OPEN DAYS  & EVENTS

for the

Desert Rats Association 

[7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats) Thetford Forest Memorial Association]

______________________________________________________________________

 

Recent and Upcoming Events

(To see the latest events please click here)

Events for 2024

 

These are the current events, so far, in 2024 that the association will be hosting or attending.

 

5th May 2024  - Rededication of the Desert Rats Memorial (High Ash) and  the Commemoration for the 80th Anniversary of the Desert Rats leaving for Normandy

 

Normandy 80th - We will be attending many ceremonies and commemorations in Normandy and around the UK for mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day and Normandy Campaign from June to August 1944.

 

Rededication of the Desert Rats Memorial (High Ash) and  the Commemoration for the 80th Anniversary of the Desert Rats leaving for Normandy

We would like to thank everyone who attended the rededication of the Desert Rats Memorial, on Sunday 5th May 2024. Photographs and a video from the event will be available soon

 

Past Events

65th Anniversary of the Battle of Alamein - 24th October 2007

A commemoration was held in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall at the memorial in Thetford Forest.

At this event it was formally announced that Her Royal Highness had become the Patron of Memorial Association.

Some photographs of the event are available here, with a video of the Remembrance Service

 

Orwell Park 2010

The Orwell Park reunion was take place this year on Tuesday 23rd November 2010, in the presence of the Memorial Association's Patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. Photographs from the day are now available here.

 

Open Day 2011

Desert Rat Memorial Reunion Open Day - 19th June 2011

This year's open day and reunion for all Desert Rats past and present from the 7th Armoured Division, and from the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, was held on Sunday 19th June 2011. 

Many thanks to everyone who came along and supported the event. Pictures from the event are available here.

 

Veteran's El Alamein Visit - October 2011

In October 2011, a small group of veterans accompanied by family and the Memorial Association Chairman, Mr. Rod Scott and his wife Tina, the Treasurer visited the El Alamein battlefield and the El Alamein War Cemetery. During the visit to the latter a wreath was laid on behalf of the Associations Patron, HRH. The Duchess of Cornwall, on 23rd October, the 69th Anniversary of the start of the battle.

To see some pictures of this trip please click here.

Open Day 2012

Desert Rat Memorial Reunion Open Day - 24th June 2012

This year's open day and reunion for all Desert Rats past and present from the 7th Armoured Division, and from the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, was held on Sunday 24th June 2012.

This year is the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein.

The Committee and Members of the Association would like to thank everyone who attended. Pictures from the event are available here.

 

Open Day 2013

Desert Rat Memorial Reunion Open Day - 16th June 2013

This year's open day and reunion for all Desert Rats past and present from the 7th Armoured Division, and from the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, was held on Sunday 16th June 2014. The association wished to thank all those who supported us. 

Photographs of the event and video clips are now available.

 

Remembrance Sunday 2013

The Association would like to thank the 700 plus people you attended the Remembrance service on Sunday 10th November 2013. It was wonderful to see so many people supporting Remembrance Day at the Memorial in Thetford Forest.

 

Open Day 2014

Desert Rat Memorial Reunion Open Day - 15th June 2014

This year's open day and reunion for all Desert Rats past and present from the 7th Armoured Division, and from the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, was held on Sunday 15th June 2014. The association wished to thank all those who supported us. 

Photographs of the event and video clips are now available.

 

Remembrance Sunday 2014

The Association would like to thank all those you were at the Memorial for the service on Sunday 9th November 2014.

 

Open Day 2015

Desert Rat Memorial Reunion Open Day - 21st June 2015

This year's open day and reunion for all Desert Rats past and present from the 7th Armoured Division, and from the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, was held on Sunday 21st June 2015. Photographs and video clips of the event are now available.

 

Foundation Parade - 7th Infantry Brigade and HQ East

On 30th July 2015 Veterans and Members of the Association attended the Parade to commemorate the Operational readiness of 7th Infantry Brigade and HQ East (The Desert Rats) who in the modern Army continue the heritage of the Desert Rats. Photographs of the event are now available.

