Today in damp conditions around 40 people assembled for the first Last Post of 2025.

Our Individual Remembrance was Soldato Bruno Zanchi. Soldato Zanchi was a prisoner of war (PoW) who, following the Italian surrender in September 1943, became what was known as a co-operator PoW, a member of an Italian Working Company at Camp 566, Patterton Camp, Thornliebank, Lanarkshire, Scotland, just to the south-west of Glasgow.

80 years ago yesterday, on 4^th January 1945, he was killed by a cyclist in an accident. He was originally buried in St Peter’s Cemetery, Dalbeth, Glasgow and, postwar, relocated to Brookwood Military Cemetery. He is buried in the Italian plot, Lincoln Avenue, row B, grave 7.

There were standards on parade from the Royal British Legion, Woking Royal Naval Association and the Artists Rifles.

Mrs Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post and the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph were read by members of the public.

Afterwards, we gratefully retired to the Trench Experience for refreshments.

The ceremony was recorded by Alan Meeks and may be watched here.

Thank you to Paul McCue for researching the Individual Remembrance and Mike Hillman for the photos.

As has become usual, Woking District and Surrey Scouts were in attendance for the November Last Post. There were an estimated 250 people including Leaders, Explorers, Scouts, Cubs and Beavers on parade.

We welcomed the Woking Mayor, Cllr Louise Morales as well as senior members of Scouting including County Commissioner Joe Rogerson and Kath Ashworth, District Commissioner of Woking. Will Forster MP also attended.

We remembered three individuals today: Captain Arthur Steele, Sergeant Lawrence Edgar Eddie and Second Lieutenant Alexander Vass.

Captain Steele commenced his training at SOE’s preliminary training school, STS 5, at Wanborough Manor, just 6 miles away from Brookwood. He was parachuted into enemy-occupied France on the night of 19^th/20^th June 1943 and served as the radio operator to the MONK circuit in and around Marseille until captured by the Gestapo in March 1944. He was transferred to Paris the following month for further interrogation and deported to Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany in August 1944. He was murdered there on 11^th September 1944 and has no known grave, his body having been disposed of in the crematorium of the concentration camp. He is therefore commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing 1939-1945, Panel 21, Column 3, here in Brookwood Military Cemetery.

Captain Arthur Steele was first remembered at the Brookwood Last Post of 2^nd June 2019 and is remembered again today on the occasion of the visit of family and friends, including his son, Ivan.

80 years ago today Sergeant Lawrence Eddie of the Royal Canadian Air Force was an Air Gunner in the crew of Stirling aircraft LJ444 of 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Royal Air Force. During a night cross-country and practice bombing exercise both port engines failed. Sgt. Eddie was killed when the aircraft crashed at Stradishall, Suffolk on 3^rd November 1944. He was 28 years old.

Second Lieutenant Alexander Vass was a secret agent of the SOE. He was born in Kömlő, Heves county, Hungary and later emigrated to Welland, Canada. Parachuted into Hungary on the night of 3^rd/4^th July 1944 as part of SOE’s DEERHURST mission of four agents. Dropped off target and captured immediately after landing. Imprisoned in Budapest in July and sent to a Prisoner of War camp in Germany in November. On 23^rd December 1944 Mosquito aircraft of the Royal Air Force carried out a bombing raid in the area of his PoW camp at Linberg, two bombs fell on the camp and one killed Vass and all in the same quarters. He was aged 32.

The Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph were both said by Scouts.

Wreaths were laid by the Mayor, by scouts on behalf of Woking District and Surrey Scouts, by Steve Whitmore of the Surrey Chapter UK remembering Lance Corporal James Hill , by Gail Anderson of the American Battle Monuments Commission, on behalf of the Secret World War Two Learning Network remembering Captain Arthur Steele, F Section S.O.E. and Will Forster MP.

There were 24 standards on parade with 18 of those from Scout Groups around Woking.

The entire ceremony was recorded and the excellent footage may be watch here.

Thank you to Woking Scouts for providing the sound today, Alan Meeks for the video and Mike Hillman for the photographs.

Today saw a great turnout with representatives from the UK & Canadian Intelligence Corps, Cadets from Woking Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets, and a contingent of adult Scout leaders planning an expedition to Ypres next year. We were greatly honoured to have family members of one of the Individual Remembrance subjects with us today.

Gordon’s School Pipes and Drums were in attendance making the ceremony extra special today.

We had technical difficulties with sound which we hope didn’t cause our audience to miss any part of what was a fascinating ceremony.

Royal Marine Cadet Toby begun our Individual Remembrance section and said a few words about his Great, Great Uncle, Sub Lieutenant Leonard Anthony Cole (Tony) who was presumed to have lost his life on Saturday, 9th December, 1944 as the result of an aircraft incident at sea.

Col Fox (Retired) of the Intelligence Corps talked about the their work and the sacrifices made since its inception.

Paul McCue rounded off the Individual Remembrance section by talking about Flying Officer Leonard Maurice Gray, service number: 50745 of the 180 Squadron, Royal Air Force, RCAF Dunsfold. F/O Gray died on 6th October, 1944, exactly 80 years ago today when twelve B-25 Mitchell II bombers took off from Dunsfold to attack a petrol and oil dump, west of Amersfoort, Holland. As the aircraft climed away from Dunsfold, two collided in the cloud, and one safely returned, the other crashed, killing all four of its crew at Blacknest Farm, Chiddingfold Road, Dunsfold.

Our Senior Standard Bearer Tom Milne has retired from bearing Standards and has volunterred to be the associations’ full time Parade Marshall. This is an excellent move as the ceremony should be a little more organised going forward.

Alan Lopez paraded the BLP standard and there were standards on parade from the Artist’s Rifles, Woking Naval Association, the Intelligence Corp, and Woking Sea Cadets.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Intelligence Corps and the Candian Intellignece Corps, with Cadet Toby laying a wreath remembering Sub Lieutenant Cole.

Ruth Moore sounded the Last Post and a member of Gordon’s School performed the Piper’s Lament.

Afterwards we retired to the Trench Experience to keep swapping stories and to seek cover before the rain started to fall.

The ceremony was recorded and may be watch back here.

Thank you to everyone involved, Alan Meeks for the video and Mike Hillman for the photographs.