0:00:12 > 0:00:15Good morning from London.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18On this Remembrance Sunday, thousands of veterans
0:00:18 > 0:00:24and their families come to the heart of this city to pay tribute to those
0:00:24 > 0:00:26who have died in war.
0:00:26 > 0:00:33The setting - the iconic buildings.
0:00:33 > 0:00:39Westminster Abbey, on the left, the Houses of Parliament,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41on the right, and beyond, the Elizabeth Tower,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43in which hangs Big Ben.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48Its familiar sound used to mark the hours, but for the past few
0:00:48 > 0:00:53months, it has been silent as repairs are made to the Tower.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56This weekend, it has been briefly reprieved to ring out 11
0:00:56 > 0:01:00o'clock and the start of the Two Minutes' Silence.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05The ceremony this morning takes place around the Cenotaph
0:01:05 > 0:01:10in the middle of Whitehall.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Since 8am, people have been passing through security barriers to find
0:01:13 > 0:01:15a place to watch the ceremony.
0:01:15 > 0:01:24They come from all over the United Kingdom and abroad.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Some, many, in the front row for the first time.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29They stand ten deep here, some bring young children,
0:01:29 > 0:01:35some are here because their parents or grandparents are too old to come
0:01:35 > 0:01:38any more, but they want the day to be remembered.
0:01:39 > 0:01:45At the heart of the ceremony, the Cenotaph, built in 1920,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48to commemorate the dead in the First World War.
0:01:48 > 0:01:541914-1918.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57The First World War was a war so brutal that it was hoped
0:01:57 > 0:02:00it would end the use of war as a political weapon.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01The truth was otherwise.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05From the Second World War in 1939-1945, there has barely been
0:02:05 > 0:02:08a year without more deaths to commemorate,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11more seriously wounded to restore to some kind of life,
0:02:11 > 0:02:16and more families to console.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21So here in London, and in churches and war memorials across the country
0:02:21 > 0:02:25and abroad, there is much to reflect on this November weekend.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Her Majesty the Queen, who has laid a wreath on behalf
0:02:32 > 0:02:37of the nation almost every year since she came to the throne,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40in 1952, will this year no longer fulfill that duty, but will watch
0:02:40 > 0:02:44from a balcony as Prince Charles lays a wreath on her behalf.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Buckingham Palace says this is because she wants to be
0:02:47 > 0:02:50beside the Duke of Edinburgh.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54He has given up his official duties.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58She will be looking down on the veterans waiting
0:02:58 > 0:03:01to march past later, and on the hollow square,
0:03:01 > 0:03:07the formal part of the parade that surrounds the Cenotaph.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20This morning of Remembrance begins with the Massed Bands
0:03:20 > 0:03:22of the Household Division, and what is called
0:03:22 > 0:03:24the traditional music.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Roberts,
0:03:27 > 0:03:32the senior director of music, appearing here for the last time.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34He starts with the stirring sound of Rule Britannia.
0:03:35 > 0:03:45MUSIC: Rule Britannia - Arne.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43The official march of the Royal Navy, Heart Of Oak.
0:04:43 > 0:04:53MUSIC: Heart Of Oak - Boyce.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18And now the Massed Bands play Isle Of Beauty,
0:05:18 > 0:05:24David Of The White Rock and Oft In The Stilly Night.
0:05:25 > 0:05:35MUSIC: Isle of Beauty - trad arr.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Everyone who has come to march past the Cenotaph today
0:05:45 > 0:05:49has a story to tell.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Thousands of stories of physical and mental pain,
0:05:53 > 0:05:58of stress and of the misery of loss.
0:05:58 > 0:06:05Let's hear three of those stories.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07I was shot by sniper rifle.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10A large bullet had gone through my neck, and it had taken
0:06:10 > 0:06:12most of my spinal cord.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15I heard a bang, and that's when the other guy who was with me
0:06:15 > 0:06:17said, "Mark, I think you've been shot."
0:06:17 > 0:06:21They said, you know, with the extent of my injuries
0:06:21 > 0:06:23they've come to the conclusion that I'm never going to be
0:06:23 > 0:06:27able to walk again.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31My whole world had just ended really.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33I think if someone had come and said right,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37I would have asked them to finish the job off really.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42I've done some extremely hard courses in my Army career,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45but that was probably the hardest thing I've done, my rehabilitation.
