Charity march to salute the Screaming Eagles (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Charity march to salute the Screaming Eagles

9:14am Monday 10th September 2012 in News By Nigel Kerton

It is 70 years since soldiers from the United States Army’s legendary 101st Airborne were stationed in and around Aldbourne and Ramsbury and even the youngest survivors of these fearless fighters who became known as the Screaming Eagles is now in their 90s.

But their name lives on not only in history books and movies about the feats of the 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment that was billeted at Ramsbury and Aldbourne and which became known as Easy Company but their memory is perpetuated by the annual route march by members of the Screaming Eagles Living History Group, this year’s taking place on Sunday October 7.

The march starts at Littlecote at 9.30am and will make its way to the Square in Ramsbury (10.30-11am) and then on to The Green in Aldbourne (noon), back to Ramsbury (1.45-2pm) and returning to Littlecote (3-4pm).

The selfless sacrifice of this group of American soldiers -- the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment was dubbed the Band of Brothers -- inspired the movie of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg with some of its scenes being filmed in Aldbourne.

This will be the fourth year that members of the Screaming Eagles Living History Group have dressed up in the uniform of 506 Parachute Regiment and carrying back-packs and guns march between Littlecote where some were billeted to Ramsbury and to Aldbourne accompanied by some period military vehicles.

The annual marches raise about £2,500 sponsorship for charity and has previously raised funds for Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

This year’s march will be raising money for the Soldiers Charity, formerly the Army Benevolent Fund, and a memorial to the 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment that is to be erected at Littlecote.

It’s organised by Bruce Steggles and Dave Allaway, founder members of the Screaming Eagles living history group, and this year they are inviting non-members to dress up in Second World War dress, either uniform or period civilian attire, and join in the march.

Mr Steggles said: “We want as many people as we can possibly get and all they have to do is get themselves sponsored and wear a WW2 uniform.

“The uniforms can be American, British or civilian but it must be correct to the era with no modern look to them.”

The living history group wants to encourage more people to take part this year and particularly in 2012 which will be the fifth anniversary of the memorial walk starting.

“”We want to make more and to get more people involved in it especially as next year will be our fifth birthday,” said Mr Steggles.

Details of how to register and be sponsored can be found by e mailing sarah.hennessey@btinternet.com or captaindave@live.co.uk.