2011 Remembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph

DAVID DIMBLEBY: It's striking how a simple ceremony like that which

takes place here this morning in the heart of London can exert such

a hold on the nation's imagination. For over 90 years the Armistice of

November 11th, 1918, which ended the First World War, has been

The Queen will come here today to observe two minutes' silence at

11.00, along with members of the Armed Forces, veterans of many

conflicts and members of the public. Not just here, but all across

Britain and around the world people will be gathering at War Memorials,

perhaps contemplating the enormity of the sacrifices made in two World

Wars, or perhaps thinking of those still dying today in Afghanistan.

Nearly 400 British servicemen and women have been killed, over 500

seriously injured, in the ten years of our operations there. Those on

parade will often have more intimate memories of friends, of

comrades who fought alongside them. Already on either side of the

Cenotaph the detachments representing the Armed Forces and

the other services who will going to be on parade here, they are

assembling. The Household Cavalry are here, the Life Guards. Among

them Corporal of Horse Ben Lewis who recently recovered from

injuries that he suffered last year in Afghanistan when his Scimitar

armoured vehicle was hit by an IED. The Royal Marines are here. C-

Company of 40 Commando, known as 'Charlie' Company. They are

commanded by Major Chris Hall who was part of 40 Commando's first

tour of duty in Afghanistan ten years ago. Along with other members

of the unit on parade here, he's returned on further tours. 17

members of 40 Commando have been killed in recent years. Also here

the familiar figures of the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.

Seven of them have died in Afghanistan, the most recent only

last month. All these men on parade here today from the Gurkhas are

going to be going back to Afghanistan next year. Then there's

the 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards. During the battalion's

second tour of Afghanistan, they returned last May, five soldiers

were killed, 47 were wounded. Near here, down by Westminster Abbey

every year, a Field of Remembrance is laid out, rows and rows of

crosses are planted in memory of the dead. There I met two of these

Coldstream Guardsmen, themselves What will you be thinking of?

will be giving a few thoughts to those we lost. The company group

lost five killed in action and a number of seriously wounded as well.

I will be thinking about their families. I never really lost

anyone close to me until I joined the Army. It was quite hard to deal

with. Yeah, it does happen. You've got to deal with it in your own way.

Thoughts of the lads we lost, the memories that we've got of them,

that is what I will be thinking about on the Parade. Soldiers will

think back on their most recent operational experience. As I stand,

you will see all of the servicemen there with their minds back into

which ever conflict it is they have been party to. Be it a World War,

be it the Falkland Islands, be it Northern Ireland, Iraq, wherever.

All of our minds will be back where we've come from. Probably ten years

ago, Remembrance Sunday was probably more about remembering

grandfathers and great uncles and fathers that had trod in our

footsteps before. For a lot of us, it is a far more personal

experience. We will be thinking about friends we have lost along

the way. So at one moment in the year, for people to have the

opportunity to stop, to think, to remember those people who have

given so much to enable this way of life, that is terribly important.

This is the first time I have been here. It was good to see all these

people remembering the people that we lost. Maybe they haven't lost

anyone. It's good that people show an interest and it is a good

feeling to know that there's people DAVID DIMBLEBY: It's a beautiful

morning here in London and a good thing, too, for the thousands of

veterans who have assembled here, many of them now are veterans of

the Second World War of course, so they are quite elderly. No-one left

from World War One. There they are, the familiar figures, the bright

Red Caps of the Military Police. People who assemble each year with

old comrades under the auspices of the Royal British Legion, but in

groups either by regiment, or by ship, or by which part of the Royal

Air Force they were in - Bomber Command, or Fighter Command -

people representing charities, people representing places they

have been to, battles they have thought, not just in the Second

World War, but in all the wars since - Korea, veterans from there,

from the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq. They treat this as a great

moment, not just to remember the dead, but also to re-join friends

who they have fought with. Among the veterans, Ron Smith, who was a

veteran of D-Day where he was in a landing craft that carried six

tanks and it was hit just as it came up the beach killing four men.

He's talking now to Sophie Raworth. SOPHIE RAWORTH: You have been part

of the march-past many times now, do you know how many times you have

been here? 15 or 16 times. I will keep coming here. The reason I come

here is because I have seen people die in the Second World War. Two of

them I knew very well. So I will keep coming back here. It becomes I

suppose a habit because you say after a time... It is terribly

humbling being here? Yes, I find that. I know when I finish I can

hardly talk. There's a lump in my throat. That sort of thing. What is

it that brings you back year after year like this? Well, it's exactly

that. I still go to Portsmouth to our local meeting and we still do

various ceremonies et cetera, when it is called upon. And I just like

being here with all these chaps. you remember anyone in particular

when you are walking past the Cenotaph? You are laying a wreath

this year? Yes, a chap named Steven Wright. I knew him very well. He

was taken to another landing craft as a crew member and he died, the

landing craft was sunk on D-Day. There's so much support here, isn't

there? Yes. I'm surprised it never seems to diminish. I suppose quite

a lot of - I'm 87, nearly 87, and quite a lot of them still come here,

you know. I don't know whether I will make it next year. I'm not

quite sure about that. I'm here with Richie Puttock, you served

with the Royal Marines. There are so many people from so many

different generations who have had very different experiences but are

united in many ways? That is very true. You can see service people

that are still serving, going all the way back 60 or 70 years ago.

