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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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.