0:06:45 > 0:06:52I ended up walking out on a walking stick.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56I was assessed to have severe post-traumatic stress disorder
0:06:56 > 0:07:00caused by my time in the Falklands.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03I was having night terrors.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05I became very combative, argumentative
0:07:05 > 0:07:09with my children and with my wife.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13My wife was coming to the end of her tether, and she said that
0:07:13 > 0:07:16I had to go for help.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20And she actually came with me to the doctor's surgery.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23I started to talk, but I just broke down.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25I went on the six-week course recommended to me
0:07:25 > 0:07:28by my psychologist.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33I met people who were going through exactly the same thing as I was.
0:07:33 > 0:07:40Since having treatment, I've been able to cope a lot better.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Charlie Henry Wood was my husband, and he was killed
0:07:43 > 0:07:48in Afghanistan on 28th December 2010.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51He told me that he loved me, but if anything happened he'd
0:07:51 > 0:07:56want me to continue with my life.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01I told him to go out there, stay safe, and don't try and be a hero.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04That he just needed to make sure that he came home in one piece,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07and to bring all his soldiers with him.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10I still think to this day that he knew that he was never
0:08:10 > 0:08:12going to come home.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17Obviously the normal situation would be that they would come
0:08:17 > 0:08:20to the house to tell me, but obviously they couldn't track me
0:08:20 > 0:08:21down because it was Christmas.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I was away from home.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27A gentleman came on the phone and he asked if I was Mrs Heather Wood,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29and I knew straight away.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32And suddenly within a split second my whole life had gone.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37I'd lost everything.
0:08:37 > 0:08:43The day that Charlie died, there was 9,000 troops
0:08:43 > 0:08:45in Afghanistan at that time, and Charlie was the one
0:08:45 > 0:08:54that got killed.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Massed Bands.
0:09:06 > 0:09:12Stand at ease.
0:09:28 > 0:09:34MUSIC: Flowers Of The Forest - trad arr.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37The Pipes and Drums playing now have a reputation
0:09:37 > 0:09:42for showing quite extraordinary courage in battle,
0:09:42 > 0:09:46leading the troops over the top of the trenches.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51500 pipers were killed in World War I.
0:09:51 > 0:10:01They play now the lament the Flowers Of The Forest.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Massed Bands...
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Massed Bands...
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Attention!
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Now the haunting notes of the most reflective
0:11:38 > 0:11:44of Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, Nimrod.
0:11:44 > 0:11:54MUSIC: Nimrod - Elgar.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Dido's Lament by Henry Purcell.
0:15:20 > 0:15:27"When I am laid in earth, remember me but forget my fate."
0:15:27 > 0:15:29It plays as we wait for the procession of clergy
0:15:29 > 0:15:34and choir who will lead the Service of Remembrance.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08A crossbearer, Edward Fanshawe,
0:17:08 > 0:17:15leads the children and gentlemen of the Chapel Royal.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26The Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal, and former Bishop of London,
0:17:26 > 0:17:36Dr Richard Chartres, who will be conducting the service.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Here, led by Theresa May the Prime Minister,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13and Jeremy Corbyn, the Leader of the Opposition,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17come the politicians.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26The leader of the SNP on the left,
0:18:26 > 0:18:34former Prime Ministers behind, Sir John Major, Tony Blair.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36The Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Stuart Piech,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39the First Sea Lord, the Chief of the General Staff,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42the Chief of the Air Staff.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44And the long line of High Commissioners,
0:18:44 > 0:18:4745 High Commissioners,
0:18:47 > 0:18:53what you might call the ambassadors the Commonwealth countries.
0:18:53 > 0:19:03They are joined by the new Irish ambassador, laying the green wreath.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07And as they line up, we are waiting
0:19:07 > 0:19:11for the 15 different religious denominations
0:19:11 > 0:19:13who come here to take part in the service.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17The Roman Catholic Church, the free churches,
0:19:17 > 0:19:19the Buddhist faith, the Methodists, the Islamic adviser,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22and the imam of the Armed Forces,
0:19:22 > 0:19:30the Hindu chaplain to the Armed Forces,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33the president of the Baptist Union,
0:19:33 > 0:19:34the Network of Sikh Organisations,
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Reform Judaism, the Salvation Army,
0:19:37 > 0:19:41the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Church of Scotland
0:19:41 > 0:19:44represented here.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Behind, you just saw the Major-Generals parade,
0:20:02 > 0:20:03the Household Division, coming on parade
0:20:03 > 0:20:06to take their place.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10The Prince of Wales leads out seven members of the Royal Family.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13He will be laying the wreath that is normally laid by Her Majesty
0:20:13 > 0:20:18the Queen on behalf of the nation.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Henry of Wales,
0:20:20 > 0:20:28the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42The Princess Royal and Duke of Kent are there and their equerries.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50And on the balcony,
0:20:50 > 0:20:54the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen, watching.
