2012 Remembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph

Good morning from Whitehall. On this day 94 years ago, the

Armistice that ended the First World War was announced. Winston

Churchill was looking out of his office window, the scene was

deserted he wrote when suddenly from all sides men and women rushed

out in a frantic manner shouting and screaming with joy and soon the

streets were full of crowds cheering, church bells ringing,

bands playing. That day, the 11th November today is now not a day for

exuberance, but for sombre mourning of those killed in both world wars

and the wars fought since. Here at the sen the Cenotaph, the

unchanging ceremony will be repeated, the same solemn music.

The simple service and hymn and the laying of wreaths on behalf of the

nation and the Commonwealth led by Her Majesty, The Queen. And at 11am,

the exact time at which the guns stopped firing in 1918, the two

minutes silence. The crowds have been gathering here since early

this morning. They stand 20 deep on the programme, young and old, all

come to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives. Whether now

or in the distant past, or in the all too real here and today. I have

talked to some of the people who have come here today, some for the

first time in their 70s or 80s because they wanted to see this

occasion. Some bringing young children or grandchildren, some

because they have got family members taking part in the march-

past itself. And it is young men and women like

those on parade around the Cenotaph this morning on the hallow square

who risk life and limb for us today. The officers and men of the

Household Cavalry, soon to go on their sixth tour of duty in

Afghanistan. Next to them, the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery,

the got guards, some of these to go on their first tour of duty in

Afghanistan. The Royal Navy represented by crews of Dauntless

and the frigate, Iron Duke. And the Royal Marines. Among them, Captain

Matthew Shaw. He served a six month tour with 40 Commando in

Afghanistan in which 14 Royal Marines were killed and 11

seriously wounded and Captain Shaw and a fellow Marine, visited the

Armed Forces memorial in Staffordshire, two generations

united in remembrance. In 2010, I served in Afghanistan

with the Royal Marines. We were based in the Helmand province

Throughout the world, You wear the green beret

30 years on, it is still emotional,- the first casualties on May 21

and then exactly a week later, Lieutenant Richard Nunn

and Lance Corporal Brett Giffin were all buried at sea.

They have no grave, just the sea.

So we need to remember them.

This Sunday, myself and 50 other marines, 22 from my troop,

will be involved in the march at the Cenotaph

as the Royal Marine contingent.

We've got almost two hours stood there at the Cenotaph,

relatively still, and we'll see the parade of those that come past,

all the veterans, all those serving,- all that history walking past us,

and it's a chance for us to reflect on our own personal experiences,

but also, your mind's drawn to the previous conflicts -

the Falklands, the Second World War and beyond.

The National Memorial Arboretum gives us a place

where we can come and think and reflect and respect.

They gave their all so that we could continue.

That

That Armed

That Armed Forces

That Armed Forces memorial in Staffordshire was dedicated five

years ago to commemorate the servicemen and women killed since

the end of the Second World War. Recent conflicts are vivid in the

minds of many vet rantion who will be -- -- vet veterans who will be

marching past today and with them is Sophie Rayworth.

Of the many people remembered the 255 servicemen and women who were

killed. You are here for the first time with 35 of your former crewmen.

How pointient will today be for you? It is a tremendous day. It is

30 years since the flak lands conflict and we are here to

remember those who lost their lives on the 25th May. You were Lucky. No

one on your ship died, but you were involved in the rescue of HMS

Coventry and 19 people lost their lives and those are the people your

thoughts will be with today? were lucky because we got hit first

and then watched Coventry blowing up and then heard - I the feeling

they would come back and finish us off and therefore, I was determined

we would sort ourselves out before bothering about the Coventry's

survivors swimming for their lives, not a very happy occasion.

Well, from conflicts past to conflicts present. You are just

back from Afghanistan ten-days ago. Those losses very, very fresh in

your mind. We got back ten-days ago. Ten

members of our battalion fell. It has been a long summer and we stand

here with dignity and pride to remember them.