There is that shared theme of hardship and experiences and things

like that. I have only just met Ron and he informs me one of his

favourite pastimes was getting the Royal Marines wet. There's already

that banter which bonds us altogether. Huge applause as more

of the veterans line up here. Huge respect for all of the people here

today? It is very humbling for anyone that's served in the Armed

Forces to see the public appreciation and the respect and

admiration the Armed Forces of this country are held in. Thank you very

much, both of you. DAVID DIMBLEBY: One of the lead

columns there, St dunstan's who look after and try to rehabilitate

those blinded in war. You can see the men carrying their white sticks.

We are going to have of course the traditional music from the Massed

Bands here today, the Massed Bands of the Guards Division and the

Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards. They will

be playing the music. It's both stirring and sad and that will lead

us up to 11.00. The Pipes and Drums have a military role. They are not

just musicians. They also serve as armoured infantrymen. Last year,

one of their drummers, Lance Corporal Stephen Monkhouse was

killed. The bandsmen and women can also volunteer for operations.

Somewhere down there is a young pick low player, who is just back

from Kabul where she was working as a driver in the infantry battle

school. They prepare to play the music. They are under the baton of

Colonel Graham Jones this morning, the Senior Director of Music. They

MUSIC: "Rule Britannia" MUSIC: "Rule Britannia"

MUSIC: "Heart Of Oak" DAVID DIMBLEBY: The Massed Banded

now play Heart of Oak, the Minstrel Boy and Men of Harlech. Among those

who are on parade this morning, the Korean veterans. In 1950, that was

five years after the end of the Second World War, the so-called

Cold War between communism and the West turned hot as fighting broke

out in Korea between the Chinese and Western forces, fighting under

the banner of the United Nations. Tony Eagles and Sam Mercer were in

their 20s when they were sent to fight in this country that they had

scarcely heard of and now, 60 years later, they came back to their

regimental chapel in Gloucester Cathedral where friends and

comrades who never returned are I can see those people now,

as they were then, There's not one of them in the

And I knew all those people Eric Brown. Henry and I were a team

And of course the North Koreans gothold of him and, um, tortured him.

Tortured him to death

because he wouldn't tell them what they wanted to know.

The

The glosters

The glosters dug

The glosters dug in on the hillsides overlooking the Imjin

River, facing 10,000 Chinese troops, There were not enough United

Nations soldiers to stand across the Korean peninsula. The Chinese

had that advantage, but we did not. It seemed like dozens of them and

then you keep shooting. Most of them will fall down. Some just go

away. Then others would come again and take their place. You couldn't

shoot fast enough. The Glosters held out for three days. By then

they were surrounded and their ammunition had run out. After the

battle, only 63 of them had escaped. The rest of the battalion were dead

or captured. The battle at Imjin River remains the costliest

engagement since 1914. Sometimes it makes you think perhaps they were

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

The pipes and drums with the sky boat song. Now the Massed Bands

And the band will now play Isle of Beauty.

We saw 48 commando Royal Marine on parade a moment ago. Last year Paul

warren a 23-year-old serving with 40 Commando was fatally injured in

Afghanistan. But left his family in Lancashire bereft.

He was just like every other boy. Always getting into mischief.

Accident prone, always in the wrong place, doing the wrong things,

always enjoying himself and and always with a smile on his face. I

could never tell him off. I think he was around eight years old when

he said, "I would like to be a soldier." He didn't know what part

of the military he wanted to be in, but he just knew that's what he

wanted to be. Paul joined the Marines in 2006. Getting his green

beret was outstanding. As a family, we were just so proud, not just me

and his mum, his brothers, cousins, uncles, a lot of them came to the

passing out and we were so proud, but we knew where he would be going

and that was Afghanistan. When he came back the first time we

thought, "That's it. It is out of his system. He has done what he was

going to do. He will go and do other things within the Marines and

." He decided that he would like to go back. It was on the 21 21st June,

Monday, a day after Father's Day and Paul had just rang us up on the

Sunday and he sounded really happy. Monday me and my wife was just sat

on the see tee. I just happened to look out and I saw a gentleman with

a black band and I thought, "That is strange. Why is there a priest

getting out of a car on the estate?" I just automatically

thought, "No." I just said no to myself. As I said no, two Marines

got out of the vehicle. Before they said anything, I knew Paul had been

killed. The base was attacked and IEDs were

thrown over the wall and Paul was walking towards them. One exploded

in the air right next to him and the helicopter came and took him on

board, but we were told he died on the helicopter before they landed

in in Bastion. I feel him here. He wouldn't like what we are doing. He

wouldn't like all the attention. He wouldn't like the flowers on his

grave. He would just like to be under the radar all the time and

that was Paul. His green beret is one of those

cherished things that I have because that's what he was wearing

when he was out there and I just get a feeling if we have got it, we

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

have definitely got part of Paul Asted pipes play the lament, The

Flowers of the Forest. A moment to reflect those who have

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

The Massed Bands will now play one of the most haunting of melodies,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

