August Last Post – Commemoration of Passchendaele

Today we commemorated the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).

There were approximately 30 people in attendance, including a small contingent from 1st Knaphill Scout Group and Councillor John Kingsbury. Mrs Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post.

Standard Bearers Tom Milne, Sue Stallard and Michael Elliot. Chairman Malcolm Head and Councillor John Kingsbury. Bugler Ruth Moore.

We remembered our Chairman’s uncle, Reginald Percy Head. Born in 1897, he was one of seven children (5 boys, 2 girls) born to Harry and Alice Head. Reg joined the Army early in 1915 and enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps.

He saw action on a number of occasions and was gassed at Passchendaele on 11th October 1917. Transferred to a succession of field hospitals, he eventually found himself in an Anglo-American Military hospital in Trier, Germany, after the end of hostilities.

He was medically discharged in 1919 and died of the effects of the gas in 1925 aged 28.

Afterwards we went round to the Trench Experience for a chat and an opportunity to learn some parade basics from Bob, who had come along in WWI battle dress.

1st Knaphill Scout Group

Afterwards at the Trench Experience

Bob (in WWI Dress) and Eddy Jones playing with deactivated rifles.

Muslim Burial Ground Peace Garden

Today, four members of the Brookwood Last Post Association attended the Inaugural Commemoration Service at the recently restored Muslim Burial Ground Peace Garden on Horsell Common, Woking.

It was a moving ceremony remembering the hundreds of thousands of lives lost from the Muslim community in the first and second world wars.

Eddie Jones, Tony Branagan, Kevin Davis and Zafar Iqbal

We will remember them.

July Last Post

Our extended ceremony today took place in glorious sunshine and we were extremely lucky to be joined by some excellent new cadets to the Army Training Centre, Pirbright as they toured the military cemetery with a CWGC guide.

New Cadets, Army Training Centre, Pirbright

At that point in the ceremony where we usually recall someone personal, today we remembered Flying Officer Robert Edward Mair, Bomber Command, son of WB and Amy Mair, who was lost over Germany on the night of 23rd November 1943, aged just 22. So young, so long ago, but not forgotten.

An excellent rendition of the Last Post and Reveille was sounded by Mrs Ruth Moore which resonated round the RAF Memorial and military cemetery.

Afterwards, we went round to The Trench Experience for some much needed refreshments.