Continue reading John McCrae tapestry panel on display at Granton Parish Church
An unknown British soldier has been afforded a final resting place 100 years after he was killed during World War 1. The burial, with full military honours, took place on 8 November at Buttes News British Cemetery near Ypres, Belgium.
Members of the current day Royal Regiment of Fusiliers formed a bearer party to escort their fallen former comrade into the cemetery within a coffin draped in the union flag. The Reverend Stuart Richards CF, Chaplain to the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers conducted the service and paid tribute to the sacrifice the soldier made, and by so many more, 100 years ago.
The service was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, part of Defence Business Services, who work to identify the 40 plus sets of remains of British personnel found on historical World War 1 battlefields, and where possible, trace their surviving families.
The soldier was discovered during engineering works in February 2017 in a field near to the village of Westhoek, near Ypres. Although it can’t be certain when he died, research shows the village of Westhoek was fought over from August to September 1917 during the 3rd Battle of Ypres.
Artefacts found with the soldier included British uniform buttons, a belt buckle and a folded rain cape. Unfortunately, as no regimental insignia were found it has been impossible to trace his name because of the tens of thousands of British soldiers killed with no known grave within the Ypres Salient.
Tracey Bowers, Head of the JCCC Commemorations team said:
Today we have provided a British unknown warrior with his final resting place, 100 years after he died. Sadly, it was not possible to identify him but his name is known unto God and we will always remember the sacrifice he made.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, who own and maintain the Buttes News British Cemetery, will now care for the soldier in perpetuity.
Frank Ross, the Right Honourable Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, led a special group of wreath-layers at the annual Opening Ceremony of the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance, at the Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens yesterday. Continue reading Lord Provost opens Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance
Organisations across Edinburgh will be coming together next week to remember loved ones who have died, as part of To Absent Friends, a Scotland-wide festival of storytelling and remembrance. Continue reading Edinburgh to remember Absent Friends
A striking 32-metres-long red thread containing the words of War Poet Wilfred Owen has been unveiled at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart Campus to mark the start of the 2018 Poppy Appeal. Continue reading Installation says ‘Thank You’ to the Great War Poets
In a touching show of comradeship and remembrance today, representatives from all sides came together to attend the annual ANZAC and Gallipoli Day Service at the Scottish National War Memorial, at Edinburgh Castle, organised by Legion Scotland. Continue reading “A laugh, a joke, a tear and a beer”: veterans mark Anzac and Gallipoli Day
The families of Guardsmen Joseph Goulden and Raymond Frederick Rose, who both served with the Coldstream Guards before being killed during World War 2, can finally take comfort in knowing the location of their loved ones’ final resting place. Continue reading Mystery of missing soldiers finally solved
Vast majority of Britons don’t know how many military personnel have died in conflict
As the nation gets set to remember the efforts of our armed forces, new research released by the Forces Network highlights the lack of knowledge of many Brits, when asked about the conflicts we have been involved in since the First World War. How can we remember if we don’t know?
The research has been conducted to mark the launch of the Forces Network’s Remembrance map www.forces.net/remembrance, which has been created in partnership with Ian Beckett, Professor of History from the University of Kent. The map identifies and commemorates all the conflicts (both combat and peacekeeping missions) which the British Armed Forces have been involved in since WWI, to enable a greater understanding of the commitments made by our service personnel.
The statistics show that 85% of Brits don’t know that more than 7,000 of our armed forces have died in conflict (both combat and peacekeeping missions) since WWII.Additionally, from the start of WWI to the end of WWII one million British personnel lost their lives but when asked 1 in 5 (23%) people thought that fewer than 5000 service personnel made the ultimate sacrifice.
The statistics also show that more than half of Brits think that we have been involved in 30 or fewer conflicts (both combat and peacekeeping missions), since WWII – when we have actually been involved in more than 60. Only a third (35%) of people were aware of the British involvement in the fight against so-called Islamic State.
37% of respondents were unaware of any of the conflicts the British Armed Forces are currently involved in, including Operation TOSCA (UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) (77%) and our participation in United Nations peacekeeping mission in Somalia (70%). The figures also indicated that 63% of those asked, think that the number of conflicts we are currently involved in is high.
The research also reveals that, as a nation, we have an interest in learning more about our military. Over half (56%) of 18 to 24 year olds are not aware that Britain’s Armed Forces were involved in the WWII, 52% of that age range said they would like schools to teach more about the role of our forces.
Ian Beckett, Honorary Professor of Military History, of the University of Kent said: “There is understandable emphasis upon the commemoration of the two world wars with the ongoing centenary of the Great War and of the 75th anniversary of the Second World War. The public is also aware of recent conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The significance and value of the Remembrance Campaign is that it reminds us of those many other occasions since 1914 on which servicemen and women have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of this country.”
Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO, former Chief of the Defence Staff, said: “It is very disappointing that the public does not know more about the Armed Forces’ role in defending our country and our allies.
“It is always important, especially at this Remembrance time of year, to think about those thousands of people who have given their lives for our country since the end of World War 2. I would urge the government to make the history of modern conflicts a compulsory subject in our schools to help youngsters better understand and respect the freedoms and lives they enjoy today. In truth, we don’t know where the next conflict will be but our armed forces stand ready for any eventuality.”
Border Force officers have seized fake poppy branded jewellery, key rings and scarves estimated to be worth approximately £150,000. The goods, some of which were also branded with the words ‘Lest we Forget’, were later confirmed to have infringed the Royal British Legion’s ‘two-petal poppy’ copyright. Continue reading Fake Remembrance merchandise seized
Two fallen World War 1 soldiers have finally had a rededication service – a century after they lost their lives. Continue reading One hundred years on: we will remember them