MUSIC: "Nimrod" from the Enigma And now when Didos Lament, remember

MUSIC: "Dido's Lament" The sight of the many cemeteries

around the world with row upon row of tomb stones is the most poignant

reminder along with war memorials in towns and villages of the price

we pay for war. These words were written by a poet

contemplating the names on the memorial in his local park. "we are

your silent neighbours. Those who you may read about, but never see.

The war dead listed in the park upon the granite memorial, but now

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

Led by the Crossbearer, the children and gentlemen of the

Chapel Royal, come out to take their place by the Cenotaph and the

Bishop of London, Dean of the Chapel Royal. In front of him the

Sub-Dean, William Scot and smartly out of the Foreign and Commonwealth

Office, the Major General commanding the Household Division

in London and the Chief-of-Staff, Colonel Matthewson. And they go

down Whitehall towards the veterans where they are standing waiting for

the march past later and next the Prime Minister, David Cameron leads

the political group out, Nick Clegg on his right, the Leader of the

Opposition, Ed Miliband, behind you They turn to their left and line up

with their wreaths. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are there.

Gordon Brown there. Other Ministers. The Speaker of the House of Commons

among them. Tony Blair among the former Prime Ministers with Gordon

Brown and Sir John Major. Then the Chiefs of Staff, General Sir David

Richards, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of

the Air Staff, and the Merchant and Civilian Services. They are

followed by nearly 50 High Commissioners of various

Commonwealth countries ranging from the very largest countries -

Australia and India and Canada - to the smallest - Fiji and Tonga and

Malta. Most of them took a part, some of them a very large part, in

both World Wars and, indeed, in the wars since then. They line up on

three sides of the Cenotaph and will be followed by the Religious

Denominations. Though this Cenotaph memorial is deliberately not a

religious memorial, a large number of religious groups come here.

Apart from the Church of England, there are representatives of the

Roman Catholic faith, Hindu, Greek Orthodox, and other Churches, the

United Reform Church and the On the balcony, members of the

Royal Family watch. On the left there, the Duchess of Cornwall and

on the right, the new Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton, who,

this year, married Prince William, the Countess of Wessex, married to

Prince Edward beside her. Timney Lawrence, married to the Princess

Royal. They stand here and on ser - - Timothy Laurence, married to the

Princess Royal. They stand here and There are now two minutes, or just

a little less, until 11.00 and the two-minute silence. The Parade is

brought to attention and we await the arrival of the Royal Party led

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, Princess Royal,

the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex are there and the Duke of

Kent. They take up a special position right in front of the

Cenotaph from where, after the two- minute silence, they will lay their

As 11.00 strikes, the Royal Horse Artillery will fire one round of a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

gun at the beginning and then at DAVID DIMBLEBY: Her Majesty the

Queen will now lay her wreath, the first of those laid by the Royal

And the Duke of Edinburgh next on his 90th birthday this year. He was

given the title Lord High Admiral. 70 years ago, the Duke was

mentioned for an action aboard HMS Valiant off the Greek coast. He's

followed by the Prince of Wales in the uniform of a General in the

Army. He's been much involved this year in visiting injured soldiers

and acting as a patron of a number of service charities as well. His

wreath with the Prince of Wales' Next Prince William, the Duke of

Cambridge. A Search and Rescue Pilot in Wales at the moment. Due

to go to the Falklands next year on And he is followed by Prince Andrew,

the Duke of York, who was a helicopter pilot who served in the

Falklands War. Is Colonel-in-Chief And the Earl of Wessex, in the

uniform of an Honorary Colonel of He'll be followed by the Princess

Royal in the uniform of a Vice Admiral. She's Colonel-in-Chief of

a number of regiments. Last month, she was at the ceremony where

Wootton Bassett was renamed Royal Last in the Royal Party, the Duke

of Kent, who visited Afghanistan this September. He served 21 years

in the Royal Scots Greys. His father was killed in the Second

COMMANDER OF FOOT GUARDS: Parade, stand at least!

