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Graham Dunkley

My Frontline Walk 2024

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My Activity Tracking

256
mi

My target 350 mi

Project KOHIMA 24 - My Frontline Walk 2024

I aim to raise £757 for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) by walking in excess of the 100K target set by the ABF between 1-30 November 2024. I have already walked 107K and now aim to complete 350k by 30 November.  

WHY £757? In recognition of the 757 CWGC graves  near to where I live. 

Please help me to reach this target by clicking  https://events.armybenevolentfund.org/fundraisers/grahamdunkley/my-frontline-walk and sponsor me between £1-5, or more if you can. 

I have named My Frontline Walk 2024 after the WW2 Battle of KOHIMA in Nagaland, India.  

Kohima was the turning point in the war against the Japanese. The 4th Royal West Kents (RWK), formed part of the 2nd British Division, holding out against the Japanese for fifteen days. 

During the battle, Lance Corporal John Pennington Harman RWK, won the Victoria Cross by first killing a Japanese machine gun crew and capturing the gun single handed. Then rushing another post alone and killing all five Japanese in it. He himself was then killed by a burst of enemy machine gun fire. 

The memorial of the 2nd British Division bears the now famous Kohima epitaph which reads:

'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.'

The verse is attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds (1875-1958), and is thought to have been inspired by the epitaph written by Simonides of Ceos to honour the Greeks who fell at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480BC.

Project KOHIMA is dedicated to LCPL Harman, the soldiers of the Queens Regiments forebear regiments and Commonwealth soldiers who fought with bravery and distinction throughout both world wars.

Thank you very much for your generosity, it means a lot. 

Please Help Me
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Raised

£572 + £95.16 GiftAid

My Goal

£757

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My Updates

My Frontline Walk 2024

Proud to be part of the My Frontline Walk 2024. Well done to everyone who took part and contributed to the ABF fundraising effort this year.

The Queens Regiment.

Always proud to be a Veteran Queensmen.

D30 final jog

Final jog of the Royal Military Canal as part of the 412KM for the ABF.

D30 Never far from my thoughts.

My granddad. Always with me wherever I go and whatever I do.

D27 -30 in numbers.

All done 412 KMs. It’s been fun and I couldn’t have done it without the support from Mrs D and my four legged personal trainer, Baxter- Bear.

D29 Catstycam outdoors shop

I’ve been shopping at Catsycam Outdoor Shop for many a year. Their service and eye for a good product is outstanding. Every year i trade in my worn out tired Dartmoor grisports for a new pair. The old pair walk out the rest of my Ullswater holidays before I hand them in for recycling in support of the Air Ambulance Trust. Thank you Catstycam, for your service over the years and for your support and generosity during Project KOHIMA.

D28 Field Marshal William Joseph SLIM

Bill Slim was one of the greatest British generals of World War II. In a career that stretched from 1914 until 1958, his greatest triumphs came in India and Burma in the long war against the Japanese. Thrust into a desperate situation, he orchestrated the longest retreat in British Army history in the withdrawal from Burma. He then turned on the Japanese in India, shattered their army, and pursued them to destruction. Apart from his great military victories, Slim also left a legacy of training and morale building that endures in the British Army to this day.

D27 The Burma Star.

The Burma Star was awarded for operational service in Burma between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Those serving in Bengal and Assam in India and China, Hong Kong, Malaya or Sumatra between other specified dates could have also qualified. To qualify, servicemen must have served: one day of operational service in the army in the above qualifying areas. one day of operational service as ground crew in the RAF in the above qualifying areas. one operational sortie as aircrew in the RAF in the above qualifying areas. one day afloat on operational service in the above qualifying areas in the Royal Navy and already qualified for the 1939 to 1945 Star The colours of the ribbon represent the sun, British and Commonwealth forces.

Why Project Kohima?

I’d been wanting to do something for ABF for some time, but found reasons why I was too busy to contribute. Sadly, this year the BM was unable to participate in the annual poppy appeal, through no fault of the BM or RBL. It was then at short notice I decided I wanted to make a contribution beyond attending an Armistice Parade. On the 31 October, Project Kohima was born.

