Today we remembered the contribution that people from the Muslim faith have given to conflicts and those who paid the ultimate price.

A large gathering of Muslims and others paid homage to WW1 Muslim soldiers by visiting the Muslim Plot at the Military Cemetery and then joining us for our Remembrance ceremony.

The prayer was led by Imam Hafiz Hashmi -the Head Imam of the historic Shahjahan Mosque. Major Mohammed Naveed – Armed Forces Muslim Association gave a brief talk on the Muslim involvement of the Indian Army in the British Armed Forces past and present.

Our Individual Remembrance was read by Dr Zafar Iqbal for Sepoy Sikander Khan, who is buried in the Muslim plot.

Our Standard bearer was Alan Lopez and our bugler was Ruth Moore.

We were extremely honoured to have the Gordon’s School Pipes and Drums band attend and a lone piper performed the Piper’s Lament as his final act for the school.

The service was concluded with an inspection of the Standards by Major Mohammed Naveed and singing of the British National Anthem. Afterwards everyone went round to the Trench Experience for refreshments. Photos by Kevin Barker.

Today, there were many people to see several organisations parade their Standards in memory of the fallen. In addition to the BLP, there were Standards from the Artist’s Rifles, multiple Scout groups and we were honoured by the WAAF/WRAF/RAF(W) Association mobilising their Standards.

We remembered two individuals. S/L Dickie Leven was a bomber pilot at Dunsfold and flew alongside eight Dutchmen, from 320 Sqn, Royal Dutch Naval Air Service, operating as part of the RAF’s 139 Wing at Dunsfold.

We also remembered Captain Arthur Steele of the French Section, Special Operations Executive. Captain Steele of the MONK circuit in Marseille, was executed at Buchenwald concentration camp in September 1944 and is remembered on the Memorial to the Missing 1939-1945, Brookwood Military Cemetery. Supporter of the Secret WW2 Learning Network, Carole Yeats travelled from Southampton to honour the memory of Captain Steele. Carole’s father had served with Steele in the pre-war band of the Royal Artillery before their ways parted when Steele volunteered for the SOE. Carole was invited to read the Exhortation as part of the Last Post ceremony.

In a rare appearance and the first time in almost a year, the BLP Union Flag was paraded by Mrs Sue Stallard. The BLP Standard by Alan Lopez. Mrs Ruth Moore was a bugler and Bert Steed was our padre.

Mrs Tracy Watson, Chair of the WAAF/WRAF/RAF(W) Association was invited to inspect the Standards at the end of the ceremony before we went round to the Trench Experience for some refreshments.

Today, with around 30 people in attendance, we ran the long ceremony. The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Will Forster was in attendance for the third time during his mayoral year for which we are grateful.

We remembered Ronald William Poulton Palmer of the 1st/4th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment. Son of Professor Edward Bagnall Poulton and Mrs. Emily Palmer Poulton, of Wykeham House, Oxford. Captain of the England Rugby Football XV in 1914. He was 25 years old when he was killed on 5th May 1915. He is buried in plot B.11 in the Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium.

Mr Rob Bennett was our reverend, Mrs Sue Stallard, our Standard Bearer, Mrs Ruth Moore, out bugler and for the first time, Mr Ian Cartwright our Parade Marshall.

Afterwards we retired to the Trench Experience and caught up with a troop of Czech Republic Scouts that had attended a ceremony elsewhere in the cemetery.

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