Graham Dunkley

D22 - the Gurkha Soldier

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

D22 in numbers.

Completed another timed on-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 for recognising my first £50 of fundraising! 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 waking 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

14.5M 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 Canada 🇨🇦 at war.

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.