And since you have been back you have been attending funerals. You

have been visiting the bereaved families? That's correct. My

thoughts are with the families today and it is important they know

they don't stand alone, that we are there to remember the sacrifices of

this summer. The crowds are standing 14 and 15

deep, how important is this public recognition for you and for your

men and for people still serving there? It is one day in a year

where we stand together irreSeptemberive of rank or

background, we stand as a nation and we remember and it is hugely

powerful. I mean it is hard to describe, but the sense of common

purpose and national pride, it is hugely uplifting and what we should

Of course, it is not just the dead reremember today, it is the people

who have been injured, whose lives have been so drastically changed by

war? Of course, no doubt we will see the injured coming by. Perhaps

some can't come out today and they are lying in their hospital beds

and our thoughts are with them and it is not just the physical scars,

it is the mental scars that are often unseen and our thoughts are

with them and we will be there for them.

This is your first time at the sen the Cenotaph. Your thoughts today?

My thoughts are with the fallen ten and my thoughts are with their

families. It is deeply humbling to stand here in history, but equally,

I recognise my men today. Thank you both very much.

Now the Massed Bands of the guards Divis, the Pipes and Drums of the

Blackwatch are going to be playing the music that leads up to 11am and

the silence. The Pipes and Drums are under pipe

major Richard Grisdale. He led them at a Remembrance Day service in

Helmand province in Afghanistan where they were on active service

as members of the 3rd Battalion fire support group and the Massed

Bands themselves are under the baton of Lunt Colonel Barnwell, the

new Senior Director of Music and as always, the music will begin with

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 86 seconds

MUSIC: "Rule Britannia" The massed massed Massed Bands play

heart of of oak and men The Minstrel Boy and men of of Harlec.

There are nearly 10,000 veterans here today, it is worth remembering

this isn't a military parade, it is individual choice that brings

people here. Either with their units or with groups of friends

from particular theatres of war. And it can be many years before

they choose to march. Maurice Crowther is now 91. He was a

prisoner of the Japanese in World War II held in conditions of

terrible cruelty and he will be here for the first time today to

mark the events of 70 years ago. He joined up with his friend Norman

Wood and in 1941, both of them were I didn't know nothing much about

I didn't know nothing much ships, but it was ironic the name

of the ship was Empress of Japan. We were marched to Changi,

That's when the illnesses started, There was nothing to eat much. You

You got malaria, dysentery Maurice spent the rest of the war

got malaria and dysentery and Maurice spent the rest of the war

Within a year, he had succumbed to beriberi and tropical ulcers.

Almost 70 years later,

Maurice travelled to Thailand for the first time

We went to the cemetery where Norman was buried.

I laid a wreath on his grave there.

I laid a wreath on his grave there.

And round about there were several other lads from our regiment

buried quite near.

Very emotional.

Yeah.

'The 122 regiment that I was in was renamed The Forgotten Regiment.

'Meant all their lives weren't lost for nothing, were they?'

The

The Pipes

The Pipes and

The Pipes and Drums of the Black The senior drum major will now call

the Massed Bands to attention and they will play a 19th century

Each week the names of those killed in Afghanistan are read out in

Parliament. We have become used to it. Among the most recent the son

of Michael and Claire Rowe who heard of their son Tom's Det only

eight weeks ago, but found the strength to talk about what he

You couldn't ask But just like any soldier, he had

If I told joke, he'd tell a better joke.

But just a funny lad, yeah.

He would light the room up with his smile.

Michael served 22 years with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment

and from an early age, Tom's ambition

was to follow in his father's footsteps.

At 17, he joined his father's old regiment

but was too young to go with them to Afghanistan earlier this year.

He flew out soon after his 18th birthday.

And then, on 15 September, that future was ripped away.

We were up at 5.30 on the 15th, aSaturday evening. I were cooking tea.

I saw two blokes at the door. It didn't cross my mind at all.

Open the door, they says, "Are you..."

I can't remember word for word, but, "Are you Mr Michael Wroe?"

"Yeah," and then they showed me their ID card

and says, "Can I come in?"

And they come through into the kitchen,

sat us down and told us that Tom had passed.

You don't think it can happen to your lad.

You don't want it to happen to anybody's lad,

but you don't think it'll happen to yours.

I says to Tom, I says, "Look, Tom. You might lose one of your limbs.

"I'll look after you for the rest of your life..."

But you don't expect this.

Tom was brought home to Yorkshire, and on the day of his funeral

We went from here on the route he used to run.

So beautiful up there, it's very quiet.

There was people clapping, people cheering,

people crying, waving flags...

People had Union Jacks in their windows, things like that.

They did their houses up. For Tom.