D26 - is it December yet!!!!!!

My walking buddy taking a well earned snooze……

D26 ENDEX - We did it!!!!!!!!

Wow moment tonight for me and Baxter. We finally finished the challenge by completing 354KM in 26 days, with 4 days left on the clock. Massive thank you to my chief fundraiser and Sunday walking companion, my darling wife Pam. I also want to say a massive thank you to family, neighbours, windmill girls and work colleagues for all their support amd generosity. We achieved this together. Now to finish the blog.

D26 in numbers.

Today was another good day with a 5.6K jog to seabrook and back. Covered 15.2 in total today with equivalent of 22,026 steps done. Feel well chuffed now.

D25 in numbers.

Today was a good day….. Jogged for 4.7KM of the 14.8KM completed. Zero flights of stairs but the equivalent of 19,997 steps. Nearly there though…….

D24 in numbers.

Hampered by high winds again…… but managed to get across the self-imposed 10K a day line. So a result of sorts. Anyway not that far away from the 350K finish line.

D23 - Hawkinge CWGC

Never expected to see this, thats for sure….. A unknown German soldier. Yes he was our enemy, but he was someone’s son, brother or husband who will never be put to rest and visited by their family. This is the walk I had been planning to do, as part of Project Kohima. I became aware of German 🇩🇪 servicemen graves, when I began researching the number CWGC graves within my post code. Was surprised to find out that 59 of the 757 would have been German war graves. Of these I expected them all to be Luftwaffe personnel. However when I started reading up I found out that it was a mix of Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine, let alone Heer personnel, I want to try and lay a RBL cross at this grave every year from now on. He may have been our enemy but he deserves to be visited and remembered. It’s the least my grandparent's would have expected of me.

D23 in numbers.

Yellow wind warning and rain reduced the K count dramatically. However just about got to 10KM in the end - high number of stair flights reached 🙌 and the equivalent of 16,495 steps done.

D22 - the Gurkha Soldier

Amazing and loyal soldiers who have always fought bravely for the U.K.

D22 in numbers.

Completed another timed one-hour womble around central London. This time , I photographed the Gurkha memorial - fitting since the more modern Gurkha memorial in Folkestone is just as amazing. So 17.4KM done, equivalent of 27, 756 steps and 11 flights of steps. As Captain Tom would have said….. it’s been a good day.

D21 in numbers

Completed 15.7KMs, equivalent to 21,043 steps and we even had time for me and Baxter to have some good old fashioned soft play to say thank to him for be8ng my walking buddy over the last 19 days.

D21 - My Frontline Walk Cross and Buff

Received these from ABF yesterday, in recognition of reaching the first £50 of fundraising. Thank you ABF. Another day completed, after going for a 3.4KM run along the royal military canal.

D20 in numbers.

Managed to fit in a 5.6KM timed lunch time womble around St James Park. Walked a total of 16.3KM equivalent of 24,314 steps and 14 flights of steps. Happy to announce that I recieved My Frontline Walk cross and ABF head cover. See tomorrows blog!

D20 - St James Park

Part of my one-hour timed womble to keep my KMs up. A tad chilly but the brisk walk helped to keep me warm.

D9 - Kohima Cremation Memorial

At the highest point in the cemetery stands the KOHIMA CREMATION MEMORIAL commemorating 917 Hindu and Sikh soldiers whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith.

D7 - Capt. John ‘Jack’ Neil Randle VC

Randle was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Royal Norfolk Regiment in May 1940. At the age of 26, he was promoted to temporary captain whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment. Captain Randle was OC 'B' Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment. On 4 May 1944 during the Battle of Kohima in northeast India. He died while leading an attack on the Japanese flank on General Purpose Transport (GPT) Ridge during the relief and clearance of Kohima. His Victoria Cross is on loan to the Imperial War Museum by his son John. It is displayed alongside that of his friend Leonard Cheshire.

