Our April Last Post today started by the sad announcement that our Treasurer for over seven years, Stephen Wood had passed away a few days before. Stephen had agreed to be the Treasurer during the days when the association was at its most risk of closing and had done a stirling job, delivering his last set of accounts for the AGM, held in February. He was 39 years old and will be sorely missed.

We remembered two individuals today during our Individual Remembrance section, both of whom died exactly 80 years ago today.

Our first was Private Arthur Maurice Dodgson of the Calgary Highlanders, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. Private Dodgson died on the 6th April 1945, aged 27 years old. There is no record of how he died and he is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery in the Canadian section, plot 50, row J, grave 5.

Sergente Giovanni Viti, service number: 86232 of the Italian Army also died on the 6th April 1945. Again, there is no record of how he died and he is buried in plot 15, row D, grave 21 of the Italian section.

Our poem today was by the American war poet Alan Seeger (1888 – 1916) entitled ‘I Have A Rendezvous With Death’. The poem was later put to music as a song. Seeger was killed during the Battle of the Somme on 4^th July 1916, serving with the French Foreign Legion and nine months before his country declared war on 6^th April 1917 – exactly 108 years prior to our ceremony.

There were eight standards on parade today, with Alan Lopez parading the BLP standard and Dennis Stewart carried the Union Flag.

We were grateful to see the Woking Sea Cadets, impeccably turned out with one member delivering the Exhortation.

Mrs Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post and Rob Bennett crafted the words of wisdom.

The Kohima Epitaph was said by a friend of Stephen Wood and we are grateful to him for being part of the ceremony today. Stephen’s family was in attendance today.

Finally, we retired to the Trench Experience to raise a glass in honour of Steve and to continue the stories.

The ceremony was recorded and the video may be watched here.

A special thank you to Alan Meeks for the video, Mike Hillman for the photographs and Paul McCue for the research into the Individual Remembrances.

In the chilly early spring sunshine, about 60 people gathered for the March Last Post.

Our Individual Remembrance was Private William Wilson of the 1 Salvage Coy, Royal Canadian Ordanance Corps who died on 2nd March 1945, exactly 80 years ago today.

Private Wilson was wounded on 16th February and his injuries consisted of concussion and a fractured spine.

He had lived in Ingersoll for several years and was survived by his wife and son.

Two members of the public kindly agreed to say the Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph.

Our Senior Standard Bearer Tom Milne has chosen to parade the Royal Engineers standard from now on and Dennis Stewart has stepped in to parade the Union Flag. Alan Lopez paraded the Brookwood Last Post standard and Eddie Jones paraded the Artist Rifles’ standard.

Mrs Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post and Peter Hills was on duty with the wise words.

Afterwards we retired to the Trench Experience for a much needed drink to warm up.

The ceremony was videod and may be viewed here.

Thank you to Paul McCue for researching the Individual Remembrance, Alan Meeks for the video and Mike Hillman for the photos.

A bitterly cold day for the February Last Post.

Our Individual Remembrance concentrated on Ensign Violette Szabó who was brutally murdered together with Denise Bloch (previously remembered) and Lilian Rolfe at Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, north of Berlin sometime during the period of 25th January to 5th February 1945, around 80 years ago.

All three were agents of F (French) Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE) and had been captured in France in 1944.

Violette had been recruited as a member of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) in order to serve in the SOE. Later decorated posthumously with the George Cross, she had served in two dangerous missions in German-occupied France. Violette had been caught after running into an enemy checkpoint and giving covering fire to enable her two male companions to escape. Violette was just 23 years old at her death.

All three agents were featured in the film ‘Carve Her Name With Pride’.

There were seven standards on parade with standards representing The Royal Engineers, The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, The Royal British Legion, branches Richmond (Surrey) and the Knaphill, Bisley and West End branch, the Woking Royal Naval Association, the Artist Rifles and the Brookwood Last Post. The Union Flag was statically displayed.

A wreath was laid on behalf of the Secret WW2 Learning Network.

Mrs Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post and Rev Rob Bennett led prayers and a blessing.

We retired afterwards to the Trench Experience where the stories continued.

The ceremony was videoed and may be watched here along with a dedicated ceremony at the Memorial to the Missing led by Paul McCue.

Thank you to Mike Hillman for the photos, Alan Meeks for the video and Paul McCue of the Secret WW2 Learning Network for the analysis on our individual remembrance.