His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent will visit Marlborough on Monday, October 27 to unveil a plaque at the War Memorial in New Road to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.
The Duke will be met by the Town Mayor, Councillor Marian Hannaford-Dobson, who will introduce him to Lt Col. James Brown, Commanding Officer of the 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, the first army unit since 1204 to have been awarded Marlborough’s ‘Freedom of Entry’.
Following the unveiling ceremony, which will include a short service led by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Heather Cooper, the Duke will be welcomed in the Town Hall. He will present soldiers of 4MI Bn with service medals and meet community leaders and civic dignitaries.
During the visit the Duke will also witness the signing of a Community Covenant between Marlborough and the 4MI Bn, a document further strengthening mutual support between the town and the battalion.
The Town Mayor said: “It’s a real honour that the Duke of Kent has kindly agreed to visit us at such an important time in our history and unveil our commemorative plaque for those who lost their lives in the First World War.”
“It will be an especially proud moment as alongside us will be soldiers from the 4 Military Intelligence Battalion who play such an important role in today’s Army.”
Lt Col. Brown added: “This will be a very fitting tribute to those who lost their lives in the Great War. It’s also a significant occasion for the Battalion and all the more poignant that His Royal Highness will be awarding medals to our soldiers.”
On Tuesday evening (September 9) there is a Civic Service of commemoration at St Mary’s Church at which the names of the town’s sons who fell in the First World War will be read. [Details in MNO’s What’s On Calendar.]
And all this week there is an exhibition in St Mary’s Church of local First World War photographs and memorabilia organised by Marlborough History Society.
There will be beer at the wheelbeero race, insist organisers