D6 - Naib Subedar Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan VC

He was aged 18 when he died and was the first Muslim to win a VC and the youngest Indian recipient of the award. On 6 April 1944, during the Battle of Imphal, near Kohima. Naib Subedar Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan was ordered to attack with his platoon a prominent position held by the enemy, the only approach to which was across a bare slope and then up a very steep hill. The Naib Subedar led the assault, himself killing several of the enemy, pressing on regardless of machine-gun fire. He received two wounds, the second of which was fatal; but he had succeeded in routing an enemy vastly superior in numbers, and had captured a most important position. I walked 10.5KM equivalent of 16,103 steps and 8 flights of steps.

D5 - Kohima War Cemetery.

The cemetery is set in peaceful surroundings with well-manicured grassland in which roses bloom in season. The cemetery is sited at the exact location where the battle was fought, and provides a panoramic view of the city of Kohima. Walked 7.7KM, equivalent of 10,744 steps. Pretty shabby effort on this occasion. Going forward I promised myself to walk no less that 10KM a day.

D4 - For the Fallen.

Written by Laurence BINYON, Keeper of Prints and Drawings at The British Museum. "For the Fallen" was first published in The Times in September 1914. It was also published in Binyon's book "The Winnowing Fan : Poems On The Great War" by Elkin Mathews, London, 1914. The fourth verse is often recited at Remembrance Sunday services in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. (1–4) Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. (5–8) They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted: They fell with their faces to the foe. (9–12) They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. (13–16) They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam. (17–20) But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; (21–24) As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain. (25–28) To old to enlist in the British Army, he volunteered as a hospital orderly in France, helping to take care of the wounded of the Battle of Verdun.

D2 - LCPL J.P. HARMAN VC

During heavy fighting around "Detail Hill" (FSD?) during the siege, he single-handedly took out two Japanese machine gun posts, the first on 7/8 April and a second on 8/9 April.[104] He was killed withdrawing from the second attack . Me and Baxter walked across CPTA Training area B - Dibgate Camp and Paraker Wood to visit 11 CWGC headstones in the Spring Lane Cemetery in Hythe.

D19 - Reflections on the second week.

Been absolutely bowled over by the generosity and messages of support from family, neighbours, friends, colleagues and small businesses. Me Baxter and Mrs D ( Sunday walking buddy) had a great morning walking the ranges in the sun with a flask of contact coffee and a sausage and egg bun - what’s not to like. Luckily to date, there’s been no need for a casevac in Sidney Skoda (aka the BIF wagon). Not pc terminology in today’s modern army, but veteran soldiers will chuckle.

D19 in numbers.

Me and Baxter managed to bash out 12.2KM or 17,429 steps in the rain over three sessions. One at 05.00 hours, one at 12.30 hours and one at 19.00 hours. Got a bit damp twice but hey ho, at least we managed to add to the total.

D18 - Debt of Honour

The Memorial Gates at Green Park. A powerful reminder to everyone of the courage and bravery of 5M volunteers from Africa, Caribbean and the Indian sub-continent.

D18 in numbers

Managed 16.4KM, of which 6.9KM were done in my lunchtime timed womble - basically I try to do as many KMs I can in one hour. Today I got to Green Park and back to the Museum. Managed the equivalent of climbing 6 flights of stairs and 24,341 steps. Meanwhile Baxter was at home chilling out for the day.

D17 - CPTA Hythe Ranges

Accompanied by Mrs D and Baxter. A bit of a relaxing walk along the high water mark, taking in the Martello Towers and stopping for a home-made sausage buns and flasks. Bit more relaxing than yesterday.

D17 in numbers.

A bit of a lighter walk today after yesterday’s escapade on “the roughs”. Another 13.8KM to the running total - equivalent of 21,528 steps and 1 flight of steps.

D16 in numbers

Bit of a hike today that’s for sure. Me and Baxter covered 16.9KM or 16.1 🐾 miles. That’s the equivalent of 26,039 steps and climbing the equivalent of 33 flights of steps.