At the funeral service in the village church

she wrote and read her own tribute to her big brother.

This is what makes you who you are, Thomas.

T - thoughtful. You always thought of everyone.

H - hero. You were everyone's hero.

O - outstanding.

You're an outstanding brother, son, boyfriend and best friend.

M - military.

You wouldn't be who you are today without a military background.

A - amusing. You're the funniest person I know.

S - star.

You're the brightest star in the sky.

Love you, big bro. Sleep tight.

Your little sister, Demi.

Just before Tom deployed, he took Demi out for a meal.

They went to the cinema and they went to the Pizza Hut

and that's when they had the talk.

And he said to Demi, "Just follow your dream

"and just, what you want to do in life, just go for it.

"Cos that's what I did."

He were a top son, a top brother and a top soldier.

The

The pipes

The pipes are

The pipes are now playing the Scottish lament, Flowers Of The

Forest. Perhaps this is a moment to remember those who have died on

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 86 seconds

operations since last Remembrance MUSIC: "Nimrod" from the Enigma

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 86 seconds

Nimrod from Elgar and is followed Dido's lament.

There is an old military tradition tradition with soldiers who are

going on act of service to be opened if they are killed.

An patrol a soldier was killed when his vehicle struck a land mine. His

parents opened his letter. This is Now I'm up in heaven

You've been the best family and I thank you

Granddad and Nana are looking after me now, so I'll be OK.

Well - they're stopping me flirting with the birds!

I love you all from the bottom of my heart.

Please don't be mad at what's happened.

I did what I had to doand serving the British Army was it.

Again, don't be sad!

Celebrate my life, cos I love you and will see you all again.

Dad, thanks for everything.

I love you so much.

I hope I've made you proud, as that's all I wanted to do.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 86 seconds

Proceeded by the

Proceeded by the cross

Proceeded by the cross borne

Proceeded by the cross borne by a former chor former chorister, the

children and gentlemen of the chapel Royal. The Bishop of London

will take the brief service here at the Cenotaph accompanied by the

Sergeant of the Vestry, the sub- Dean of Her Majesty's chapel and

there followed out by the Major General commanding the Household

Division who march down Whitehall to take up their position prior to

the politicians who come here today, the Prime Minister and the Leader

David Cameron, Nick Clegg behind him, Ed Miliband, the deputy leader

of the democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland. The leader of

Plaid Cymru representing the Scottish Nationalists. They line up

in the front row with their wreaths. William Hague on the left there

with his special wreath and the Speaker on his right. And then

behind former Prime Ministers, Sir John Major is here. Tony Blair.

And the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for defence

and the senior members of the Government.

And they are followed out again all of them, bearing wreaths by the

High Commissioners. 47 High Commissioners or their

deputies from Commonwealth countries. Almost all of whom lost

citizens in the first or or Second World War. Only Zimbabwe and

Mozambique not included in that They will be followed by 15

representatives of religious denominations led by the Roman

Catholic bishop of the forces, Richard Moth, the Chief Rabbi of

the of the Hebrew, the Buddhist faith, the president of the

Methodist Conference, the Muslim Council of Britain, the General

Secretary of the Hindu temples, Jonathan Edwards, president of the

Baptist organisations, reformed Judaism and The Salvation Army and

the representative in white. The wife of Prince Edward who will be

taking a salute and on the left, Sir Timothy Laurence, the the

husband of the princess Royal. And so with just under two minutes

to go until 11am, the scene is set here for the Royal party who will

be standing before the Cenotaph. They will come out from the Foreign

and Commonwealth Office. Major Guthrie from the Scots Guards

The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty, The Queen on his right.

The Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, Prince

Michael of Kent there who is standing for his brother, the Duke

of Kent. And Lord Guthrie who is here on

behalf of the Prince of Wales who is away in New Zealand.