0:20:54 > 0:21:01As we approach the 11 o'clock and the two-minute silence.
0:21:01 > 0:21:11BIG BEN CHIMES THE HOUR
0:23:15 > 0:23:19GUNS FIRE
0:23:19 > 0:23:28MUSIC: Last Post
0:24:55 > 0:25:01The Prince of Wales first lays the wreath on behalf of the Queen.
0:25:07 > 0:25:14And he will later lay one on his own behalf.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22The Queen watching from the balcony
0:25:22 > 0:25:27with the Duke of Edinburgh beside her.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30And now, on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh,
0:25:30 > 0:25:36the equerry lays his wreath.
0:25:54 > 0:26:04And now the Prince of Wales lays his own wreath.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10The Prince of Wales, who's colonel in chief
0:26:10 > 0:26:12of a host of regiments,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14who commanded in the Royal Navy and was a helicopter pilot,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16as many members of the Royal Family
0:26:16 > 0:26:19have seen a career in the services.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24He is followed by the Duke of Cambridge.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27The Duke of Cambridge comes with Prince Henry of Wales,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30his brother, and the Duke of York.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33All three of them have served.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35The Duke of Cambridge, seven and a half years
0:26:35 > 0:26:39of military service.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Prince Henry of Wales, two tours of Afghanistan.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43The Duke of York in the Royal Navy
0:26:43 > 0:26:49and Sea King helicopters in the Falklands.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Watched from the balcony by Princess Alexandra
0:26:51 > 0:26:54and the Duchess of Cambridge in the middle
0:26:54 > 0:26:59and the Countess of Wessex.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12The Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16and the Earl of Wessex lay their wreaths.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19The Princess Royal is Admiral and Chief Commandant
0:27:19 > 0:27:25for women in the Royal Navy.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Parade, stand at ease!
0:27:33 > 0:27:43The politicians' turn now, led by the Prime Minister, Theresa May.
0:27:49 > 0:27:58MUSIC: The Supreme Sacrifice - Harris.
0:28:15 > 0:28:24The Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Ian Blackford on behalf of the Scottish National Party,
0:28:42 > 0:28:45their leader in the House of Commons,
0:28:45 > 0:28:49and on behalf also of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh National party.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04He is followed by Vince Cable,
0:29:04 > 0:29:11the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28Nigel Dodds, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party,
0:29:28 > 0:29:34in the House of Commons for Northern Ireland.
0:29:43 > 0:29:49And now in an addition to this ceremony,
0:29:49 > 0:29:56the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow.
0:30:10 > 0:30:18And the Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Fowler.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32After him, the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, who lays flowers
0:30:32 > 0:30:38on behalf of the Overseas Territories, places like Bermuda,
0:30:38 > 0:30:48Cayman Islands and Falklands and Gibraltar and St Helena.
0:30:52 > 0:31:00Now the first of the High Commissioners.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Led this time, they normally come at the end, but they
0:31:02 > 0:31:04are the oldest members of the Commonwealth,
0:31:04 > 0:31:06Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India,
0:31:06 > 0:31:10all of whom had thousands and thousands of people serving both
0:31:10 > 0:31:19in the First and Second World War.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Indeed, India, whose Acting Commissioner is here,
0:31:21 > 0:31:23and was said to have nearly
0:31:23 > 0:31:272.5 million people by August 1945 under arms.
