A proud and poignant moment, as always, a time of sadness combined with celebration in recognition of the men and women who fought and died for their country.
But yesterday’s Remembrance Day parade in Marlborough – it was significantly the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – was probably the most impressive event of its kind in the town’s history.
The event was organised on a far grander scale than ever before with up to 1,000 men, women and children taking part, campaign medals sparkling in the autumn sunshine as, headed by red-coated Phoenix Brass Band led the march to the Marlborough’s war memorial.
Autumn sunshine sparkled on the medals of solders just returned from Afghanistan and British Legion veterans alike with representatives a dozen organisations laying their red poppy wreaths on the roundabout memorial after the two minutes silence and the sounding of the Last Post.
And Marlborough’s elegant Mayor Edwina Fogg revealed: “It was a radical change from previous years thanks to our ceremonial officer David Sherratt and the co-operation of our adopted Army regiment.”
“For me, Remembrance Day is the biggest and most important event of the year and I was nervous because there were so many elements involved and so much that could go wrong.”
“But it went like clockwork and it was just wonderful and lovely to sell all sections of the community there at an important time. It pulls the town together.”
“And it was just great to see even the tiny tots in the youth organisations carrying their standards and taking part. I’ve lived in Marlborough since 1978 and attended many times. “But this, to me, was a momentous day.”
And a personally significant one too. For standing with the veterans behind the smart ranks of the 4Military Intelligence Battalion was her 41-year-old son Edward — wearing the campaign medals of his grandfather.
Edwin White joined the Royal Navy at 17, trained on HMS Ganges, then served on destroyers. After long service, he was recalled at the outbreak of World War II and braved the waves on minesweepers, winning three medals plus the Atlantic Star.
He became a docker at Tilbury after being invalided out of the Navy and died in 1950 when he was only 46.
“This is the first time I’ve worn my grandfather’s medals and it’s a great privilege to recognise the contribution he made,” Edward told Marlborough News Online. “I’m very proud to do that and it’s very nice for mum as well to be able to keep up the Remembrance Day tradition.”
“I didn’t know him, though I’ve heard stories about my grandparents, both of whom died when I was very young. But you are still connected to relatives even if you didn’t know them and recognise the sacrifice they made that helped to make us what we are today.”
Edward, who runs a care home for disabled and mentally disturbed people with his wife Michelle near Southampton, is the eldest son of the six Fogg offspring, and has two children of their own, Elliot, four, and Florence, two.
“It’s a really good feeling to be here today to keep the family link alive,” he said.
The Mayor gave a reception at the town hall for the officers and men of 4MI Battalion following the wreath-laying ceremony, where even the skirl of Scottish pipes was introduced for the first time by students from Marlborough Academy.
And she told her guests: “Yesterday I visited our war memorial and was in thought about today’s ceremony. As I stood there, a young woman came up, and having joined her cross to the others, touched one of the names from the World War II.”
“Her simple gesture was very moving and captured for me the essence of today — a humble and quiet recognition of those who have given their lives in conflict.”
“How apt it is on this day for us to welcome and honour our adopted army unit, most of whose soldiers have now returned from current operations in Afghanistan.”
“A very warm welcome too for your families. It is lovely to see you here. You are already proud of them but must have been delighted with their smart appearance and marching proficiency.
“The people of Marlborough are immensely proud of our association with 4MI Battalion and we look forward to our continuing links with you, not least at the civic dinner at the end of this month.”
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Twenty-nine members of the Army’s Military Intelligence Brigade have lost their lives during service in Afghanistan, company commander Simon Puxley revealed at Sunday’s Remembrance Day parade in Marlborough. But none were lost on the Wiltshire-based battalion’s last tour, although there are still 30 officers on active duty in Afghanistan who will be rapidly replaced when they return before the end of the month. The intelligence and language specialists, made up of officers and NCOs only, women included, were a significant part of Sunday’s impressive war memorial parade organised by the town council, which last year granted the battalion the Freedom of Marlborough. Asked about fatalities, Commander Puxley told Marlborough News Online: “Touch wood, so far so good on that front. A couple have suffered minor injuries one way or another out patrolling with the infantry and the armoured troops. So that’s no surprise.” “As a Brigade we have lost 29 soldiers and officers during the whole tour. The first six were casualties on March 6 and there have been a number of incidents over our time in Afghanistan.” “But that is from the whole Brigade, thankfully not us. We have had a spectacularly good tour. It has got to a state now where our guys can slot in straight away when they arrive. They know exactly what they will be doing and get straight to work, which is perfect.” Commander Puxley revealed too that although insider insurgent attacks by members of the Afghan security forces always hit the headlines, there was tremendous support from the Afghans themselves for the British Army presence, especially in the protective communities that have been built up. “What you see in there is Afghans doing the security, Afghans delivering the policing, Afghans delivering the health care and that is really what we’re after,” he explained. “We then operate as a British force or coalition force outside of that.” “Our reaction to the green on blue incidents – that is the term we use for these cases — is always to stand strong and close to our Afghan partners because that’s what they want and that’s what we want.” “They, interestingly, are as horrified by these incidents, just as we are, and certainly within our Brigade – and we suffered a number of casualties like that, albeit a small proportion – they are always the most painful to bear, as you would expect.” “What we find though is that the incidents we had were absolutely isolated. Individuals who were working and then took a decision to do something that was out of character for themselves were completely out of character for their own unit.” “There was one incident where two soldiers were killed by some Afghan national policemen, the Afghan policemen in that location shot and killed one of those and chased the other. While that was going on the other Afghan policemen were providing first aid cover for our troops.” “What we see is terrible hard to bear and we have to be aware that the Afghans have their own insider traps. There are occasions where Afghan police and Afghan soldiers are trying to kill each other. That is also going on.” “And that casualty toll on the Afghans is quite significant. It is very difficult for us all. So whenever we have one of these incidents the first thing we do is double check what we’re doing, our techniques and procedures, the things we do, the manpower we have. The equipment we have is now exceptional.” “And on each occasion when we look back on these incidents we do it very forensically and carefully go back to inspect. What we find is that every part of our procedures are right. We’re doing the right thing sticking there, it’s the right thing to do.” |
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