Their wreaths are taken behind them. They salute and we wait now for the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 86 seconds

Its Royal Marine Royal Marine The Duke of Edinburgh next who was

at the Field of Remembrance last Thursday, that old space, a field

He is followed byted Duke of came - - by the Duke of Cambridge in his

Royal Air Force uniform. A search and rescue helicopter pilot pilot

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 86 seconds

He is followed by the Earl of Wessex, an honorary Colonel in the

Yeomanry who will be taking the salute of this march-past on Horse

Prince Michael of Kent laying a wreath on behalf the Duke of Kent

who is at Stanley in the Falkland And finally, the former chief of

the defence staff, Lord Guthrie laying a wreath on be whatever of

the Prince of Wales who is on a visit to New Zealand and is in

And the parade stands at ease and hate and Beethoven's Funeral March

is played. First, the Prime First, the Prime Minister, David

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

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 86 seconds

He is followed by the Leader of the And next a lead is being laid on

behalf of Plaid Cymru and the And the next wreath is not made of

poppies, but an an exotic wreath made up at Kew Gardens with juniper

and morning glory and myrtle. He was proceeded by Nigel Dodds

from Northern Ireland. Here is the Secretary of State for foreign and

Commonwealth affairs, William Hague laying this wreath on behalf of the

And now the High Commissioners. They come in groups first Canada,

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

Ghana and Malaysia. Among those the countries that played some of the

most prominent parts in both the first world and Second World War.

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, They will be followed by another

group Nigeria, Cyprus, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Kenya

Soldiers from West Africa provided 155,000 troops for the the Second

World War and 10,000 were killed. From East Africa, 100,000, all

volunteers over 10,000 of hom were The third group, Malta, Zambia, The

,. And playing a crucial part in the battle for North Africa and the

invasion by the allied forces of southern Italy.

The next group, Swaziland, Bangladesh, the Bahamas, Papua New

Guinea, the Commonwealth of Dominica, St Lucia.

Many Figians fighting in Afghanistan today.

The final group will be St Vincent and the girlfriend the Grenadine,

Belize, Mozambique and it is worth remembering the scale of the

Commonwealth contribution. The Canadians in the First World War,

65,000 losing their lives, particularly famous for enduring

ternl enduring a bombardment of the Battle of Eep. New Zealand, who

declared war themselves at the very beginning of the Second World War,

the South Africans who fought so bravely along with their comrades

from roe from Rodesia. Now the service chiefs.

And the civilian chiefs. Sir Ken Knight the chief fire and

rescue advisor and those wreaths laid, the dean and the Bishop of

O Almighty God, that we who here do honour

in the service of their country and of the Crown

may be so inspired by the spirit of their love and fortitude

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

# Beneath 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 in 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 and not to heed the wounds;

to toil and not to seek for rest;

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, 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.

COMMANDER OF FOOTGUARDS: Attention!

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 royal

The royal party

The royal party now leaves Whitehall. Passing through the line

The sergeant of the vestry bows to the Bishop of London, and he

And then, the Chapel Royal - extraordinary, the first choir

school is said to have been established in 1635, and there has

been a choir school ever since. The Dean is an interesting position,

going back to 1312. The dean used to travel with the king and was

certainly at both Crecy and Agincourt. These Copes were

designed under Charles II, at the Restoration. They are followed by

the politicians. Led by the Prime Minister, and the other politicians.

They will be followed by the high Commissioners, and all the others

on parade here. At this moment, let's just go to the great crowd of

people waiting to march past the Cenotaph, to join Sophie Raworth.

So many of the people being remembered today were young men and

women when they died, teenagers, people in their early 20s. This

summer, one lieutenant was killed in Afghanistan, and today, two of

his sisters are paying tribute to him. Tell us, how much do you know

about how your brother actually died? What I know is that he was

killed leading a vehicle patrol, when he was working as a platoon

commander, in a role which she very much loved and enjoyed doing.

was only 26 years old, he died in August of this year, and I have

read some of the tributes to him, a wonderful character, by all

accounts - how will you remember your brother? I smile when I think

about him, because he was a lovely guy. He really looked after his two

sisters very well, and I can really see how he would have looked after

his rough men, too. He was very protective, in his nature. He was

quite a funny chap, too. We have written on our wreath that he was

an inspiration and a hero. And we are here to remember him today.

