Anzac Day 2024 at Aikengall II Community Wind Farm

Anzac Day is a day of remembrance across the world, commemorating the Australian and New Zealand forces during the World Wars. In World War 1, Anzac forces landed in Gallipoli on the 25^th April 1915 and, despite heavy losses, the actions of the Anzacs became a source of immense pride for those back home in Australia and New Zealand. Their legacy lives on with commemorations, marches, and dawn services taking place every year on the 25^th April.

Community Windpower’s Aikengall II Wind Farm, in East Lothian, has a historical link to the Anzacs, too.

In May 1945, two Royal New Zealand Air Force pilots were on a training mission in a Beaufighter when they crash landed, resulting in the tragic loss of both personnel. Pilot Harry Kenneth Lillington Rice (aged 21) is buried in Haddington, East Lothian, and Navigator Aubrey John Clarke (aged 23) is buried in London. Aikengall II Community Wind Farm now stands where the crew crash landed, with a stone memorial commemorating the two servicemen.

In 2023, a descendent of Kenneth Rice visited the site with his wife, accompanied by CWL’s BeGreen Community Coordinator, Anouska. He was presented with a New Zealand flag that had originally been used on the unveiling of the memorial stone back in 2019. It was an incredibly moving experience, and he remarked that: “I have been researching our family history for some time and its now great to be able to see my hard work pay off and visit the areas I have been writing about. These moments will be forever in our hearts.”

The memorial stone will remain there as a mark of respect for the two servicemen, and as a wider recognition of the sacrifice made by those in WW1, WW2, and anyone still serving today.

Lest We Forget.

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