Today marks 75 years since Ypres was liberated by the Polish armies, and the responsibility for sounding the Last Post transferred from Brookwood back to Ypres.

When Ypres was occupied in 1940, the daily service ceased. Mr. Edgar Ashley Cook, MBE, a successful Woking businessman (and a WWI veteran) heard about this and was upset by the stoppage. Together with a group of friends, he formed an organisation to replicate the Ypres service and the Surrey Last Post Association was born.

The first service was held in Brookwood Cemetery in January 1941.  Captain GFW Wilson, DSO, RN was the first President. Despite the difficulties of those dark days and other commitments, the service was held as regularly as possible for the next four years.

On the 6th September 1944 the Poles rolled into Ypres and the nightly ceremony was restarted under the Menin Gate. Tonight’s ceremony was the 27,393rd uninterrupted nightly ceremony held at the Menin Gate since the liberation.

Four Members of the Brookwood Last Post Association were at the ceremony tonight in Ypres. Our Chairman, Kevin Davis, Senior Standard Bearer, Tom Milne, Standard Bearer Eddie Jones and Treasurer, Stephen Wood. Our Chairman said the Kohima Epitaph.

We are extremely proud of Brookwood’s links to the Last Post Association and humbled by our involvement today.

The September Last Post was a Jewish themed ceremony with the Israeli Ambassador, Mr Mark Regev in attendance.

Paul McCue of the Secret WW2 Learning Network led tributes to a number of Jewish people lost in WW2, including the 23 Jewish volunteers for OPERATION BOATSWAIN, mounted jointly by the Special Operations Executive and the Palmach in May 1941. All 23, and their British liaison officer, Major Sir Anthony Palmer, are commemorated on Brookwood’s Memorial to the Missing 1939-45. In particular, and on behalf of Ambassador Gershon Gan, we remembered his cousin Amiram Shohat, one of the 23.

Our Individual Remembrance remembered the other Jewish agents of SOE and especially Captain Enzo Sereni and Ensign Denise Bloch, both also listed on the Memorial.

We welcomed family members, one of whom had come from New Zealand, of Flying Officer Ernest Fooks RNZAF and Warrant Officer Terry Riordan. Both had been commemorated, along with their crew members, the previous day (31st Aug) by the unveiling of a memorial where their aircraft crashed, following a mid-air collision, close to Dunsfold aerodrome, Surrey.

We also remembered the brother of Ernest Fooks, Pilot Officer Harry Fooks, who was killed in a flying accident 21 July 1941 and who is buried close to his brother, in plot 2, row F, grave 7.

Our Standard Bearer was Mr Alan Lopez, our bugler was Ms Taz Beattie, our Parade Marshal was Ian Cartwright and Mr Rob Bennett officiated over the ceremony.

Afterwards we retired to the Trench Experience for a cup of tea.

Today before the monthly ceremony, Members of the Brookwood Last Post Association visited the Woking Peace Garden on Horsell Common.

Our ceremony today was a multi-faith ceremony with representatives from the Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, & Jewish faiths, all reciting verses and prayers. The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Beryl Hunwicks was in attendance.

We remembered Flying Officer Arthur Tindale and Soldato Riccardo Pisillo,

Flying Officer Arthur Tindale, 406605 Royal Australian Air Force, serving with 267 Sqn RAF, died in an accident 4 August 1944, aged 33. A former pupil of Guildford Grammar School, Guildford, Western Australia. He is buried at plot 4, row O, grave 8.

Soldato (Private) Riccardo Pisillo, 66853 Italian Army died 4 August 1944. He is buried at plot 16, row C, grave 8.

Rob Bennett and Bert Steed ran the ceremony. Mandy Johns sounded the Last Post, Alan Lopez carried the BLP Standard, and Paul McCue of The Secret WW2 Learning Network read out the individual remembrances.

Afterwards we retired to the Trench Experience for refreshments.

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