IN REMEMBRANCE - 2010

The Branch in Action

The Last "Tommy", Ypres, September 2010
On Friday 10th September 2010, Jimmy Rowe, Branch Standard Bearer together his wife Pat, Branch Chairman Rodney Curtis and Kate, his wife, were invited to join the Wells branch of the Royal British Legion at Ypres and its surroundings to remember Harry Patch (the “Last Tommy”) who died last year. The Wells Branch set up a fund to pay for young people to visit the area in which Harry fought and, to publicise this, a team from BBC Points West accompanied their coach.
The branch party arrived on the Friday evening after travelling all day. The next day they travelled to Tyne Cot, which is the largest British and Commonwealth Military Cemetery in the world. Here, Rodney laid a wreath on behalf of the branch during a short ceremony led by Robin White of the Wells Branch.
Next, the party visited a German cemetery and participated in another act of remembrance. This cemetery was very sombre indeed. After this, they went to the place where Harry was wounded, so ending the war for him. He lost three of his friends in the same explosion, known as Jack, Gill and Maude. Unfortunately, we do not know the real names of these men.
After this, the party went to Hooge Crater. The cemetery here was very sadly memorable, as many of the gravestones were touching each other, indicating that the remains could not be separated. In the evening, Rodney, Jimmy (as Standard bearers) and Pat marched with the bands from the main square of Ypres to the Menin Gate for the ceremony which has taken place EVERY evening since 1922. The three bands played and the ceremony was led by Robin White. Many wreaths were laid.
On the final day, the party travelled to Talbot House in Poperinge. This is the original Toc H which was opened in 1915 in order to give the men on leave from the front a taste of home. From there, the party marched with the standards and the Avon Glen Pipe and Drum Band to the Belgian Memorial, where Robin was on duty again. The party then returned to Talbot House for a cup of tea, before starting on their return trip to Brittany. Contributed by Kate Curtis

Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetary, July 2010
On 19 July, branch chairman, Rodney Curtis, together with branch standard bearer, Jimmy Rowe, and branch members Kate Curtis and Pat Rowe represented the Branch to see the last soldier from the mass graves at Fromelles reinterred and to take part in the dedication of the first War Cemetery to be constructed for over 50 years. It is an impressive achievement that most of the soldiers in the cemetery have been identified, so their names are now on the head-stones. More probable mass burial sites in the area are being investigated.
A rehearsal started at about 13h45 on 18 July and continued until after 17h30. Next day, the 19th, the party were all up early and off to the rendezvous point by 08h30. They were taken by coach to Fromelles. For the observers there were two large fields, with plenty of amenities and a very good view of the proceedings. Here, the party was joined by Lt Col Simon Owen, previous branch president (who is off on active service shortly) and branch members Philippe Zytka and Christophe Magnino.
Standards and flags lined the roads towards the cemetery through the village from Pheasant Wood (where the remains had been discovered) firstly the French Standards (there were 100 of them altogether) then with Royal British Legion Standards and Australian flags on one side of the road, and French on the other. The Standards were dipped as the renovated First World War military wagon carrying the coffin passed by. The coffin was escorted by members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery; 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; 4th Battalion, The Rifles; and A Corps of Drums, British Army, and Australia's Federation Guard.
Prince Charles and Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia; the Chief of the General Staff British Army, General Sir David Richards; and The Australian Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, followed the wagon.
The Duchess of Cornwall; the Duke of Kent, who is the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Her Excellency the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Mr Michael Bryce; Monsieur Hubert Falco, French Minister of State for Defence; and veterans were present. After the procession passed, Standards were marched into position close to the cemetery.
As those who watched it on the television will know, the ceremony started with the reading of letters from some of the identified soldiers who died in the battle in 1916 by relatives. This was very moving, as was the actual re-interment of the last unidentified soldier followed by three volleys of gunfire. Then came the dedication of the Cemetery; the service was led by representatives from the British and Australian Armies, and the Minden Band of the Queen's Division, British Army played under the direction of Captain Simon Haw.
The service culminated with the singing of the Marseillaise; Advance Australia Fair; the British National Anthem; and Keep the Home Fires Burning, then the gardeners who had worked on the cemetery formed a guard of honour for the departing dignitaries.
A little later a Jewish act of worship was held to remember those servicemen of the Jewish community who are among the fallen of Fromelles.

