Special COPP Commemorative Event Held at Hayling Island Sailing Club on 25th October 2025

2025 has been a memorable year with VE Day & VJ Day celebrations marking the 80th Anniversaries of the end of the Second World War. With the coming of peace in 1945, many special units set up to specifically assist with the war effort were stood down and disbanded, and one such unit was the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP) which was based at Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC) during the war years

The 80th Anniversary of the standing down and disbandment of the COPP force was on 25th October and was marked on the day by a special ceremonial event and commemorative service at HISC. Representatives of the Royal Navy attended the ceremony after special permission had been given to fly the White Ensign for the duration of the event only. The Bearer of the White Ensign was Warrant Officer Class 1 Gary Vinny Vines RN

The event was hosted by HISC Vice-Commodore Sailing David Hitchcock and Léonie Austin of HISC Historical Archives. Colonel (Retd) Charles Ackroyd TD RD DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant, who has been particularly supportive of recent HISC COPP events, presided over the Ceremony

The ceremonial event was attended by representatives of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the Army, COPP families, COPP researchers and publishers (both locally and from afar), The COPP Heroes Memorial Fund, and HISC members, many of whom have been involved in the ongoing COPP story

Exhibits on show during the afternoon included several personal possessions of Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR brought by his family, a framed cutaway drawing of the Folbot Canoe and a framed silk Sicily escape map brought by Robert Smith, whose Father, Lieutenant Philip Robert Gilmer Smith, along with Lieutenant David Brand made a daring escape during the Sicily campaign by paddling all the way from Sicily to Malta. Research and items regarding Captain H N C Willmott were brought along by John Kimbell. Personal letters written by Lieutenant John Henry Bowden were brought by his son Mike Bowden, and Rob Crane of COPP Survey brought his own private collection, which is inspired by his Grandfather Major Jack William Crane who was a member of COPP

During the afternoon there were entertaining and informative speeches by HISC Vice Commodore Sailing David Hitchcock and Colonel (Retd) Charles Ackroyd TD RD DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant, and an excellent Afternoon Tea. A special Anniversary cake was cut by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant with the combat knife belonging to Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RN. Thereafter a Thanksgiving and Remembrance Service led by the Rev Nick Todd Anglican Vicar of Hayling Island was held at HISC’s flagpole. This concluded with two Ratings, AET Rosie Aisthorpe and AB Craig Johnston, being given the honour of hauling down both the Combined Operations flag and the White Ensign at the end of the day.

Léonie Austin of HISC Historical Archives

Photo Credits Roy O’Donnell and Léonie Austin