 

Remembrance Sunday

The Association would like to thank all those you were at the Memorial for the service on Sunday 8th November 2015.

 

Orwell Park 2016

The Orwell Park reunion took place this year on Thursday 26th May 2016. Veterans and members of the Association will be in attendance.

 

Some photographs of the even are available here.

 

Open Day 2016

Desert Rat Memorial Reunion Open Day - 19th June 2016

This year's open day and reunion for all Desert Rats past and present from the 7th Armoured Division, and from the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, was held on Sunday 19th June 2016. Many thanks to all who attended the event and made it such a success.

Some photographs and video clips of the event are available here.

 

Remembrance Sunday 2016

The Association would like to thank all those you attended this year's Remembrance Sunday service, in support of the Association and more importantly in Remembrance of those who fell in past and more recent conflicts. Pictures from the event are available here.

 

 

Orwell Park School Memorial Day Service 2017

The Orwell Park reunion took place this year on Thursday 18th May 2017. Veterans and members of the Association were in attendance as guests of the school. The details and photographs of the event can be viewed here.

 

Memorial Day 2017

Desert Rat Memorial Reunion Open Day - 18th June 2017

This year's open day and reunion for all Desert Rats past and present from the 7th Armoured Division, and from the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, was held on Sunday 18th June 2017, at the Memorial, High Ash, North of Mundford, Norfolk.

Despite it being an extremely hot day, many thanks to all those who came along to support us.

Pictures of the day's events can be viewed here

 

Desert Rats Association
Companion Dog Show

Sunday 27th August 2017 - The Association would like to thank everyone who made this event such a great success. Photographs of the event can be viewed here.

 

Charity Fundraising Event 2017

Saturday 14th October 2017 – Charity fundraising event Thetford, dinner/dance with a 1940s theme to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein.

Photographs of the event can be viewed here.  

 

Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance 2017

With 2017 being the 75th Anniversary of the Second Battle of El Alamein, the Association was invited to attend this years Festival, on 11th November 2017, with Mr Len Burritt, who served in Divisional HQ for the entire war, being a guest of honour at the event.

 

Pictures of the event can be viewed here.

Remembrance Sunday 2017

The Association held a Remembrance Sunday Service at the Memorial on Sunday 12th November 2017.

 

Many thanks to everyone who came along and supported Remembrance Day at the Memorial in Thetford Forest.

 

Pictures of the day's events can be viewed here.

 

Orwell Park School Memorial Day Service 2018

The Orwell Park reunion took place this year on Thursday 17th May 2018. Veterans and members of the Association were in attendance as guests of the school. The details and photographs of the event can be viewed here.

 

Memorial Open Day 17th June 2018

This year's open day and reunion for all Desert Rats past and present from the 7th Armoured Division, and from the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, was held on Sunday 17th June 2018, at the Memorial, High Ash, North of Mundford, Norfolk.

Despite the weather being a bit 'mixed', many thanks to all those who came along to support us.

Some photographs and video clips of the event are available here.

 

Desert Rats Association Companion Dog Show

This year's Companion Dog Show was held on Sunday 19th August 2018 on Oxborough Village Green, PE33 9PS. Many thanks to everyone who attended and made the event such as success. Photographs of the day are now available here.

 

Remembrance Sunday 2018

This year's Remembrance Sunday Service, coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice that signified the end of The Great War (1914-18), on Sunday 11th November 2018.

Photographs of the event and video can found here.

 

1940s D-Day Dinner and Dance

We would like to thank everyone who came along to this event on 6th April  2019, had made it such a successful event. Many of you kindly took the time to thank us and tell what a great time you had, which is great news for us.

Some pictures of the event and videos of the event are available here.

 

Orwell Park School Memorial Day 2019

The Orwell Park reunion took place this year on Thursday 16th May 2019. Veterans and members of the Association were in attendance as guests of the school. The details and photographs of the event can be viewed here.