0:31:27 > 0:31:32They are followed by the High Commissioners,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36or Deputy High Commissioners, of Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Ghana, Malaysia, Nigeria,
0:31:39 > 0:31:44Cyprus, Sierra Leone,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Tanzania, Jamaica,
0:31:46 > 0:31:51Trinidad & Tobago, and Uganda.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02Following them, Kenya, Malawi,
0:32:02 > 0:32:07Malta, the George Cross,
0:32:07 > 0:32:09Zambia, Singapore, Guyana,
0:32:09 > 0:32:13Botswana and Lesotho.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36And now Barbados, Mauritius,
0:32:36 > 0:32:41Swaziland, Tonga, Fiji,
0:32:41 > 0:32:46Bangladesh, The Bahamas,
0:32:46 > 0:32:54Grenada, Papua New Guinea and the Seychelles.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06And the final group of High Commissioners
0:33:06 > 0:33:09from the Commonwealth of Dominica, St Lucia,
0:33:09 > 0:33:16St Vincent & The Grenadines.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Belize, Antigua & Barbuda,
0:33:18 > 0:33:21St Christopher & Nevis,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23Brunei Darussalam, Namibia,
0:33:23 > 0:33:32Cameroon, Mozambique and Rwanda.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34They are followed by the Ambassador of Ireland
0:33:34 > 0:33:39to Great Britain, Adrian O'Neill.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51The Irish regiments, who served way back, the Irish Guards,
0:33:51 > 0:33:56established under Queen Victoria, fought in both world wars.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00The service chiefs come next, the Chief of the Defence Staff,
0:34:00 > 0:34:04Sir Stuart Peach, doesn't himself lay a wreath, but for
0:34:04 > 0:34:07the Royal Navy, Sir Philip Jones, for the Army, General Sir Nicholas
0:34:07 > 0:34:13Carter, and for the Royal Air Force, Sir Stephen Hillier.
0:34:16 > 0:34:21They are followed by the civilian chiefs.
0:34:21 > 0:34:22For the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Captain Martin Reed.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28From the Air Transport Auxiliary Association, Adrian Lead.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30For the civilian services, Sara Thornton, who chairs
0:34:30 > 0:34:35the National Police Chief's Council.
0:34:46 > 0:34:52Almighty God, grant, we beseech thee, that we who here do honour
0:34:52 > 0:34:58to the memory of those who have died in the service of their country
0:34:58 > 0:35:08and of the Crown, may be so inspired by the spirit of their love
0:35:09 > 0:35:17and fortitude, that forgetting all selfish and unworthy motives
0:35:17 > 0:35:23we may live only to thy glory and to the service of mankind
0:35:23 > 0:35:27through Jesus Christ our Lord.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31Amen.
0:35:37 > 0:35:42# O God our help in ages past
0:35:42 > 0:35:47# Our hope for years to come
0:35:47 > 0:35:53# Our shelter from the stormy blast
0:35:53 > 0:35:57# And our eternal home
0:35:58 > 0:36:05# Beneath the shadow of thy throne
0:36:05 > 0:36:10# Thy saints have dwelt secure
0:36:10 > 0:36:16# Sufficient is thine arm alone
0:36:16 > 0:36:25# And our defence is sure
0:36:25 > 0:36:27# A thousand ages in thy sight
0:36:27 > 0:36:33# Are like an evening gone
0:36:33 > 0:36:38# Short as the watch that ends the night
0:36:38 > 0:36:45# Before the rising sun
0:36:46 > 0:36:51# O God our help in ages past
0:36:51 > 0:36:56# Our hope in years to come
0:36:56 > 0:37:02# Be though our guard while troubles last
0:37:02 > 0:37:06# And our eternal home #.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Our Father, Which art in Heaven,
0:37:14 > 0:37:16Hallowed be thy name.
0:37:16 > 0:37:23Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done On earth as it is in Heaven.
0:37:23 > 0:37:28Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses
0:37:28 > 0:37:31As we forgive those who trespass against us.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40For thine is the kingdom, The power and the glory
0:37:40 > 0:37:42For ever and ever.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44Amen.
0:37:44 > 0:37:52Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you.
0:37:52 > 0:37:57The Lord bless you and keep you.
0:37:57 > 0:38:05The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you
0:38:09 > 0:38:13and give you his peace this day and always.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17Amen.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29Parade...
0:38:31 > 0:38:33Parade...
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Attention.