The band now plays the Funeral March. The politicians will take

their turn laying wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph led by the

The Deputy Prime Minister, the leader of the Liberal Democrats,

The Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Labour Party, Ed

From Northern Ireland, the Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist

And next representing the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru at

Finally, of the political parties, the Secretary of State for Foreign

and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague. He lays a special wreath on

behalf of the overseas territories made from exotic flowers. It is

And next the turn of the high of the High Commissioners. Starting

with the old senior members of the Commonwealth, Canada, Australia,

New Zealand, South Africa, India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Ghana

and Malaysia are there. Canada fought in World War I and II of

course, on D-Day. Australians who are active in Afghanistan now, and

lost over 60,000 in World War II, suffered the highest casualty rate

of any nation in World War I. The Indian subcontinent sent 2.5

million volunteers to World War II so those wreaths are laid on behalf

of all those countries. And then followed from the south-

side, by the high commercialers of Nigeria and Cyprus, Sierra Leone

and Tanzania, Jamaica, Trinidad & In the next group, Malta, the

George Cross island island awarded the Gorge Cross for its courage

during the second world, The Gambia, Singapore where many people here

were held prisoners after the fall of that great city by the Japanese,

Guyana, Botswana and Barbados and And now now swatsy land, --

Swaziland, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Seychelles

and the little island of St St As the last group prepares to come

forward, there is one country missing, the citizens fought in

both world wars and that is Zimbabwe. Now expelled from the

Commonwealth. Rhodesia, many people here will remember the service they

gave in the second world, many in the Royal Air Force. Belize, the

Mall leaves and St Christopher, Namibia, Cameroon, Mozambique and

Rwanda. And once the High Commissioners

have returned to their place, it is the turn of the Service Chiefs, not

the Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Richards, but Admiral Mark

Stanhope and Air Chief Marshal, Sir And they are followed by

representatives of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, the Air

Transport Auxiliary service and the civilian services. David Hill from

the navy and Sir Denis O'Connor, a Chief Inspector of Constabulary for

the civilian services. And next, the short service led by

O Almighty God, that we who here do honour

in the service of their country may be so inspired by the spirit of

that, forgetting all selfish and unworthy motives,

we may live only to Thy glory and to the service of mankind,

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.

# O God, our help in ages past

# Our hope for years to come

# Our shelter from the stormy blast

# And our eternal home

# Under the shadow of thy throne

# Thy saints have dwelt secure

# Sufficient is thine arm alone

# And our defence is sure

# Before the hills in order stood

# Or earth received her frame

# From everlasting thou art God

# To endless years the same

# A thousand ages in thy sight

# Are like an evening gone

# Short as the watch that ends the night

# Before the rising sun

# O God, our help in ages past

# Our hope for years to come

# Be thou our guard while troubles last

# And our eternal home. #

Teach us good Lord to serve thee as thou deservest;

to give and not to count the cost;

to fight & not to heed the wounds'

to toil and not to seek for rest;

to labour and not ask for any reward,

save that knowing that we will do thy will

through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name,

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom And the power and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you.

The Lord bless you and keep you,

the Lord make his face to shine upon you

and be gracious unto you,

the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you,

and give you His peace this day and always.

Amen.

MUSIC: "The Rouse"

# God save our gracious Queen

# Long live our noble Queen

# God save the Queen

# Send her victorious

# Happy and glorious

# Long to reign over us

# God save the Queen. #

The

The service

The service over,

The service over, the Royal party led once again by The Queen leaves

Whitehall. Prince Charles There among them,

will go through to Horse Guards and take a salute of those veterans who

are taking part in the march past down Whitehall that goes round to

Horse Guards afterwards so they go past the Cenotaph and then he takes

their salute. Now the clergy leave. The ten

children of the Chapel Royal dressed in the gold and scarlet

State coats which were designed at the time of the restoration of the

monarchy under Charles II, a choir that dates back much further than

that, a 1,000 years or so when it used to attend on the monarch. They

are They are all boy chor ris terse who have -- chor ris terse who have

scholarships at the City of London school as well as singing in his

choir. The brass cross with the red

poppies which has been at a service briefly in the Chapel Royal at St

James's Palace before it came out here to Whitehall this morning. The

politicians leave next, the Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband

and other members of the Cabinet. The Speaker of the House of Commons

is there. Tony Blair and Sir John Major, Gordon Brown, Mrs Thatcher

or Lady Thatcher not here this year. Representatives of the House of

Lords, the Speaker of the House of Lords, the Leader of the

Conservatives in the House of Lords, Lord Strathclyde on the right and

at the back, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. So as Whitehall is

gradually cleared of the dignitaries as you might say,

attention will turn to the seven or ten thousand or so veterans who are

waiting to march past the Cenotaph which is the key part of this

second half of today's ceremonial. It has been extraordinary, just

standing here, being here. The atmosphere, it is almost

indescribable, isn't it? It is. Everybody here comes from a common

background. They have gone through things, they have experienced the

same stuff. Everybody here comes for a number of reasons. There is

the national memory aspect of it where we remember and pay tribute

to those that have gone before us and recognise the sacrifices they

have made. Also, we have either lost friends or colleagues over the

years and you come to remember those personal aspects as well.

Suddenly, the mood is changing. You have been here three times before.

What does it mean to you to be here? I think it's something that

unless you have served in the Forces, it is difficult to

understand. You have a common bond between you, no matter what cap,

badge or regiment you come from. The ability to get together, tell

old stories, and to remember those that can't be here, it means a lot.

