hotel, was used as a stand-in for Nouvion town square in the sitcom - the location of the fictional cafe owned by René Artois, played by Gordon Kaye.