0:38:38 > 0:38:48MUSIC: Rouse.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13# God save our gracious Queen
0:39:13 > 0:39:18# Long live our noble Queen
0:39:18 > 0:39:24# God save the Queen
0:39:24 > 0:39:29# Send her victorious
0:39:29 > 0:39:35# Happy and glorious
0:39:35 > 0:39:40# Long to reign over us
0:39:40 > 0:39:46# God save the Queen. #
0:40:05 > 0:40:13The Queen leaves the balcony, and the members of the Royal Family
0:40:13 > 0:40:15leave Whitehall, led by Prince Charles, who laid that
0:40:15 > 0:40:21wreath on behalf of the Queen.
0:40:21 > 0:40:28Now the clergy will leave next.
0:40:28 > 0:40:38Led by Dr Chartres, the Dean of the Chapel Royal.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46And then the politicians, those serving today,
0:40:46 > 0:40:50and behind them the second group, former Prime Ministers,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53and then other members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
0:40:53 > 0:40:56and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, at the end.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59And so we are waiting now, and there's quite a long pause,
0:40:59 > 0:41:07before we come to the start of the march-past.
0:41:07 > 0:41:08So let's join Sophie Raworth.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11There are people of all ages taking part in the march-past today,
0:41:11 > 0:41:14but I'm here with the oldest veteran who's taking part, he is 99 years
0:41:14 > 0:41:17old, he's called Ernie Searling, and it's your first time here,
0:41:17 > 0:41:18a former Royal Marine.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23What does it mean to you to be here?
0:41:23 > 0:41:28I feel very humble, seeing so many hundreds of men
0:41:28 > 0:41:32and women on parade today.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36So very, very humble.
0:41:36 > 0:41:42I'm thinking of those that are not with us on parade today.
0:41:42 > 0:41:51Some fine people I served with, and we lost them.
0:41:51 > 0:41:57All I hope is that the future generations can see this parade,
0:41:57 > 0:42:05see some solidarity in it and see that the betterment
0:42:05 > 0:42:08of mankind in England, especially Great Britain,
0:42:08 > 0:42:12should be at its highest level.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15We don't want street fights, we don't want arguments,
0:42:15 > 0:42:20we don't want racial injustice.
0:42:20 > 0:42:28All of those things are horrible.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Ernie, it is fantastic to see you here, and it's an honour to talk
0:42:31 > 0:42:33to you here at the Cenotaph.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36What a wonderful description of what the Second World War
0:42:36 > 0:42:41was fought for in his mind.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43His hopes for the future, as the President of
0:42:43 > 0:42:45the Royal British Legion, Air Marshal David Walker, lays
0:42:45 > 0:42:48his wreath on behalf of the Royal British Legion,
0:42:48 > 0:42:51and then other members of the Royal British Legion,
0:42:51 > 0:42:55who organise this march-past, will follow.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01So the first half of today's act of Remembrance,
0:43:01 > 0:43:06the more formal part, is over now, and in a few minutes,
0:43:06 > 0:43:10the second, in many ways, to some people, perhaps the most
0:43:10 > 0:43:14moving part begins with the march-past of veterans
0:43:14 > 0:43:19and sometimes of their families too.
0:43:19 > 0:43:20What actually brings people here to the Cenotaph?
0:43:20 > 0:43:22It is always worth hearing.
0:43:22 > 0:43:26Four of those taking part explain.
0:43:27 > 0:43:31I was a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm, flying aircraft off
0:43:31 > 0:43:34of aircraft carriers.
0:43:34 > 0:43:38We were flying strikes over mainland Japan.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41We came in over the hedge and were strafing any
0:43:41 > 0:43:44aircraft we could see.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47I could see Wally because we were only about 50 yards apart.
0:43:47 > 0:43:53His aircraft started to drop.
0:43:53 > 0:43:58The aircraft slowly went into the ground.
0:43:58 > 0:44:05It was quite hard to take, really.
0:44:05 > 0:44:10I was deployed to Afghanistan.
0:44:10 > 0:44:15The morning of July 8th 2010, we set out on our patrol.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19The sun was just about coming up, and that was the last
0:44:19 > 0:44:25sunrise I'd ever see.
0:44:25 > 0:44:31Our team got contacted by an IED.
0:44:31 > 0:44:33I lost my left eye straight away.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36I had other serious head injuries.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40By the time I got back to the UK, I was informed that my right eye
0:44:40 > 0:44:44would have to be removed as well.
0:44:48 > 0:44:54In 1943, I joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.
0:44:56 > 0:45:00I was told, "You're going to be a wireless operator".