We must remember people who have been very badly injured. You were

awarded the George Cross following an incident in Iraq in 2005 in

which you were severely injured? That's right. I was fortunate to be

working out of Baghdad at the time. My job was part of a CSI-type job

on bomb incidents. During the follow-up to one incident, there

were secondary devices around and I trod on a pressure pad and was

severely injured. The challenge going forward is going to be

continuing the huge amount of support that the people get now,

the huge amounts of money being raised - hopefully �40 million this

year by the Royal British Legion? Absolutely. The national response

to the last ten years of operations, and the fact the emphasis has

shifted, it's gone to backing the guys rather than the political

DAVID DIMBLEBY: Trumpet Voluntary is played as the President of the

British Legion approaches the Cenotaph with his wreath layed on

behalf of the Royal British Legion. He served in Bosnia, he's served in

the Gulf War. He was awarded a After Him come representatives of

London Transport, the Commonwealth Ex-Services League, the Royal Naval

Association and the Royal British Legion Scotland and the Royal

British Legion Women's Section. They will bring their wreaths down.

And lay them at the Cenotaph. After these wreaths have been laid,

there's a pause before the march- past of the veterans begins. Bob

Lawrence for London Transport. London Transport, which George V

agreed should parade here at the Cenotaph because in the First World

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

War they had driven buses to take In a moment, the march-past will

begin, but before it does, a thought of what veterans here may

be thinking of. We heard of those remembering other operations like

Korea. But some of here will be remembering something different. In

1941, when the Soviet Union joined the Western Allies in the war

against Nazi Germany and Russia was desperate for fuel and ammunition

and for raw materials and food. But with Europe occupied, the only way

to get the goods to northern Russia was convoys of ships steering a

treacherous course through the icy waters of the Arctic. A voyage that

Winston Churchill described as "the I was brought up by the sea,

go and sit there I wanted to know

I was 16 when I joined the Merchant Navy, but I did

precisely the same duties as the older members of the crew.

We did shifts, four on, four off.

You would do two hours at the wheel,

one hour on lookout, one hour on standby, for the whole voyage.

DAVID

DAVID DIMBLEBY:

DAVID DIMBLEBY: Local

DAVID DIMBLEBY: Local children used And the convoys coming in the loch

We never thought of them as going We thought it was a great game

We never thought of them to war. There was a lot of them

though afterwards we realised The first thing I was warned about

was never to go on deck without my protective gloves.

They said, "For heaven's sake, never- touch any part of the metal,

"because your hand will stick and it'll tear the skin off you."

So you're in dire straits then,

you're pretty useless for the rest of the trip.

When the convoy was on, we had a lot of snow on the way up.

Really blizzard, all the way upthere, and the ship was tossed about.

You didn't know where you were half the time.

We saw no action until we were nearing Murmansk,

and two ships ahead of us were sunk.

A Royal Navy ship came dashing round

to try and make contact with the sub- and drop depth charges,

and most unfortunately, the Germans put a torpedo into her.

The ship went on fire, it broke at the bow.

The bow went down within about five or six minutes,

and we could hear people scream.

You could see the guys in the water,- which was freezing,

grabbing ropes, but their hands wouldn't hold it

because the ropes were covered in ice.

So your hands would just slip, and they would slip underwater again.

We were given the order,

then, to go full speed ahead and get into Murmansk, to get away from it.

What you wanted to do was help them,- but you couldn't help them,

because if you'd stopped at all...

It would have been against orders,

but had you stopped, you'd have got a torpedo too.

So you had to keep going.

That ship carried 225 of a crew, and 158 died.

And as I'm talking to you now, I can see it all again.

"In memory of our shipmates who sailed from Loch Ewe during WWII.

"They lost their lives in the bitter-Arctic sea battles to North Russia

"and never returned to this tranquil anchorage."

"We will always, always remember them."

"We will always, always remember them."

that never came back. DAVID

that never came back. DAVID DIMBLEBY:

DIMBLEBY: Between

DIMBLEBY: Between 1941

DIMBLEBY: Between 1941 and

DIMBLEBY: Between 1941 and 1945, the Arctic convoys transported four

million tonnes of supplies to the Soviet Union, more than 100 ships

were lost, nearly 3,000 sailors lost their lives. With Sophie is

Commander Ed Grenfell who served with the Royal Navy on the Russian

convoys. You were also on many convoys, four separate convoys?

That's correct. You took extraordinary risks like so many

others? Yes, they were dangerous, no doubt about it. I served in the

Mediterranean on the Malta convoys, on the Atlantic convoys. The most

dreadful convoys of all were the convoys through the Arctic to north

Russia. Describe what it was like on board? Well, if you were

escorting a convoy in the Mediterranean, the fear was that

the ship might be sunk and if that happened, the water was warm enough

and you knew you would be picked up. You knew in the Arctic, you dreaded

it in fact, if the ship was sunk, you had five minutes to live.

happened to you, didn't it? Yes. My ship was hit first of all by one

bomb and we started to sink. Then five more dive bombers came down

and they hit us with another four bombs. One went into the

ammunitions store and the ship just blew up. I sailed through the air,

I can remember it so well, and then I was deep down in the Arctic Ocean

and it was bitterly cold. I was about ten minutes swimming around

and then I managed to get myself on to a wreck of an upturned lifeboat.

