Honouring the fallen of WW1

[Smithy26 0]

Hi guys,

thought I would post a topic about my recent trip to the old Battlefields of WW1, although it was not related specifically to Airmen I thought you might be interested.

I am a member of the Regimental Association of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) - an old Lowland Scots Regiment raised in 1689 from the Covenantors (another story in itself). Although I am too young to have served, many of my ancestors served in the Regiment in the World Wars and I joined the Association to help preserve it's unique history.

Sadly the Regiment was disbanded in 1968 and many of the veterans are now gone. This trip is likely the last time any organised Cameronian prescence will be seen in France & Flanders, we went with 24 members (including veterans, wives and family members - like myself) and carried the Associations Standard with us. We layed 7 wreaths at the main memorials and cemeteries where the Regiment fought in WW1 (and one from WW2), at each the standard was lowered, Binyon's Poen for the Fallen read out and a 2 minute silence held, our 2 pipers also played where appropriate.

Anyway this is getting a bit long and i don't want to go on - the 2 highlights (amongst many) for me. Firstly at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, we were the Honour Guard, also present were 200 !!! Belgian Officer Cadets and several Belgian and British school parties. My wee pal Jimmy laid the wreath on this special night - at 78 years old, our eldest veteran (he served in Korea, Malaya, Aden & Northern Ireland) and the Belgian Army's Pipe Major played the lament for all our fallen lads - a most emotional evening.

The second highlight was for me to be allowed to lay our wreath at the Arras Memorial where many Cameronians are buried and named on the Panels of the memorial. In particular this was important to me both because of the Regiment and as my Grandfathers eldest brother, killed in 1918, is named on one of the panels to the missing (he was actually a Gordon Highlander). A very proud moment for this civy to remember our countries war dead.

The Arras Memorial also contains the Arras Flying Services Memorial to the RFC/RAF missing and here are a couple of pics of that day in Arras, as you can see the weather was perfect - for October anyway....

 

This is me laying the Regimental Wreath at the Arras Memorial

 

 

 

and here is the Flying Service Memorial - Mick Mannock VC is named on it.

 

[Wayfarer 5]

Smithy,

Thanks for your interesting post. My Grandfather's brother was killed in the summer of 1918 (my Grandad was actually wounded around the same time near Arras) and is buried in a cemetery about 4 miles south of Arras. My dad really wanted to visit it, because he just felt someone from the family should, but he died a month ago without having managed it. He asked me before he died if I would go, as it was preying on his mind a bit as he got sicker. I said I would and am thinking of trying to go, possibly next summer. I was intending to stay in Arras. if I do, I'll definitely visit the memorial.

[Rickitycrate 10]

Smithy, thanks for relating your heritage and experience. God bless the fallen.

[Olham 164]

Thanks for sharing, Smithy - I intend to travel to some Great War areas myself one day.

My family didn't loose a member; my grandfather (father's side) got both arms shot through

by machine gun fire, but he survived and I so I still met him.