0:45:00 > 0:45:04We worked to what I now know was people in Europe,
0:45:04 > 0:45:07but, of course, at the time we didn't know that.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10Certainly by that time we knew we were working for SOE.
0:45:10 > 0:45:17They were stirring up trouble behind the lines in Europe.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21Years later, when everything was exposed, one learns
0:45:21 > 0:45:28that the people that we were talking to, as it were, was a group
0:45:28 > 0:45:30of Norwegians who were on the heavy water plant,
0:45:30 > 0:45:33which we blew up very successfully and was,
0:45:33 > 0:45:39in fact, one of the biggest, I think, successes of the SOE reach.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44I wanted to do something useful so I volunteered for Korea.
0:45:44 > 0:45:46I was on Hill 217.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49We were vastly outnumbered.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52We were losing men, and we made up our minds
0:45:52 > 0:45:54we were going to stay there, and that's all we did.
0:45:54 > 0:45:59Because you just can't fight for a hill and then lose it,
0:45:59 > 0:46:01because you've got to go back and retake it again,
0:46:01 > 0:46:05and that's when you lose the men.
0:46:05 > 0:46:10We managed to really stabilise our part of Korea.
0:46:10 > 0:46:20And we're very proud of that.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24We remember the guys who fought with us.
0:46:24 > 0:46:25The guys that volunteered.
0:46:25 > 0:46:28The guys that were enlisted, the national servicemen -
0:46:28 > 0:46:33they gave their lives and we all fought side by side.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35When I went back to Japan five years ago,
0:46:35 > 0:46:39I made a point of going to the cemetery
0:46:39 > 0:46:48where Wally's remains are and laid a wreath at his stone.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52When I read the engraving on it, and his age, 22,
0:46:52 > 0:46:59it really brought home to me the opening lines of the exultation.
0:46:59 > 0:47:05"They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old."
0:47:05 > 0:47:10A lot of us went out to Europe and were the wireless operators.
0:47:10 > 0:47:17And indeed 13 of them were killed.
0:47:17 > 0:47:21And it's certainly them that I think of when I go past the Cenotaph.
0:47:21 > 0:47:28And then I think about the modern wars, which are horrendous too.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30People from my regiment came down to see me.
0:47:30 > 0:47:36They informed me that Sam Robinson had been killed in the incident.
0:47:36 > 0:47:43That hit me a lot worse than the news of losing my sight.
0:47:43 > 0:47:49It's important to me that I still go and show my respect
0:47:49 > 0:47:51for what people have sacrificed.
0:47:51 > 0:47:55I've lost my sight, but what we're going to show there,
0:47:55 > 0:47:59what the point of being there is to show respect
0:47:59 > 0:48:08for the people who have given everything.
0:48:15 > 0:48:17The order is given for the march-past.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20The band leads off and the music changes to more popular tunes,
0:48:20 > 0:48:22you will recognise some of them, no doubt.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25It's A Long Way To Tipperary and other famous marching songs
0:48:25 > 0:48:28will play to keep them cheerful as they march, in all something
0:48:28 > 0:48:31like a mile and a half,
0:48:31 > 0:48:39which for many of them is a long way.
0:48:39 > 0:48:42The London Scottish Regimental Association is there,
0:48:42 > 0:48:44commemorating the actions of the 2nd Battalion in the Palestinian
0:48:44 > 0:48:53campaign 100 years ago.
0:48:53 > 0:49:03And the Gurkha Brigade Association, led by the General Sir David Dill,
0:49:03 > 0:49:05They have served on British ground since 1815, famous of course,
0:49:05 > 0:49:06for their courage in warfare.
0:49:06 > 0:49:10They have won 26 Victoria Crosses.
0:49:13 > 0:49:17The Aden Veterans Association marching past now,
0:49:17 > 0:49:24who fought in Aden, part of Yemen, celebrating the 50th anniversary
0:49:24 > 0:49:28of the emergency in Aden.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30Followed by the Special Forces Club.
0:49:30 > 0:49:35Anne Van Gruisen is among them.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38We heard her talking earlier on this morning
0:49:38 > 0:49:48about why she was marching and her experiences in the SOE,
0:49:51 > 0:49:55Help For Heroes, which is a new charity, well,
0:49:55 > 0:49:57which is celebrating its tenth birthday,
0:49:57 > 0:49:59is on parade today, launched particularly to help
0:49:59 > 0:50:01those who were badly injured.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04It has already helped 17,000 sick and wounded veterans.