What is it like for you to be here today? It is very overwhelming. The

support we have had, the turnout that there is across the country,

not just here in London but in other parts of the country as well,

lots of remembrance services which are going on, and it really is very

special. It is quite humbling, really, to be his sister. It is

very humbling, it is an incredibly humbling experience. I am joined by

another lieutenant colonel, fresh back from Afghanistan, it is an

extraordinary experience to be here? Yes, those words she has said

about her brother absolutely capture his memory. It is usually

uplifting for us to feel so much support. Well-spoken. We are

remembering some very, very young people who have died, very recently

as well. Incredibly young people, who have sacrificed so much. We

will remember them. We will remember your brother, and all of

the others who have fallen this summer, and throughout history in

the service of our great nation. DAVID DIMBLEBY: The British Legion

organised this march past, which follows the formalities at the

Cenotaph, and the service, the Royal Family and the politicians

having left, it is the British Legion which takes over, led by

their president, Vice-Admiral Peter Wilkinson. He will be laying a

wreath on behalf of the Royal British Legion, responsible of

course for the poppies. The Poppy Day appeal now reaches a

magnificent �40 million. They are hoping for �42 million this year.

They make 45 million copies in total. It is an appeal which began

So, the solitary figure of the President, laying the wreath on

behalf of the Legion, followed by a Now, Peter Orchard, for London

Transport. The Royal Commonwealth ex- services League. The Royal

Naval Association, the Royal Air Forces Association, the Scotland

representative of the Royal British Legion and the women's section. And

as you will know if you have watched this ceremony, this is just

the beginning of what in the end will be a garden of poppies around

the foot of the Cenotaph, as all of those taking part in the parade les

their wreaths. There are many charities which take part each year

in that march past, charities which seek to help ex-servicemen and

their families in many kinds of ways. The war in Afghanistan, with

its hideous mutilation of troops by roadside bombs and by so-called

improvised explosive devices has focused on the work done by one of

these charities in particular, BLESMA, whose job is to find ways

of rehabilitating those who have suffered terrible loss of limbs.

This son of a Leicestershire farmer joined the Army and was posted to

Northern Ireland in the late 1980s, where soldiers were under attack

It was 10 May 1989 and it just on the way back, walking through

they planted a barrel with nuts As we patrolled past on foot,

and that's how I ended up losing my right leg above the knee,

my left leg below the knee, my right eye,

nearly lost my right arm but luckily they saved that.

This

This Paralympic

This Paralympic track

This Paralympic track cyclist was serving when he came under rocket

serving when he came under rocket fire. It landed pretty close, close

enough to do some damage. It resulted in me losing my arm. As

soon as I was injured, I had contact from BLESMA, and they took

because I don't like and in 2008 I did the Atlantic

It was hard work on the boat I had some scary times

but actually, turning round, I really enjoyed it.

I got a one-off grant from BLESMA to help my cycling costs,

you know, when I started my cycling,

which was obviously very helpful in the early days.

Then going to the games, whilst I didn't get the gold,

but I got three silvers.

COMMENTATOR: And on the line, he's just outside.

But there's still loads more to come, which is encouraging for Rio.

I mean, the way I look at it is like

if I hadn't got injured then I wouldn't be a cyclist.

And I quite like my cycling.

I didn't want to think of myself as a disabled person,

and I probably didn't for years and years.

I think my mum changed that in my mind

because she met somebody who'd been a Paralympian.

He was playing wheelchair basketball- and he said,

"Why don't you get your son to come along?"

And I went along and I was like,

"Oh, I don't know if I want to be here

"with all these disabled people,"

and I got in this wheelchair

and they let me have a go and that was it.

Changed my mindset completely.

14 years on I still play wheelchair basketball and coach,

and I go into schools and teach as well,

so, you know, it's opened up a new angle on my life.

I don't often get a tear in my eye

but being down at the Cenotaph really does push me to that point.

It's a humbling experience, to be honest.

It

It certainly

It certainly is,

It certainly is, especially when you meet people like these two. You

were very badly injured two years ago - explain what happened to you.