I was another ten minutes there before I was rescued. Extraordinary.

I'm going to talk to Edna Brunt, who has a fascinating tale to tell

about your tile during the Second World War. You were a mechanic?

a flight mechanic. You had to go up in the bombers? Yes. I had to test

our work. It was quite frightening. What was it like being inside the

bomber? They put me in the rear gunners at first and I didn't like

it. I had to lay beside the pilot, who was Polish. He started to show

off because I was beside him. Our Corporal had to tell him off. Yeah,

it was, it was - well, frightening. But it was interesting. This is the

first time you have taken part in the march-past. Important for you

and important to remember the work that women did, so many women did

during the war? Yes, it is. I am so proud to be in this march. Well, I

will let you go. Thank you both DAVID DIMBLEBY: That is that black

memorial, a newer one than the Cenotaph. Two women at war, which

Sophie was talking about. We are now reaching the beginning of the

march-past which is led by the Board of Trustees of the Royal

British Legion. And a band before them. As, if you have seen this

before, you will remember this is a great mixture. Every year,

different people lead off. They are applauded as they go by other

members. The range is quite extraordinary. Even now, there are

new groups this year joining in. The Fellowship of the Services

leads off this year. It has that honour. Formed in the trenches in

1916 for people who had no work or were too disabled to earn a living.

They have 4,000 members and they are followed by the Burma Star

Association who were still fighting in Burma after the victory in

Europe had been declared. They called themselves "the forgotten

army". The Far East Prisoners of War Association goes through and

the Aden Veterans Association. The 1st Army Association who landed in

Algeria who fought behind the German and Italian forces. And then

the Queen's Bodyguard of The Yeoman of The Guard. Their wreath-bearer

was in the Welsh Guard. Popski's Private Army. And the Normandy

Veterans Association. They took part in the D-Day landings. The

British Korean Veterans Association. The 60th an verse of the battle of

Imjin River. There's a large contingent from the British Korean

The Malaya and Borneo Vetians association. Given permission to

wear a model awarded by their Government. 100,000 British

servicemen, many of the the national servicemen were involved

The Italy Star Association. People who served in Italy between 1943

and 1945,50,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers died in Italy.

It is followed by the Monte Cassino Society, one of the key battles of

the taking of Italy or the recovery of Italy which went on between

January and June in 1944. The gallantry medallists league, led by

Major Alan, decorated in Northern Well, he would normally have been

in the parade, I think, but there he is watching, a royal hospital

Chelsea Pensioner. The British limbless ex-servicemen's men.

Behind them the ex-services wheelchair sports association. Some

of whom are hoping to take part in the Paralympics next year.

And they are in training. They were formed in 1987.

The royal Royal Hospital, Chelsea follows them led by Colonel Baker,

joined as Captain of inva lids as it is called, the Chelsea

Pensioners who give up their army pension to live in the hospital

which is is run along military lines, it is like being in a

barracks, but a friendly atmosphere and of course, they are hugely

admired and applauded wherever they And an important group behind them,

the Combat Stress as it is called who try to look after people who

have problems resulting from the This is a courageous attempt to try

and deal with and take seriously the issue of Combat Stress.

And the first column has gone past and we will have a second column

with the various Guards Regiments, but let's join Sophie Raworth again

as the columns go past. We are in the thick of it in Whitehall, I'm

with Richie Puttock. It is Extraordinary, the atmosphere here,

isn't it? We have the solemn and the very dignified service and

there is a noticeable change of tone now the veterans and the other

organisations are starting to march. It is much lighter and it has

lifted and you can feel the pride with the people who are marching

Arthe respect from the members of the public as they are applauding.

It is humbling to be here. It is humbling to watch these people,

young and old, walking past the Cenotaph? As Peter Norton said

earlier, it is that shared experience that bonds everyone

together that's marching today and the members of the public who come

to see them to pay their respects. And that's an important point,

isn't it? Rounds of applause you can hear it all the time and a lot

of public have turned out, who have been here since early this morning

to show their support to these former servicemen and women? It is

important to the people that have srved and -- served and I guess

because these people have been here for so long, it is hugely important

to them as well. It is fantastic to see the support that people are

showing and long may it continue. What about for the people who are

still serving? What does this show of support mean to them? I believe

it shows them that the work they do is very valued and sometimes when

you are a long way away from home, it can be easy to forget that the

general public at home are behind the Armed Forces 100% and I believe

that this shows the people that are still serving that they are

supported, they are backed and they are very well respected.