0:50:04 > 0:50:14The Royal Hospital Chelsea, Bill Speakman, VC, talking earlier
0:50:16 > 0:50:22and Lance Sergeant Johnson Beharry, also VC, pushing his wheelchair.
0:50:22 > 0:50:30And now, Combat Stress.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33There is a much greater openness, and thank goodness for it,
0:50:33 > 0:50:34about mental health issues
0:50:34 > 0:50:36which used to be covered up and swept under the carpet.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39All of the people marching with Combat Stress have been treated
0:50:39 > 0:50:40for mental health conditions.
0:50:40 > 0:50:47The oldest is a veteran of Cyprus and the youngest of Afghanistan.
0:50:54 > 0:50:59This is the distinct maroon beret of the Parachute Regiment
0:50:59 > 0:51:03led by Major-General Farrar-Hockley, who fought at Goose Green
0:51:03 > 0:51:09and the battle for Port Stanley in the Falklands.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11A long tradition of courage, the Sixth Division carried
0:51:11 > 0:51:13out their airborne crossing of the Rhine, which led
0:51:13 > 0:51:14towards victory in Europe in 1945.
0:51:14 > 0:51:19The Black Watch Association, five battalions.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21There is Joe Hubble, Sergeant Major,
0:51:21 > 0:51:24being pushed in his wheelchair by his son, Neale.
0:51:24 > 0:51:29The Black Watch Association, five battalions, fought
0:51:29 > 0:51:31at the Battle of Passchendaele.
0:51:31 > 0:51:35The wreath laid by Corporal Barty.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37After leaving the Black Watch, he became Queen Elizabeth
0:51:37 > 0:51:41the Queen Mother's driver until she died.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44The Light Infantry Association.
0:51:44 > 0:51:46This is the first time they have marched past the Cenotaph
0:51:46 > 0:51:52in their olive green blazers, light infantry, amalgamated
0:51:52 > 0:52:02like so many infantry regiments to form The Rifles in 2007.
0:52:08 > 0:52:10The Fusiliers Association from Lancashire and their distinctive
0:52:10 > 0:52:12red and white hackles on their caps.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which have served in every conflict
0:52:14 > 0:52:20the UK has participated in in recent years.
0:52:20 > 0:52:28The Scottish Rifles.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31The association formed ten years ago.
0:52:31 > 0:52:34They went to the 100th anniversary commemoration
0:52:34 > 0:52:36of the Battle of Passchendaele.
0:52:36 > 0:52:41As you can imagine, there are a host of memories here,
0:52:41 > 0:52:47so many regiments remembering battles, and some of their
0:52:47 > 0:52:52family members proudly carrying the medals of their relatives,
0:52:52 > 0:53:02either fathers or grandfathers won in wars before.
0:53:05 > 0:53:10The Army Air Corps Veteran Association, the Army Air Corps,
0:53:10 > 0:53:13which looks after its own fleet of aircraft,
0:53:13 > 0:53:23carries out observation and liaison reconnaissance work.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27The scarlet, and genuinely scarlet, bright red berets
0:53:27 > 0:53:34that mark out the Royal Military Police.
0:53:34 > 0:53:38Women in war joined the Military Police Association
0:53:38 > 0:53:41in 1919 and used to patrol ports on key sites, for instance
0:53:41 > 0:53:44they had a Dover patrol, kept an eye on Dover and Folkestone
0:53:44 > 0:53:54and the ships there.
0:54:02 > 0:54:04And the Blind Veterans, formerly St Dunstan's,
0:54:04 > 0:54:06are passing the Cenotaph now.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08We heard from Rob Long talking about the last sunrise
0:54:08 > 0:54:18that he would ever see.
0:54:22 > 0:54:23The Ex-Prisoners Of War Association,
0:54:23 > 0:54:24John Nichol is always here.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28He was shot down in a Tornado when Saddam Hussein took Kuwait.
0:54:28 > 0:54:32On the very first day of that war, shot down and taken prisoner,
0:54:32 > 0:54:40released several months later.
0:54:40 > 0:54:447 Squadron Association of Bomber Command,
0:54:44 > 0:54:47today operating Chinook helicopters
0:54:47 > 0:54:49but remembering those, over 1000 of 7 Squadron
0:54:49 > 0:54:56killed in the Second World War.