 

Memorial Open Day June 2019

Many thanks to every one who attended his year's open day on Sunday 23rd June 2019, at the Memorial, High Ash, North of Mundford, Norfolk and made it such a great success.

Photographs of the event are be available here.

 

Companion Dog Show 

The Association held its annual Companion Dog Show, on 25th August 2019 at Oxborough Village Hall, Norfolk.

Photographs of the event are now available here.

 

Remembrance Sunday 2019

This year's Remembrance Sunday Service was held on Sunday 10th November 2019 and as ever was very well attended. Many thanks to everyone who attended.

Photographs of the event can found here.

 

Desert Rats Association
Fun Online Dog Show

This year we are holding an online Fun Dog Show this year instead of an actual show due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to keep visitors and volunteers safe.

Details of our sponsors and photographs of the winners can be found here.

 

Remembrance Sunday 2020

The Desert Rats Association, is extremely pleased to have held a Service of Remembrance at the Desert Rat Memorial, High Ash, on the A1065 between Mundford and Swaffham, Norfolk, on Sunday 8th November 2019. A Live Stream video of the event is on our Facebook Group page and photographs and a copy of the video of the service are available here.

 

Memorial Open Day 2021

We would like to thank everyone you came along to support the Memorial Day on Sunday 11th July 2021. Despite the times we are living in, it was a great success. Photographs of the event can be viewed here.

 

Charity Fun Dog Show & Fete

We would like to thank everyone who came along to this event on Sunday 29th August 2021 and helped make it a great day out. Photos of the day are now available here.

 

Remembrance Sunday 2021: 14th November 2021.

We would like to thank everyone who attended the Service or the Live Stream, literally in your hundreds, who made the service so special, especially after the past two years.

Thank you all so much for making the day a great success and it was a pleasure that you were able to join us to pay all our respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Photographs and videos of the event is available here.

 

Memorial Open Day 3rd July 2022

This years Memorial Open Day was held at the Desert Rats Memorial, High Ash, on Sunday 3rd July 2022. 

The Association would like to thank everyone who came along and helped top make it a great day out. Photos and videos of the event is now available here.

 

Remembrance Sunday 2022

This years Remembrance Day was held on Sunday 13th November 2022, at the Memorial at High Ash, Norfolk. We would like to thank the hundreds of people who attended. Photographs and videos of the event are available here.

 

 

Open Day and Event Photographs

Please note the pages for the Open Days from 2003 to 2012 have been removed from the server at present. If any wishes to see a copy please contact our Webmaster.

 

Open Day 16th June 2013 (Video) Open Day 15th June 2014 (Video)
Open Day 21st June 2015 (Video) Open Day 19th June 2016 (Video)
Open Day 18th June 2017 Open Day 17th June 2018 (Video)
Open Day 23rd June 2019 Open Day 11th July 2021 (Video)
Open Day 3rd July 2022 (Video) Open Day 16th July 2023 (Video)
 
65th Anniversary of the Battle of Alamein 24th October 2007

Veterans El Alamein Visit - October 2011

Orwell Park 2004 Orwell Park 2010
Orwell Park 2016 Orwell Park 2017
Orwell Park 2018 Orwell Park 2019
Orwell Park 2022
7th Infantry Brigade and HQ East - Foundation Parade
Remembrance Sunday 13th November 2016 Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance 2017 (Video)
Remembrance Sunday 12th November 2017 Remembrance Sunday 11th November 2018 (Video)
Remembrance Sunday 10th November 2019 Remembrance Sunday 8th November 2020
Remembrance Sunday 14th November 2021 Remembrance Sunday 13th November 2023

Other Events

Companion Dog Show, 27th August 2017 1940s Dinner and Dance, 14th October 2017
Companion Dog Show, 19th August 2018 1940s Dinner and Dance, 6th April 2019
Companion Dog Show, 25th August 2019
Online Dog Show 31st August 2020
Charity Dog Show and Fete 29tht August 2021

 

Location of 7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats) Memorial

Home page

Contents page