D16(3) - mock up of a sound mirror

The concept actually works! Fun way to see how the early form of radar works and defended the U.K.

D16(2) - sound mirror.

This ‘bowl’ mirror dates from 1929. It is a survivor of three sound mirrors constructed just below the crest of ‘The Roughs’, an area of rising ground to landward of Hythe Ranges. It was intended to give early-warning of approaching enemy aircraft by detecting the sound of their engines at long distance and formed part of a chain of partly experimental sound mirrors at points along the Kentish coast from Greatstone to Dover.

D16 - sound mirrors on the “Roughs”

Me and the Baxter 🧸 went for a rather long hike onto the CPTA Army Training Area A - aka “The Roughs” to the locals. This ‘bowl’ mirror was one of three ( two now collapsed due to land subsidence). The pill box to the right of the mirror was the control room!

D15(4) - The Cenotaph from the west.

Seeing all the wreaths laid by veteran organisations is always a 😮 moment for me. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Cenotaph was unveiled in 1920 as the United Kingdom's national memorial to the dead of Britain and the British Empire of the First World War, was rededicated in 1946 to include those of the Second World War, and has since come to represent the Commonwealth casualties from those and subsequent conflicts. The word cenotaph is derived from Greek, meaning 'empty tomb'. Most of the dead were buried close to where they fell; thus, the Cenotaph symbolises their absence and is a focal point for public mourning.

D15(3) - The Cenotaph from the east.

The original temporary Cenotaph was erected in 1919 for a parade celebrating the end of the First World War, at which more than 15,000 servicemen, including French and American soldiers, saluted the monument. More than a million people visited the site within a week of the parade. Calls for the Cenotaph to be rebuilt in permanent form began almost immediately. After some debate, the government agreed and construction work began in May 1920.

D15(2) - Field of Remembrance.

Always an emotional visit - sadly I didn’t get into the field to lay a crosses for our families ancestors. It’s great we continue to do this every year and the number of crosses being laid each year doesn’t seem to decrease.

D15(1) - Field of Remembrance

The Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey has been organised by The Poppy Factory since 1928. Managed to get down and photograph the Queens Regiment and PWRR sections from a distance, before it closes on Sunday 17 November.

D15 in numbers

14.5KM and the equivalent of 4 flights of stairs and 22,398 steps to the total. Managed to get for a London lunch break walk for three days in a row - helped add to the KM count😁.

D1 - start line for My Frontline Walk

Stood-to at 05.00 hours on the start line with Baxter ready for My Frontline Journey. Completed 13K - not to shabby start!

D 14 - household Division Memorial

Built on donations from comrades and friends. Looks impressive at the end of Horse Guards Parade.

D 14 in numbers.

Walked 13.9K and climbed equivalent of 9 flights of stairs and 22, 157 steps.

D 13 in numbers.

17.1KM and the equivalent of 25,926 steps and 8 flights of steps.

D 13 - BM memorial

Every year the BM holds a small service on Armistice Day, to commemorate colleagues who died in the Great War and The World War. There is also a two-minute silence on the 11 hour, of the 11 day on the 11 month. The BM works hard to raise as much money as it can by dotting collections tins around the public spaces, for the annual poppy appeal.

D 12 - Chinese 🇨🇳 Labour Corps in WW1

In April 1917 a camp for Chinese labourers opened in Folkestone and over 94,000 men passed through the town on their way to France to help the Allies on the Western Front. Around 2,000 Chinese labourers remained at Shorncliffe,working at the Army Camp and the various military hospitals. Six graves are situated in the cemetery.

D 12 in numbers.

Walked 12.4K equivalent of 16,366 steps or 9.8 🐾 miles.