0:54:58 > 0:55:06The RAF 8 Squadron, the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Association,
0:55:06 > 0:55:11all of these members of the Royal Air Force,
0:55:11 > 0:55:14and the Women's Royal Air Force, formed in the summer of 1939,
0:55:14 > 0:55:17the Auxiliary Air Force.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20Women at that stage were put in charge of
0:55:20 > 0:55:23repairing and maintaining aircraft and vehicles,
0:55:23 > 0:55:28women having first been recruited into the Royal Air Force in 1918.
0:55:32 > 0:55:40Keith Quilter who won the Distinguished Service Medal.
0:55:40 > 0:55:47From the Royal Air Force Survival Equipment "Squippers" Association.
0:55:47 > 0:55:53Keith Quilter, who talked about why he was marching past.
0:55:53 > 0:55:59And now the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry into another column,
0:55:59 > 0:56:02the FANYs who still operate in civilian life, working in recent
0:56:02 > 0:56:07tragedies at Westminster and the Manchester bombing,
0:56:07 > 0:56:14London Bridge, Grenfell Tower, they are there still doing
0:56:14 > 0:56:24their work, formed way back in 1907.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31The Merchant Navy Association, we talked to Vivien Foster,
0:56:31 > 0:56:32the National President, carrying that white anchor.
0:56:32 > 0:56:35They say the Merchant Navy was forgotten, like people
0:56:35 > 0:56:37who fought in Burma say they were the forgotten army
0:56:37 > 0:56:40but now in reality, we know they played an absolutely
0:56:40 > 0:56:46crucial role in supplying Britain in two world wars.
0:56:46 > 0:56:51They are followed by the naval contingents,
0:56:51 > 0:57:00including the Flower Class, one of the smallest warships
0:57:00 > 0:57:04And among the other ships, the Argonaut, the Ganges,
0:57:04 > 0:57:15the Glasgow, the Hermes Association.
0:57:17 > 0:57:20The ships named after villages ending with "TON", like the one that
0:57:20 > 0:57:23Prince Charles commanded in 1976.
0:57:32 > 0:57:34And now what is called the Fly Navy Federation,
0:57:34 > 0:57:38a whole number of organisations marching under the umbrella
0:57:38 > 0:57:40of Fly Navy, set up in 2009 to celebrate 100 years
0:57:40 > 0:57:41of naval aviation.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44They say, which is interesting, the Navy has been flying
0:57:44 > 0:57:48more years than the Air Force,
0:57:48 > 0:57:54who celebrate their centenary in 2018.
0:57:54 > 0:57:56Among them, the Fleet Air Arm Armourers,
0:57:56 > 0:58:06Fleet Air Arm Association, the Buccaneer Association,
0:58:07 > 0:58:11Field Gun Association,
0:58:11 > 0:58:21and at the very back,
0:58:22 > 0:58:24one man marching alone,
0:58:24 > 0:58:28from the Cloud Observers Association, Arthur Charles.
0:58:28 > 0:58:31The Cloud Observers were men and women of all ranks who served
0:58:31 > 0:58:35in the meteorological branch of the Royal Navy.
0:58:43 > 0:58:47And now we move to the last column, led by the Commonwealth
0:58:47 > 0:58:51War Graves Commission, Transport for London,
0:58:51 > 0:58:59well remembered because London buses carried the troops to the front
0:58:59 > 0:59:04in the First World War, and leading the Commonwealth
0:59:04 > 0:59:14War Graves Commission.
0:59:16 > 0:59:23St John Ambulance Cadets, marching for the first time.
0:59:23 > 0:59:32The Metropolitan Police Service.
0:59:32 > 0:59:37Nearly 9000 people have marched down Horse Guards.
0:59:37 > 0:59:39We have been reminded of the pain of war,
0:59:39 > 0:59:41the suffering of the injured,
0:59:41 > 0:59:47the loneliness of those who have lost family, friends or lovers.
0:59:47 > 0:59:50And we have perhaps given an answer
0:59:50 > 0:59:53to that poet who wrote of the dark months of the First World War,
0:59:53 > 0:59:55"Have you forgotten yet?
0:59:55 > 1:00:03Look up and swear by the green of the spring you will never forget."