You may have seen the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, wearing

red and white roses which they did when they were prisoners of war in

Korea in 1951. They made them of paper and now it is something they

proudly wear. We go on, the Green How wards and the chess the

Cheshire Regiment Association. The red and white berets of the

The parachute Regimental Association in their maroon berets.

There is a large contingent here. Eight parachute members have died

since last Remembrance Sunday. The first big raids by the parachute

raids, Italy, Sicily, North Africa. The landings in Normandy.

They were not surprisingly named by the German Army as the Red Devils.

The Royal Scots Regimental Association. The General placed his

wreath on the Cenotaph earlier on. The The Black Watch Association. 25

battalions of the of the Black Watch served in World War I. They

got battles honours in the Somme and then in the in the Second World

War were famous for the break out wa out where their pipe major

played for almost 22 miles under fire and the Golden Highlanders.

There among them carrying the wreath, The Queen Mother's former

piper. And the garden is growing, or the

Field of Remembrance perhaps we should call it at the front of the

Cenotaph. The Army Catering Corps association,

still feeding troops in Afghanistan. Created in 1941 when they realised

that the food provided by individual regiments was not

adequate and you needed a proper part of the Army or special service

to do this and the Royal Pioneers follow them and Armed Labour Force,

whose job it was to guard prisoners and move stores and make roads and

airfields. In Afghanistan, they have 600

engineers out there at any one time. There is a father and son marching

here with 50 years service service between them. They were formed in

1942 and one of their first major operations was at the Battle of

Alamein. The Queen Alexandra's Royal Nursing

Corps, founded back in 190 2, but still working and working at bases

in Afghanistan. And the head of the column is now

now reaching Horse Guards. This is where we are now because the march-

past, as I said, doesn't end at the Cenotaph, it goes down the bottom

of Whitehall and comes out where The Prince of Wales is taking the

salute. By the way if you want to watch that part of the

commemoration this year, for the very first after this programme

ends, you can, if you're watching digitally, push the Red Button and

see the remainder of the march-past. The Prince of Wales there taking

the salute on Horse Guards. And back here in Whitehall, the

Ghurkha Brigade Association. 200,000 Ghurkhas fought in the two

world wars and there is still huge competition in Nepal. 28,000 people

applied for 200 jobs each year. Famous, of course, because they

have the slogan, "Better to die than be a coward." They terrify the

enknee with their 18 inch weapon, the curved knife.

The British Ghurkha Welfare Society, who look after them, the Ghurkhas,

not those who come to Britain, where many of them have suffered

hardship, but those who remain in There are a few people more admired

and braver than those who have to dispose of the IEDs and these are

the association of ammunition technicians, clearly with some

children of fathers who have been killed in this work in Afghanistan.

Some of the most dangerous work there is. They are part of the

Royal Logistic Corps. A mother and son who we talked to

last year, I think, during this Cenotaph ceremonial.

The the Royal Army Association. In 1917, they were recruited into the

Army for the first time during the First World War.

They are now disbanded. They join the Army directly and the 656

Squadron Association, the Army's first operational Apache attack

helicopter unit which Prince Harry, of course, is working with at the

moment. It has seen three tours in Helmand province. They were

deployed also in the Falklands and in the Second World War served in

India and Burma and Malaya. With their armbands behind the Home

Guard Association, the 1.5 million who volunteered to serve in the

Home Guard in the event of a German The Army Air Corps Association,

these people were crucial on D-Day because they were the people who

landed the gliders in Normandy and allowed men to go into battle just

20 yards from Peg Pegasus Bridge DAVID DIMBLEBY: Now the Royal Air

Forces Association. They maintain huge numbers in Afghanistan as part

of the NATO operation this year to protect the civilian population of

Libya. This is a charity, incidentally. They look after

members of the Royal Air Force. Claims to be the largest single Ex-

Services' Association. The RAF Regiment Association follows them.

