Today around 40 people were present for the February ceremony of the Brookwood Last Post.
Our Individual Remembrance was for two airmen lost in the second world war. Flight Sergeant Keith Watson and Flight Sergeant Ernest Edwards of the 448 (Royal New Zealand Air Force) Squadron crashed on a night flying exercise in a De Havilland Mosquito while operating from RAF Bradwell, Essex on 3 February 1944.
Flt. Sgt Watson, pilot, son of David and Emily Watson of Pohangina, New Zealand was aged 20. Flt. Sgt Edwards, navigator, son of Archibald and Florence Edwards of Wakefield, Nelson, New Zealand was aged 26.
They are buried next to each other in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Plot 2, row K, graves 1 and 1a respectively.
Our unnamed poem was taken from the obituary published in the hometown newspaper of Flt. Sgt Watson and has no known author.
If, in his life, his smiling face
Brought sunshine to some darkened place
And if his mem’ry, ever clear
Brings only love and pride and cheer,
He did not live in vain.
If, in his death, his sacrifice,
So freely offered, was the price
That must be paid to keep us free
And save the world from tyranny
He did not die in vain.
On parade today was Tom Milne, carrying the Union Flag and Alan Lopez carrying the BLP Standard. We also had standards from the Artist’s Rifles and the Woking Royal Naval Association.
Mrs Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post and the Rev. Rob Bennett performed official duties.
We retired to The Trench Experience to continue the stories.
Thanks to the Bugler’s Association for assisting with the sound today, Paul McCue for the IR and Alan Meeks and Dave Lucas for the photographs.
Brookwood Last Post 