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More than 200 people gather for a 9/11 commemoration at Villa Caldogno Sept. 11.
After remarks from American and Italian authorities, attendees enjoyed a concert performed by the Vicenza High School Chorus directed by Gary Marvel, VHS director of music studies. The chorus was accompanied by the young musicians of Vicenza Orchestra d'Archi.
Photos courtesy of the 9/11 Italian American Cultural Association
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Hobson was from England, having emigrated in 1904. He had served previously in the British Army during the Second Boer War with the Wiltshire Regiment, and enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in November 1914. He was 43 years old, and a sergeant in the 20th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF during World War I. On 18 August 1917 during the Battle of Hill 70 north-west of Lens, France, he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
"No. 57113 Sjt. Frederick Hobson, late Can. Inf. Bn.
During a strong enemy counter-attack a Lewis gun in a forward post in a communication trench leading to the enemy lines, was buried by a shell, and the crew, with the exception of one man, killed.
Sjt. Hobson, though not a gunner, grasping the great importance of the post, rushed from his trench, dug out the gun, and got it into action against the enemy who were now advancing down the trench and across the open.
A jam caused the gun to stop firing. Though wounded, he left the gunner to correct the stoppage, rushed forward at the advancing enemy and, with bayonet and clubbed rifle, single handed, held them back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot. By this time however, the Lewis gun was again in action and reinforcements shortly afterwards arriving, the enemy were beaten off.
The valour and devotion to duty displayed by this non-commissioned Officer gave the gunner the time required to again get the gun into action, and saved a most serious situation".
USAF VC-137C 85-6973 seen at EIDW on 1 December 1995 as part of the Clinton visit aviation entourage. This aircraft had previously visited Dublin as OE-IDA, a B707-396C of Montana, an Austrian charter operator. It was subsequently seized by US Customs and later transferred to the USAF.
Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield served as the Gun Commander of 2 Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Company of 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, and took part in the Battle of Arnhem.
On 20th September, 1944, during the Battle of Arnhem, Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield was the N.C.O. in charge of a 6-pounder anti-tank gun at Oosterbeek.
During the early stages of a heavy enemy attack, the crew commanded by this N.C.O. were responsible for the destruction of two Tiger tanks and at least one self-propelled gun, thanks to his coolness in allowing each tank to come well within 100 yards of his gun before opening fire.
Lance-Serjeant Baskeyfield was badly wounded and the remainder of his crew were either killed or severely wounded, he refused to be carried away from his post, and when the attack was renewed he manned his gun alone and fired round after round until his gun was put out of action. His activity was the main factor in keeping the German tanks at bay, and his example and his courage were responsible for keeping together and in action the surviving men in his vicinity.
When his gun was knocked out, he crawled to another nearby which was left without a crew, and succeeded in putting out of action another self-propelled gun before being killed.
Lance-Serjeant Baskeyfield's supreme gallantry is beyond praise. During the remaining days at Arnhem stories of his valour were a constant inspiration to all ranks.
Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield died on 20 September 1944, aged 22 years old. He is now commemorated on the Memorial at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, near Nijmegen.
In a fitting tribute to VC-10 XV105 which has arrived at RAF Bruntingthorpe this week for component recovery and eventual scrapping, here is an internal shot of said aircraft. Note the seats sit back to travel. 6 August 2007
Serial Number: 58-6971
Markings: 89th Military Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Maryland, 1998
Serial Number 58-6971 is known as 'Freedom One" because it brought back the hostages from Iran.
One of three 707-153s bought "off-the-shelf" and converted to military use, this aircraft was completed as a VC-137A by Boeing Aircraft of Seattle, Washington on April 7, 1959. On May 30, 1959 this aircraft was accepted by the U. S. Air Force, painted in Military Air Transport Service colors (white top with extensive Day-Glo orange) and markings and assigned to the 1298th Air Transport (Special Missions) Squadron at Andrews AFB, MD with a deployment to Washington National Airport in Washington, DC. In June 1961, the aircraft was assigned to the 1254th Air Transport (Special Missions) Wing, Andrews AFB.