I was injured on foot patrol in Afghanistan with the Royal Welsh. I

stood on an IED and lost my legs, and a lot of my eyesight. I am here

today with blind veterans, marching up the front. When you were injured,

you were so close to the end of your tour as well. Yes, I had six

days left. It is unlucky, really, but I am here today, so... You have

had a lot of help since you came home - how much difference has that

made? It is good. I lost most of my eyesight, and at the beginning, two

or three years ago, at that stage, they helped me out a lot. We did a

lot of activities, it was really good. They help you out with a lot

of equipment, computer courses, just basically getting you back on

track. Lance-corporal Croucher, you're going to be accompanying him

today in the March Past, and you are incredibly lucky, by all rights,

you should have been very badly injured, you throw yourself on top

of an IED to protect your mind. and grenade, not quite as big, but

yes, it puts things in perspective. He has been my drinking buddy for

the last 24 hours. But it is great to see everybody here. It is a

really nice morning, and everybody is really quite upbeat. What

actually happened to you, because it was your backpack which took the

force of the blast, wasn't it? I was on a reconnaissance mission

in Afghanistan, about 3 o'clock in the morning. I had to throw my days

at on top of the grenade, to use it as a shield between myself and the

three guys behind me. And for that, you were awarded the George Cross -

what does it mean for you to be here today but steady it is great,

I am getting more involved with blind veterans now. It is terrible

enough that they have to deal with the injuries they have got, let

alone being blind. It means a lot to come along, it puts things in

perspective. I am perfectly healthy apart from a couple of knocks, it

is people like him which this is really for. Because today, of

really for. Because today, of course, we remember very much

people like you, whose lives have been so changed by war - what does

that public recognition mean to you? It is good. You know that you

are not forgotten about, basically. I am here for all the men who sadly

did not make it, that is why I am here today. It is a good place to

DAVID DIMBLEBY: Nearly 10,000 people - veterans, relations of

veterans, waiting to march past. That Blackstone The Women at War

memorial. Looking up towards Trafalgar Square. This band will

not be playing, it will be marching around to Horse Guards Parade and

it will play there. Now, there are by my reckoning something like 230

contingents marching past today. We will try and identify as many as we

can, but obviously, we could not identify all of them. So, apologies

to any contingent which feels it did not get a mention. We will try

to pick out at least some of them as they come past. There are a

So, the massed bands play, as this band leads, firstly, the Royal

British Legion and their representatives, those who have

chosen to come, saluting the Cenotaph. In top hats, the three

men who will be receiving the wreaths from the contingents as

they go by. This year, the parade is led by the Royal Naval

Association. Everyone who has served in the Royal Navy can be

long. And then, the green berets of the Royal Marines Association.

Their we've bearer. Mark Ormerod, a triple amputee. All trained to

Commando level before they get the coveted green beret. They will be

followed by the Merchant Navy Association. Winston Churchill said

the only thing that really frightened him during the war was

the U-boat peril in the Atlantic. Next, the Fleet Air Arm Association.

This association, marching for the first time this year. They served

in the Indonesian confrontation in the early 1960s. They were flying

helicopters down the narrow rivers. This year, we have had the

Cumberland Association, HMS Ganges, the last sea-going, wooden

battleship, which became a shore station in later years.

Associations from all different ships. The Ton Class Association,

representing villages. The this association now has its own state-

of-the-art hospital ship, the Naval Nursing Sisters. The Royal Naval

Association, the Association of Wrens, who now have their first

captains at sea, in a big change from when they were not allowed on

ships. Next, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Association. The Russian

convoy Club, who are longing for a medal to recognise the ghastly work

that they did, going in freezing weather to Archangel, through the

ice, from August until the very last day of the war, trying to

bring supplies to the Russian Army, in something which was known as the

suicide run by Winston Churchill. The Special Boat Service is here,

The British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association, which we were

hearing about earlier. They have got more than 2000 members now in

BLESMA. The Royal Hospital Chelsea, founded by Charles II in 1682, run

on military lines, and now gives places to veterans of the Armed

Forces, women included, who give up their pension to live in what you

might call a semi-military-style at the very beautiful Royal Hospital.

They are followed by the Queen Alexandra's Hospital for disabled

ex-servicemen. The Combat Stress Organisation, helps people to cope

with all kinds of psychological problems, something which has

gained increasing recognition as the years have gone by. And that is

the first column going past. Now, The first Army Association,

followed by the Aden veterans. The first Army landed in Algeria in

November 1940, in Operation Torch, to occupy Algeria. 36 members of

that association felt that they tended to be forgotten, so fault

that organisation in 1990. The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of

the Guard is here, who protect the sovereign. The British Korean

Veterans, who served against communist operations from the north.

