May Last Post

With the 80th anniversary of VE Day just four days away, our ceremony focussed on that event. Our Chairman delivered a short speech mentioning that on the 8th May 1945, the CWGC website listed over 200 deaths, many of them in the far east as war continued there for a further few months.

We had representatives of the Royal British Legion Riders Berkshire group, that were on a motorcycle ride out today and stopped by for the ceremony. We were grateful that one of their members said the Kohima Epitaph at the end of the ceremony.

Our Individual Remembrance today focused on Sister Mary Satchell of the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service. Sister Satchell died while on active service on VE Day, the 8^th May 1945.

Nursing in the army can be traced back to Florence Nightingale during the Crimea War and in 1902 the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service was formed that provided nurses across the world during the First World War.

During the Second World War, the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service was expanded in order to provide nurses and sisters at all Military General Hospitals. In this capacity, nurses served in all the theatres of operations where British and Indian troops were deployed.

The Service was in effect officers only, and the rank of Sister was the equivalent of a Lieutenant, although treated as officers, they were not commissioned officers of the British Army.

Sister Satchell, daughter of James and Jeanne Satchell was 30 years old when she died and is buried in the Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery.

Our poem was simply titled ‘VE Day’, a poem by Angela Wybrow. A member of the public very kindly read this out.

A video of the ceremony may be viewed here.

Mrs Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post, the Rev. Peter Hills said the wise words today and Kevin Brain delivered the Individual Remembrance.

Our Standard Bearers today.

Keith Tarling - Woking Royal Naval Association

Norman Holden - RBL, Bisley, Knaphill & West End Branch

Tim Edwards - Royal British Legion, Surrey Branch

Tom Milne - Royal Engineers Association Radio Branch

Afterwards we retired to the Trench Experience to continue the stories. There were some great military vehicles on display that will form the basis of the VE Day celebrations in Woking Jubilee Square tomorrow.

Thank you to Mike Hillman for the comprehensive photos and Alan Meeks for the video.

April Last Post

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.

Stephen Wood about to lay a wreath at The Menin Gate in 2018

Stephen Wood standing in as the BLP Standard Bearer September 2021 — Stephen Wood about to lay a wreath at The Menin Gate in 2018

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.

March Last Post

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.