They distinguished themselves in Burma. The RAF Regiment are the

military force of the Royal Air military force of the Royal Air

Force. The 7 Squadron Association of Bomber Command, which today

operates Chinook helicopters. It is the oldest Bomber Squadron. In the

Second World War, they were Second World War, they were

equipped with the Stirling. Sophie? I'm here with Richie Puttock from

the Royal Marines Association. It is striking how many charities are

represented here this year? Yes, there has been a reinvigoration of

pride in recent years in belonging to a service charity, or regimental

association. A lot of that is due to the public support that the

forces now have. You know how important all those charities are

because you work first-hand with injured servicemen and families who

have lost people? Absolutely. It is not just about the money. The

charity that I work for, its remit has not changed in the 65 years

that it has existed. It is to support former Royal Marines,

serving Royal Marines and their families for a lifetime. Once a

Marine always a Marine. For all of the service charities, they face

challenges in the years ahead. With the support we have now, with the

public, we will get there. A huge amount of support here today. Thank

DAVID DIMBLEBY: John Nichol, one of the three Gulf War ex-POWs. He was

shot down in his Tornado and held prisoner. He leads the Royal Air

Forces Ex-Prisoners of War The RAF Police Association, the RAF

Nursing Association, the Bomber Command Association, who are hoping

to have finished by next year their They are followed by the Royal

Observer Corps and the RAFLING Association. The next column is led

by St Dunstans, the charity, its wreath-bear, Rob Long, who is just

24 years old, and was injured in Afghanistan, he said it had brought

St Dunstans followed by the Ulster Defence Regiment, the Irish Defence

Forces UK, the Northern Ireland Veterans' Association. And now

SSAFA ForceS Help. Helps 50,000 people a year. Operates homes near

Headley Court. The South Atlantic Medal Association. Julian Thompson

was in charge of 3 Commando Brigade, first ashore in the operation to

regain the Falklands. The people who were involved in the rescue of

troops from the bombed ship Sir Galahad. 255 British servicemen

lost their lives in the Falklands The Polish Ex--Combatants

Association. 500,000 Poles fought under British command in World War

Two. The Polish Air Squadron revered for downing more aircraft

than any other squadron. Nine of its pilots were designated "aces".

They fought also with great distinction. They are followed by

the Canadian Veterans Association. They played a vital role in the

Battle of the Atlantic. The Canadian Navy helping to secure the

supply routes. The Not Forgotten Association. The object of the

Association to provide recreation and entertainment for the war-

wounded. And the Royal British Legion and the Royal British Legion

Scotland. They round off this column. They were talking about the

amount of money that has been raised - Sophie was. Help For

Heroes, the salvation Army, they all raise money. Each year,

something like �300 million is raised for service charities.

Perhaps you are not surprised if you see the crowds here. The Royal

Naval Association. They have 20,000 serving and ex-serving members with

branches all over the UK and abroad. They are followed by the Merchant

Navy Association, carrying that white anchor. The National

President, her uncle died in World War Two. Her father was missing for

two years. 32,000 men and women of The Merchant Navy were lost in the

war. They have no known graves, of course, but the sea. But a memorial

for them stands now at Tower Hill. The youngest Merchant Navy serving

was 14 years old. The oldest was 74. The Russian Convoys. We were

hearing about Loch Ewe and the wreath-layer was at school with

Commander JOC Dempster who was talking to us a moment ago. -- Jock

Dempster who was talking to us a moment ago. The Yangtze Incident

Association is represented here. HMS Amethyst was held by the

Chinese until it was able to escape under the cover of darkness - a

great story. The Fleet Air Arm Association. The Royal Navy's air

force in effect. One of the most dangerous jobs is flying from sea.

It operates now in the North Arabian Gulf. 6,000 Royal Naval Air

Service and Fleet Air Arm personnel gave their lives. The Fleet Air Arm

Sea Harrier Association. The Landing Craft Association. They are

led by Ron Smith. We were talking to him earlier. Sophie was speaking

to him. He had that terrifying experience of being shelled as he

came ashore. They killed the crew of the tanks inside the tanks and

they couldn't get them out and had to go back to Portsmouth with the

tanks with their injured and dying troops inside. A very grim story.

The Algerines Association, it is a fleet of minesweepers brought into

service in 1942. More of them built than any other ship. HMS Cumberland

Association. The Glasgow Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval

Nursing Services are here. Some of them served aboard the ship Uganda

during the Falklands. 1984, it was, the first naval nursing sisters

were appointed and took the name of Queen Alexandra when she became

President in 1902. VAD Royal Naval Association. Then the Association

of WRENS. They are disbanded now. They were formed in 1920. The Royal

Fleet Auxiliary Association, laying their wreath at the Falklands

memorial. Their job to keep the Royal Navy equipped with food and

fuel and weapons while they are at sea. The Royal Naval Communications

Association follows them. And the Royal Naval School of Physical

Training Association were new last year. With their famous wreath with

the word "Gibraltar" on it, the Royal Marines Association. Most are

these clearly are commando-trained. Just back from Afghanistan, as we

had been talking about earlier on. Also with them, the United States

Marine Corps. They are marching here because they march and serve

alongside the Royal Marines in Now we come to some of the civilian

contingents. Transport for London, the Bevin Boys you may spot in

their white caps. The Salvation Army. They're offering their

spiritual support and famous cup of tea! The Bevin Boys are there. The

children of the Far East prisoners of war. The Evacuees Reunion

Association. The NAAFI who fed 500,000 troops on D-Day. The

Women's Royal Voluntary Service behind them. Just a reminder these

contingents are marching down and are now going past Horse Guards.

You can see the Prince of Wales. You will be able to watch this if

you push the red button, if you are watching digitally. Here, on

Whitehall, we have to leave the march-past. We have been watching a

ceremony that isn't a victory parade. Though many of those here

have helped win important victories which of course have changed our

world. There's been no hint of triumphalism here. This is about

remembering the many thousands who have fought Thor their country and

lost their lives. -- fought for their country and lost their lives.

Still in our complex world, with wars still being fought, no-one

doubts the courage of those who obey their orders, go to the most

dangerous places on Earth, support their comrades, risk and sometimes