They are followed by the Malayan Volunteers Group. They are playing

popular tunes to keep these veterans marching. The Gurkhas, and

the Borneo Veterans Association. The Gurkhas are currently serving

in Afghanistan. The National Pigeon War Service. The Gallantry

Medallists League, led by a former Army bomb disposal officer,

decorated for his services in Northern Ireland. The Burma Star

The Association. Constance there was a nurse in India, one of the

nurses who dealt with thousands of Next, the Far East prisoner of War

Association. Among them is Maurice Crowther. Maurice Crowther, who we

saw here on his first visit, 91 years old, pushed by his daughter.

We saw him visiting the grave of his friend in Thailand for the

first time. This is his first time on parade here. 50,000 British

service personnel were captured by the Japanese, and 12,000 of them

died. As this parade goes on past, we have many other units to come,

let's just go back to Sophie Raworth. Here on Whitehall, the

mood has shifted dramatically, with a real sense of pride, not as

sombre as it was a few minutes ago. Absolutely. It has really switched

all of a sudden from immense dignity for the fallen into now,

clapping behind me, the pride in these people marching by. We are

immensely proud of what they have done. There is a real sense of

comradeship, spanning the generations. Absolutely, and of

course, comradeship is about a fellowship of man, it is about

common values, a shared purpose and unique experiences which nothing

else in civilian life could replicate. What we are seeing here

now are these teams recognising those experiences that they have

had. You watch them going past, these faces, these stories, each

one with incredible stories to tell. Yes, this is living history,

standing in front of us. They will gather afterwards and reflect on

that history. They are off course hugely proud of everything they

have done. The irony is, only they know what they have done. Only

amongst that small team, they will be saying, we know what we did and

we know why we did it. You were in Afghanistan just 10 days ago - will

the people out there be watching? Absolutely. I know from experience

that they will have gathered this morning, they will have done their

services, people will be on patrol, standing on checkpoints now, and

they will be remembering some of the losses that they have already

had, even though we only handed over a few days ago. Lieutenant

Colonel Zac Stenning, thank you very much.

DAVID DIMBLEBY: The head of the march past has now reached Horse

Guards Parade, where the royal salute is taken. The Earl of Wessex

is standing there. They come all the way down Whitehall, and then

all the way past this saluting podium. The Black Watch Association,

with their blue bonnets. Always on parade here. They have been

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 86 seconds

The Black Watch are followed by the Highlanders.

The Argyl and Sotter land Highlanders and the Coldstream

Guards Association and the Guards The chief of the air staff there

watching this parade and the chief of the general staff is there too.

They are watching the parade as it goes past and the Navy Chief as

well so they go up on to the balcony on the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office to watch the parade go past.

The Grenadier Guards Association, the Coldstream Guards, the Guards

Parachute Association. There is Sean, who we were hearing

from a moment ago. It is Line Veteran UK, they used to

be known for years as St St Dunstan's marching there.

The next column is led by the Royal Military Me me Mechanical

Association. They were called the people who

kept the punch in the Army's fist. The Royal Military Police

Association in their bright red berets.

Behind them, the Royal Army Education Corps and then the

Veterinary Corps and the Dental Corps.

The Royal Scotch Dragoon Guards. There is Kendrick marching.

One son said -- one son served in the Gulf War, the other son served

in the Falklands and Northern Ireland.

The they are followed by the Royal Dragoon Guards deployed in

Afghanistan. And the Ghurkha Brigade Association.

The Ghurkhas selecteded from young men who live in Nepal. They have

200 places a year, 28,000 young men apply.

And their famous motto, "Better to The Reconnaissance Regiment of the

Old Comrades Association and the Army Dog Unit.

This is 656 Squadron Association in their light blue berets, currently

deployed on HMS Illustrious. They handle Apache attack helicopters.

They have been on three tours in Helmand province.

And behind them the Home Guard Association which was formed in

1940. A huge number of people joined it. 1.5 million and in the

end, two million or more in preparation for a possible German

invasion. The Royal Engineers Association, Bomb Disposal Division.

The teams who made safe over five million items of explosives after

Saddam Hussein's defeat in the in the first Gulf War, not the second

Gulf War, but the first Gulf War. The Army Air Corps, they fly Apache

and links helicopters too -- Lynx, Prince Harry of Wales is attached

to their division. They were responsible for the big glider

action on D-Day and the capture of Peg assuss Bridge and the Army

Catering scarp corps. The scarlet and green and the khaki berets, the

armed labour force, absolutely vital, working wherever the Army

was during the Second World War, laying the fuel line to Germany and

they received the title Royal because of the work they had done.