In Commemoration of Mers-el-Kebir, July 2010
On Saturday 3rd July, Branch representatives we were welcomed in Brest to commemorate the sinking of the French fleet in 1940 at Mers-el-Kebir. The first part of the busy day was mass in the Church of Saint Louis starting at 09h00. Jimmy Rowe, who normally carries the Branch Standard was unable to be present so Mick Berrill, Branch Vice Chairman, kindly travelled up for the day in his place.
Present were representatives from HMS Hood Association among many others. The large side chapel of the Church was packed for the service, which was led by a priest who spoke very kindly and clearly. The wonderful organ playing was really special. This Church was razed to the ground during the first World War, with only the crypt remaining intact.

After the mass, the party moved to the Kerfautras cemetery, where they participated firstly in a ceremony at the Memorial, laying a wreath on behalf of the Branch, and then in another at the grave of the Unknown Sailor.
After lunch, the party travelled in hot sunshine to the Pointe St Mathieu, where they were entertained with talks while awaiting the arrival of the dignitaries: M Hubert Falco, Secretary of State for Defence; Sir Peter Westmacott, Ambassador for Great Britain; civil and military authorities; and a delegation of the association of former sailors of HMS Hood, presided over by Vice Admiral Wilcocks.
The Marseillaise was played, followed by speeches by the President of the Association, the British Ambassador and the French Secretary of State. Names of people wishing to lay wreaths (including one on behalf of the Branch) were announced before they stepped forward in line and laid them all together. The last post was played followed by the silence. After this, there were heart wrenching first hand accounts of the events on that dreadful day, as well as some poems. The party was invited inside the Cenotaphe before leaving for the Keraudy centre close by for a very welcome drink.

It was a long day, but branch officers thought it well worth going all that way, and were made so very welcome everywhere. One of the most useful aspects of these events is the opportunity to improve relations with French veterans and their organisations.

A weekend to remember in June 2010
The weekend started at Vannes on Friday 18 June at 11h00 on the Plateau de la Garenne. The branch had accepted an official invitation to attend a remembrance service to commemorate the speech made by General de Gaulle from the BBC in London on 18 June 1940. Branch standard bearer, Jimmy Rowe, joined the French contingent of standard bearers around the Monument to the Fallen and chairman Rodney Curtis lined up with the VIPs at the front of the parade. Vice chairman Mick Berrill took up position joining the Green Beret contingent.
After the service came the unveiling of the plaque and the official opening of L’Allee des Francais Libres, followed by an invitation to have drinks at the Hotel de Ville. With regret, officers had to turn down this invitation since the branch had also received official invitations to attend another four ceremonies in the Lorient area and the first was due to start in Lorient at 14h00.
Officers arrived in Lorient with enough time to sit for a moment and enjoy a refreshing drink before arriving at the rue Honore d'Orves near the Cite de la voile Tarbarly. Here they were met by host, Jean Waitzmann, representing officer for la Foundation de la France Libre. There followed a small but dignified tribute to the Resistance and Free French Forces duly honoured and recognised in the naming of the road. This was followed later in the same format at Lanester with the naming of a roundabout.

The day continued with the group lining up once again in their well rehearsed positions at 18h00 for a patriotic ceremony at the war memorial in Place Delune, Lanester. As well as the dignitaries that attend such events officers were pleased see the children of Lanester very much involved in the proceedings. At the end of this very busy and enjoyable day, officers visited the art exhibition of France Libre and a final drinks reception in Lanester’s Hotel de Ville.
The weekend of remembrance ended on Sunday 20 June; an early start with a ceremony at the Parachute Cross near Serent was followed by a mass at the Monument de la Nouette, near to the Resistance Museum at St Marcel.
Vice chairman Mick Berrill said: "It was a pleasure to have taken part in all of these events; the culmination of many years of participation and groundwork by our previous standard bearer Dave Ball. We met some familiar friends and also made some new ones among the community leaders and, most importantly, with our counterparts in the French veterans associations."