Remembrance 2020
 

Thread drift warning...

Did anyone else watching the BBC coverage of the commemoration pick up on David Dimbleby describing the RAF Regiment as, "the military branch of the RAF"?

Yes! Wondered if I'd heard him correctly (although I thought he said "the military arm of the RAF" to be pedantic.

Sad part for me was how thin the reduced bands sounded.
The Mighty Hunter is not the same with a small outfit.

But well done all, carrying on.

Was quite suprised that the CAS did not merit a mention by name from David Dimbleby, although the rest of the service chiefs did. This happened twice so we are still non the wiser to his identity.....

Remembrance 2020
 

In the absence of any other thread concerning the national observing of Remembrance in this challenging and hopefully unique year, I thought it should not pass without comment (and yes I realise that 11/11 is still to come). Given the difficulties posed by this wretched virus, I thought that the RBL Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening, and the Cenotaph Ceremony on Sunday, were both conducted extremely well despite the greatly diminished numbers at both. The core message throughout was there, as it always is. What was absent was unavoidable; the public, the full marchpast, the Massed Bands, etc, but there were some veterans, they did march past, and there was a Band (that of the Scots Guards?). The Armed Forces and the Civilian Services were all represented with contingents. All in all it was all well done despite the difficulties. Like the rest of the nation I watched it on TV, other than the two minutes silence which iaw HMG recommendations I observed on my doorstep.

Let us hope that next year we can go back to gathering around our local War Memorial or wherever we favour to pay homage to the fallen.

Chugalug,

Absolutely right! Not the same (but we all knew that would happen!) and I was probably moved more this year than in the past! I hope (and expect) that Wednesday will also bring out a bonding (distanced!) as is normally seen during happier times! As long as we remember all is not lost!

Bill

Chugalug,
I agree, I just wish that the Military Wives version of "Abide with me" had been aired, and that the young singers in white shirts had not jigged about so much, but they are very minor observations. The spirit of the RBL festival of remembrance was maintained, though the most moving part of the families of the fallen joining the drum-head service was definitely a lacking element. That always brings a tear..

Servicemen (Serviceper !) marching from Wellington Barracks - including QCS:

Chugalug

Agree with your sentiments completely. :ok:

Without wishing to sound pedantic, but in recognition of their contribution, the Band appears to be a composite of Coldstreams (Red plume), Irish (Blue plume) and Scots (no plume). The Pipers and Drummers are Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Scotlands Tankies), currently based at Leuchars in Fife.

Pleased to see both the Prince of Wales and his number one son both wearing RAF uniform for the ceremony. There have been years when it has been unbroken dark blue from Prince Philip down until the CAS appeared to lay his wreath. Oh and I do wish the Princess Royal would wear a skirt with her naval uniform and not trousers. I waylaid a female RN officer who was wearing a skirt with her uniform in Tesco one day and asked her what the regs were re skirts or trousers. She said it was a matter of individual choice and she preferred the skirt. I agreed with her and told her I thought the skirt was far more attractive, but by this time I was getting some dirty looks from Mrs TTN, so I had to cut the conversation short.

I feel it's worth mentioning, that, whilst both major and minor commemorations were subdued for one obvious reason, the reaction across the UK ( as seen on both MSM and social media ) were some very innovative and touching displays from many sources all of which showed people had not forgotten the reason for the day.

"She said it was a matter of individual choice "

And Princess Ann is by far the most individualistic of all the UK Royals - she knows her own mind and we should respect her for it

I enjoyed the fact that the March past was limited. Over the past few years it’s grown to become all sorts of ‘odds & sods’ to the point that a lot of organisations represented seem to be there just to be seen on telly. If it means a cutting down of these extras, I’m all for it.

I feel I have to take issue with you there MG. The organisations and associations that take part do so through the auspices of the RBL and are certainly not there "to be seen on telly". Mind you, the Beeb seems to share your sentiments as it invariably wound up its coverage before the tail end of the column had marched through. It is at the tail end where the youth organisations are, including the military cadet ones. The latter will have honed their marching in preparation for paying tribute and are thus usually the smartest contingents in the column. War affects all, the widows, the children, the survivors. None of them are "odds and sods" and of them all I would count the young as a vital part of Remembrance. My first experience of Remembrance was as a Wolf Cub at the tail end of our local parade. It was a salutary experience and a beginning to understanding the tragedy that war always is.

A colleague of mine, a retired RAF Policeman who does a lot for veterans, approached our local train franchisee GWR to ask if they'd run a poppy wreath up to Paddington from Penzance on behalf of our veterans. It turned into something a bit bigger;
https://www.veteranscharity.org.uk/p...Y2HTNiYo51uAos


ETA the result; 231 wreaths at the Paddington Station memorial.

[QUOTEAnd Princess Ann is by far the most individualistic of all the UK Royals[/QUOTE]

So individualistic, that she prefers her name to be spelt Anne....

https://i2-prod.lincolnshirelive.co....MB_pops_02.jpg

Nice tribute from Lincolnshire County Council, that appeared at several roundabouts throughout the County

Lovely touch at Kenley is the addition of placards and a poppy every few yards along the new fence, commemorating those serving at the aerodrome who were killed during the war - pilots, ground crew, backroom ops, and so on are all represented, perhaps everybody who died is on there. The dreaded and controversial fence does have at least one good use. I think I might wander up there again tomorrow morning.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4f8a82ebe8.jpg

I felt that David Dimbleby was not on his best on the day.. he kept referring to it being the best in the circumstances, but i was left feeling very proud of those representing ... not only as the where chosen to represent us all, but more so given their years and risks they where personally taking to do so.


To minimise this, by reflecting on the reduced numbers , rather than the positives of the individual bravery being shown was not quite unforgivable but nearly.

Also the infantry men and the lance corporal laying the wreaths at the end of the service wear a little sloppy - could have been an opportunity for the one stripe to show some leadership there and bring in some order.

For those who find such things appropriate, the Remembrance DAY process probably fills a need. Having lost far too many colleagues 'in Service', I have a number of remembrance days throughout the year, completed without ceremony and in contemplative sincerity. The big occasion, I'm afraid, passes me by. It does. however, remove the temptation to consider the occasion in terms such as ...
"Pleased to see both the Prince of Wales and his number one son both wearing RAF uniform for the ceremony. There have been years when it has been unbroken dark blue from Prince Philip down until the CAS appeared to lay his wreath. Oh and I do wish the Princess Royal would wear a skirt with her naval uniform and not trousers."