HRGS was involved in organising the delivery of Sittingbourne’s Remembrance Day on Sunday 13th November. HRGS were pleased to be asked by the Royal British Legion Chaplain Pat Tatchell to assist with organising this year’s event. HRGS had previous experience of organising similar events during the WW1 commemorations (Somme 100, two events in 2016; The Ambulance Train Event in 2016; Passchendaele 100 event in 2017; the RAF 100 event in 2018 and the Peace Day event in 2019.) So, with that pedigree behind us, we could hardly say no.
As this years’ remembrance event marked the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, it was appropriate to have a Falkland’s veteran, Lieutenant Anthony L Sattin, RN Retired, read a poem about the conflict.
On the 2nd April 1982, Argentine forces invaded the British overseas territory of the Islands, sparking one of the largest major conflicts since WW2. Lasting 74 days, the conflict was the first military action since the Second World War that utilised all elements of the Armed Forces. 255 British personnel lost their lives defending the Falklands, of whom 86 were Royal Navy, 124 Army, 27 Royal Marines, six Merchant Navy, four Royal Fleet Auxiliary and eight Hong Kong sailors. Seven ships were also lost to enemy action and nine aircraft shot down.
Sunday 13th November 2022
This year’s Civic Remembrance event in Sittingbourne took place on Sunday 13th November 2022 and commenced at 10 am in St Michael’s church and was led by Reverend David Ridley. In attendance was the King’s representative, Deputy Lieutenant Paul Auston DL; His Worship the Mayor of Swale Cllr. Simon Clark; the Chief Executive of Swale Borough Council Larissa Reed, together with various civic leaders. During the service, the Mayor, Larissa Reed and Richard Emmett, chair of HRGS, gave readings. The church service was then followed by representatives from the various local ex-service organisations, cadets, scouting, rangers and guiding groups, accompanied by their many standards, who marched up along the High Street, to the War Memorial in Central Avenue.
It was at the town’s War Memorial where Royal British Legion Chaplain Pat Tatchell led an extremely well-attended public act of remembrance. This event was additionally attended by Gordon Henderson MP, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Dean OBE, ACF (grandson of Sittingbourne’s WW1 Victoria Cross recipient – Colonel Donald Dean VC). Along with the ex-service organisations, cadets, scouts, guides, brownies, rainbows and the public, were joined by the Police and Fire Brigade to show their respects. The act of remembrance took place accompanied by music provided admirably by the Salvation Army Band; with Mathew Barney, who provided the sounding of the ‘last post’ to enable the 3000 plus audience to observe the 2 minutes silence at 11 o’clock. Led by RBL Standard Bearer Ken Dungey, the numerous organisation standards encircling the War Memorial were then lowered in respect of all those who have lost lives through conflict.
This silent pause gave the assembled crowd an opportunity, in perfect stillness, to concentrate on remembering those who have sacrificed so much for our peace. The first minute represents all those who have died; and the second minute is for those who survived. This tradition was started in October 1919, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, a South African, who suggested a period of silence on Armistice Day (now commonly known as Remembrance Day) in all the countries of the empire to King George V, who endorsed this tradition.
During the laying of poppy wreaths, there was a reading of a poem about the Falklands Task Force, written by Robert C Millar, and read by Falklands Veteran Lieutenant Anthony L Sattin, RN Retired.
Falklands Task Force
A poem by Robert C Millar
Car packed and ready to go,
on leave so we thought but it wasn’t so.
I suppose it wasn’t just meant to be
T Air Defence Battery was going to sea;
Across the South Atlantic Ocean,
Well, at least that was the notion.
One hundred and ten ships all packed to the top,
Commandoes, Paras, Guards, Ordinance, Artillery, the lot;
This is it lads. We’re going to war,
But nobody knew, what was in store;
And all those mixed-up feelings inside,
Were damn near impossible for us to hide.
We landed at a place called San Carlos Bay,
In nineteen eighty-two, on the twenty first of May;
To repel Argentine invaders from the Malvinas,
Anxious, proud, and scared. You had to have seen us;
Across the Falklands, the Task Force did travel,
By air, sea and foot and not as a rabble.
Objective Port Stanley for the final shove,
First taking Tumble Down, Goose Green and Bluff Cove;
We recaptured the Islands. They were British again,
And amid all the glory, cheering and pain;
We now look to peace for as long as we reign,
And no more hostilities, that drive man insane.
Courtesy of South Atlantic Medal Association 1982
At the conclusion, the salute was taken by the Deputy Lieutenant, as the parade marched off past the War Memorial, after which, the roadway was cleared to enable motorcyclists from the Royal British Legion Riders, led by veteran Sean Miles, to give their own unique salute. A rousing applause was given by the crowd. A day for the town to be proud of.
The Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne (HRGS) help set up a community group in the summer that included Richard Emmett as Chair (HRGS), Rev David Ridley (St Michael’s Church), Pat Tatchell (Chaplain Royal British Legion), Stewart Kitching (Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club), Karl Hudson (Event Volunteers of Swale), Cllr. Richard Palmer and Lyn Newton (Swale Borough Council) and Theresa Emmett (HRGS).
The group were gratefully supported on the day by Parade Marshal – Flight Sergeant Brandon Glenn, Sittingbourne RAF Air Cadets; St John Ambulance Ken Shortall and team; Public Address provided by VWP Sounds, Steve Davy; Salvation Army Band by Simon Perkin, David Wigg and musicians; Wreath Marshal, Sergeant Major Charlotte Wharmby Sittingbourne Army Cadet Force; National RBL Poppy Appeal Co-ordinator, Sue Gent and team; Andy Hudson of Sittingbourne.me who took the official photographs, Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne stewards, John Weeks OBE, Patricia Robinson, Enya Williams, and Janet Avery; plus all those who provided teas, coffees, croissants, biscuits and a myriad of others who all helped the event run so smoothly.
Photographs courtesy of Andy Hudson. For more photographs from the day visit sittingbourne.me
A video of the event is available to view on YouTube.
Additional background information
What is Remembrance Sunday?
Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday of November and commemorates British service members who have died in wars and other military conflicts since the first world war.
Originally Remembrance Day was held on 11th November each year, as First World War hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In 1956 the date was fixed as the second Sunday of November. Each year Remembrance Sunday remembers all those who fought and died in any conflict, as well as veterans and soldiers who are still serving for their country.
Why Poppies?
The most recognizable symbol of Remembrance Sunday is the red poppy, which became associated with World War I memorials after scores of the flowers bloomed in the former battlefields of Belgium and northern France. (The phenomenon was depicted in the popular 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields,” by Canadian soldier John McCrae.) In 1921 the newly formed British Legion (now the Royal British Legion), a charitable organization for veterans, began selling red paper poppies for Armistice Day, and its annual Poppy Appeal has been enormously successful since.
If you would like to be involved in next year’s 100th anniversary of the opening of Sittingbourne’s Avenue of Remembrance, please contact Richard Emmett via Contact Us