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The Reconnaissance Corps follows Coastal Command and Maritime Air

Association. Costal Command which was responsible for flying out to

sea, and protecting convoys and hunting submarines.

Followed by the Royal Air Force ex- prisoner of war association. That

man is a famous figure shot down in his plane and marching with them

Jack Lyon who was in the tunnel when The Great Escape was

discovered. The majority of them were prisoners in Germany World War

Let's join Sophie again. You are here for the first time.

You are a serving solicitor jerp. What is your -- soldier? What is

your impression. What strikes you most about standing on Whitehall?

am struck by the dignity and the pride and the service we had at the

start and the contrast of the pride of those marching past and the

respect really for each other and for those who have fallen.

You have just return from Afghanistan, only ten-days ago. How

important is it to have an annual Remembrance Day like this when the

nation really does stop and remember those who have given their

lives? It is hugely important. It is that single day in the year when

we stand together, no matter what our rank or back background, and as

a nation we remember the commitment of the members of the Armed Forces.

We live as soldiers today and tomorrow, but the chance for the

nation to stop and stand together means everything to us.

Thank you very much. And for everybody, standing here in

Whitehall watching, or if you are at home watching this on television

there, is a moment of extreme pride combined with sadness of the

courage of these men and of the people who they have come here to

represent, who died in war. Bomber Command are here. The Royal

Observer Corps. The National Service Association. The Sick

Squadron Association, -- the Six Squadron Association. I said we

can't mention them all, indeed we can't. 233 delegations on this

parade. The South Atlantic Medal

Association led by Julian Thompson. With him Commander Mike Clapp. 255

British servicemen most their lives. They are followed by the soldiers,

sailors, and families association. 12 members of the First Aid

Yeomanry there in a single line. The Association of Jewish Men and

Women. The wreath bearer and founder member whose husband was

killed when his helicopter was shot down over Basra.

They held their own service at the Cenotaph yesterday.

It is when they lay their wreath in the form of white flowers.

The British Ghurkha Welfare Association.

The Ghurkha Welfare Society raising money for the Ghurkhas who as we

know too well have been for a long time excluded from the benefits

that other members of the Armed The Not Forgotten Association. The

wreath layer who yesterday received an award from the French Government

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The Ulster Defence Regiment Association in their green blazers

and green beret. 197 soldiers, four of them women, lost their lives

during service in the Ulster Defence Regiment in Northern

Ireland. And they are followed by the Irish

Defence Forces veterans for the UK and the Northern Ireland Veterans

Association. And there are 25 members of the

Commando Veterans Association wearing the green beret. First

Royal Marine Commandos formed in 1942 at Churchill's specific

request and was an elite fighting force. He called them leopards who

could spring at the throats of the enemy. 25 of them on parade this

The Bevan Boys who instead of being called up by Lottery went down the

mines and worked as miners during the war. Transport for London, the

Old Comrades Association. The Salvation Army.

They have been working since the world war, giving support to the

troops. And the NAAFI follow them, they

were set-up to run recreational establishments, again set-up by

Winston Churchill in 1920. There are -- they are a national

Association of retired police officers, formed in 1919.

And the London Ambulance Service Trust.

St John Ambulance is here. And as these long lines still pass

the Cenotaph, I should just mention one thing that the march-past as I

said earlier disappears from sight after it passes the sen the

cenotaph, it goes behind Whitehall and on to Horse Guards were the

Earl of Wessex is taking the salute. This is the place where the annual

trooping of the colour ceremony takes place. Now, if you would like

to watch that part of today's events, when this broadcast is

finished, you can push the Red Button and continue to see the

march-past. And over there on Horse Guards,

Sophie Rayworth will be talking to more of the veterans. That's later,

at the end of this programme. The Commonwealth War Graves

Commission, responsible for graves all over the world which are

beautifully maintained as a commemoration. 23,000 places in 150

different countries. Well, we are coming towards the end

of the march-past here at the Cenotaph. Nearly 10,000 people,

veterans of the Second World War and wars since then, no one left to

march for the First World War which killed over one million British and

Commonwealth servicemen. But it is not just the dead who are

remembered here, but the living. Those whose lives have been

destroyed by injury and the families devastated, their hopes

and dreams in ruin. So much death, so much destruction. As a former