RA Service of remembrance
23/08/24
This RA Service of Remembrance took place on Saturday 13th July, a date that for the first year, we would share with the 5RA annual NMA Pilgrimage. 5RA PPMA would be stepping off after our morning service post lunch, so the two events dovetailed perfectly.
This years’ service had a Normandy 80 focus and would also mark the official unveiling of the new RAA statue in the Gunner Garden. The statue commemorating 100 years of the RAA was commissioned several years ago and there will be a dedicated article on its production and installation in November’s edition of Gunner.
In addition to the service focus, and the extra elements in the garden, we were also lucky to have not only the Master Gunner St James’s Park – Lt Gen Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB DL attending this year, but also the new Colonel Commandant of Wales and West Midlands – Col Stephen Thomas CBE who along with Col Charlie Harmer ADC (Regt Col) and Col Matthew Carter (Regt Sec) formed the inspection party for the Standard Bearers’ parade which announced the beginning of this year’s proceedings. We were fortunate to have a grand total of 22 Standards on parade. I would like to take this opportunity to formally give thanks to all our Standard Bearers who throughout the year represent the Gunners, and their Branches at, parades, events and most importantly ensuring we mark our fallen Gunners last parade, supporting families during memorial services and funerals. They were joined on parade this year by 9 of our Chelsea In-Pensioners, the support and numbers of both groups attending this year was incredible, and it is hugely appreciated. I would at this point also like to acknowledge the amazing support from across the serving Regiment and our Branches as we numbered just shy of 400 at this year’s event, which was almost a 40% increase on last year.
Parade and inspection over, it was time to move into the ASPECT centre to join both the Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Band, who had been entertaining the congregation with a musical set and the Honorary Chaplain of the Royal Artillery, The Venerable Stephen Robbins CB who would deliver a very emotive service. This year not only remembering our more recent departures, but in this the 80th year since the D-Day operation of June 6th 1944, we also specifically remember the operation that would become the largest amphibious invasion in military history. We remembered those that took part, along with the 29,924 members of the Royal Artillery that lost their lives during the whole of Second World War, many of them falling on the beaches and in the bocage of Northern France 80 years ago.
Once the Service was complete the whole congregation moved to the Royal Artillery Garden for the formal act of remembrance and wreath laying. This year there was a slight pause and as the Standards positioned themselves, everyone congregated around the shrouded statue. The Regt Sec, Col Matthew Carter proceeded to deliver a citation covering the background to the statue including how it was financed with the collective story of the Burgess legacy and the story of Mr Burgess who was the only child of Lt Col James Burgess, who as a Sergeant during the WWII who was awarded the Military Medal, will also be covered in the statue article in November’s edition of Gunner. Once the citation was complete the Master Gunner unveiled the statue to a hugely positive response from all those gathered.
The proceedings then returned to the normal and main focus of the days event; the formal act of remembrance triggered by the WO1 RASM Lightfoot J was followed by the wreath laying. This was once again led by the Master Gunner St James’s Park with the Col Cmdt Wales & W Midlands and it was wonderful to see so many others taking the opportunity to partake in the wreath laying ceremony.
Post service there was an opportunity to retire back to the ASPECT Centre or the main concourse for some refreshments and to relax and enjoy the now traditional performance by the Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Band on ‘Heroes Square’.
It was at this stage with groups and gatherings starting to do their own thing, 5RA Pilgrimage preparing to set off on their annual act of remembrance and those with reduced timelines and distance to travel, starting to depart that this year’s event started to draw to a close.
Huge thanks as always to the team at the NMA, including the garden and statue teams, the attendance of all our serving and veteran Gunners either independently or as part of their Regiments and Branches, to the Standard Bearers and the Chelsea Pensioners who both added colour and flair to the occasion and finally the Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Band who demonstrated why they were and continue to be worthy recipients and current holders of the RA Association Cup, their support is appreciated enormously.
The event is only ever a success because of everyone attending and I look forward to seeing you next year. Whilst I was disappointed at not being able to take part in the 5RA pilgrimage this year, I was able to still join them later that afternoon for their follow on social at the RBL Alrewas, the team at the RBL have supported this event for many years and I can confirm that sharing the day only resulted in positives, with members of each group having the opportunity support each event. 5RA PPMA were of huge support during the planning phrase and so to the committee for 5RA Pilgrimage event thank you.
“We’ll meet again” date Saturday 5th July 2025, Royal Artillery Service of Remembrance
