Our ceremony today was held shortly after the ceremony held by the Memorial Association for Free Czechoslovak Veterans.
As part of our Individual Remembrance we remembered Lieutenant John Richard Skeet. Lieutenant Skeet was a local lad, born in 1895 and his family is best known for the locally well known business, the builder’s merchants and iron mongers Skeet & Jeffs.
He was educated at the Royal Grammar School Guildford between 1906 and 1913. He subsequently joined the army as a lieutenant in the London Regiment Transport.
It’s unknown when he joined the London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) 2nd Bn but he was killed in action on the 27th April 1918 in France. He is commemorated at the Pozieres Memorial, Panel 85 & 86, France.
For the first time in our modern history, we were honoured that the chosen poem was read by its author, Anna, and is published here for the first time.
D-Day
Brothers in arms, walking arm in arm onto the boats
Encouraged by each other, fighting for each other
Clutching tightly onto their handwritten notes
From someone back home who loved them.
They watched the coast come into view
Took in the guns, tanks and bodies
Who would return? Nobody knew
But they knew they’d go down together.
First they jumped, then they swam, then they ran
Dodging bullets, guns and bombs
And in the mind of every man
Their purpose drove them on.
They shot and shot and shot
Each bullet saving another Frenchman
And although they mourned for the men they lost
They were overcome by the joy of their victory.
They sailed back together, Brothers in arms
The French, British, Canadian, American,
Czech, Slovak, Polish, arm in arm
They had fought together, they had won together.
We were delighted that The Venerable Dr (Air Vice-Marshal) Giles Legood, Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon for the RAF HQ Air Command, RAF High Wycombe was able to say prayers and a blessing today.
We also had senior members of staff of both Brookwood Military Cemetery and Brookwood Cemetery say the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph respectively.
Alan Lopez was our Standard Bearer, with Tom Milne carrying the Union Flag. Standards were also present from the Artist’s Rifles and the Woking Royal Naval Association.
Mrs Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post and provided backing for the National Anthem.
Afterwards we retired to the Trench Experience and caught up with our friends from the Memorial Association for Free Czechoslovak Veterans.
Photos by Mike Hillman.
Brookwood Last Post 