D 11 - WW1 Canadian 🇨🇦 fallen

Shorncliffe Military Cemetery contains a total of 471 First World War burials, of which are 305 are Canadian. Of all the Canadian headstones, this one struck me the most. Private Winter died of his wounds, on 7th November 1918. Four days before the war ended. Shorncliffe was used as a staging post for troops destined for the Western Front during the First World War. In April 1915 a Canadian Training Division was formed there and a number of Canadian military establishments were centred on Shorncliffe. There were camps and a Machine Gun School which were served by the Shorncliffe Military Hospital (later No. 9 Canadian General), the Moore Barracks Military Hospital (later No. 11 Canadian General), and other Canadian hospitals. The Canadian Army Medical Corps Training Depot was at or near Shorncliffe during almost the whole of the war. On three occasions Canadian soldiers were killed during air raids on Shorncliffe. Every 🇨🇦 day, children from 10 local schools lay posies at their graves in recognition of their sacrifice. This simple act of remembrance restores my faith in today’s youth - long may this continue.

D 11 in numbers

Walked 15.8KM equiv of 22,444 steps between 05.00 and 21.00 hours. Meanwhile Baxter walked 14.7 🐾miles.

Day 10 - Remembrance Day walk

Mrs D, Baxter and I added another 14K to my total and increased donations significantly - thank you all. Glad we made time to pay our respects by visiting some of the 577 CWGC graves. Quite thought provoking, especially as there are 305 Canadian and 6 Chinese labour corps headstones from WW1.

Week 1 in numbers.

It’s been good fun and a great way to maintain your fitness, mental wellbeing while supporting a great cause.

Day 9 - Corporal Muxworthy

Finished the week on 107K. Visiting CWGC graves at St. Leonard’s Church and Spring Lane Cemetery. Thank you to everyone who has been kind and generous enough to support me in raising money for this worthy cause.

Thank you to my Sponsors

£52

Catstycam The Outdoor Shop

Thanks for your service and good luck on your walk. All the best, Andrew.

£26

Paul Usher

£26

Timo Wood

Well done, great cause.

£26

Sue

Well done Graham

£26

Margaret

Good luck Graham.

£26

Nigel Canning

Graham - a nice way to remember the Burma campaign.

£26

Anita And Jack

Good luck Graham x

£26

Steve Tomkins

Good luck Graham - hope you’ve got plenty of comfy socks!

£25

Saqib Ishaque

Hi Graham, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for your incredible initiative in supporting this noble cause. Your dedication to making a positive impact is truly inspiring and serves as a great example for everyone around you. Thank you again for leading such a meaningful effort. Together, we can make a real difference

£21.84

Anonymous

£20.80

Pam

You and Baxter have got this xxxx

£20.80

Claire

Good luck Graham! xx

£16.20

Graham Dunkley

£15.60

Denise Senior

Fabulous Graham, good luck Ray and Denise

£15.60

Maddy King

£15.60

Nigel Seed

£15.60

Dominique & Rod

Well done Graham and Baxter , good luck with the rest of the walk

£15

Tim Cudby

Well done super G & Baxter & Pam & all that donated & anyone I’ve forgotten!

£10.40

Nina Gow

£10.40

Serena Nurse

Go Graham and Baxter!!

£10.40

Paul Bailey For And Gerri

A little something for your fund

£10.40

Bernice Fox

£10.40

Seema

Good luck, Graham!

£10.40

Shahid Khan

Wishing you all the best.

£10.40

Tb@bm

Good luck with the challenge for a worthy cause.

£10.40

Kerry Robinson

£10.40

Sb@bm

Well done on walking for a good cause Graham.

£10.40

Mc@bm

Well done Graham on walking for a good cause.

£10.40

Aracely 🙌

Well done Graham.

£10.40

Denise Senior

From Denise and Ray for doing so amazingly on your challenge x

£5.20

T@17ws

£5.20

Andrada T

Well done🙌🏼

£5.20

Laura Orton

£5.20

Tim Mohammed

VERY GOOD CAUSE - THOUGHTFUL OF YOU. KEEP THIS GOOD WORK ON.

£5.20

Gonca Ozer

£5

Denise Eckert

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