0:00:04 > 0:00:06We're in Colchester in Essex for Songs Of Praise
0:00:06 > 0:00:08on this important Sunday.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Its history as a garrison town dates back to the Romans
0:00:11 > 0:00:15and it's been a major army base since the Napoleonic Wars.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Today it's home to around 3,500 soldiers.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Their dedication to duty,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25their courage in the face of danger and their loyalty to their country
0:00:25 > 0:00:28is shared not only by those who serve today,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31but also by the generations of men and women
0:00:31 > 0:00:34who've been prepared to lay down their lives for us.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Today, we remember all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45On this Remembrance Sunday, we'll be marking
0:00:45 > 0:00:49the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52We'll be meeting the veteran who's waited 65 years
0:00:52 > 0:00:54to pay tribute to his fallen comrades.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58And the young war widow whose faith is helping her face the future.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Arms high. Squeeze your knees.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Let's get those feet together, get those knees together.
0:01:11 > 0:01:16This year marks the 10th anniversary of British troops in Afghanistan.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19These soldiers are the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment,
0:01:19 > 0:01:23part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, based here in Colchester.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Arms up high. Feet together. Squeeze your toes, toes up. Good.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31The brigade has completed four tours of duty in Afghanistan -
0:01:31 > 0:01:34the most any unit has carried out.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Having just recently returned,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40they know only too well the human cost of war.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I'll be speaking to some of them later.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49For our hymn singing today, we've gathered at St Botolph's Church.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53In the congregation are those who've served their country in the past,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57those who serve today and those who may well serve in the future.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Accompanying our singing, I'm delighted to say
0:01:59 > 0:02:02we have members of the Band of the Parachute Regiment.
0:04:43 > 0:04:49In World War II, the vital task of bombing Germany fell to the RAF,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52the brave young men of Bomber Command.
0:04:57 > 0:05:03The only way we could attack the Third Reich after Dunkirk
0:05:03 > 0:05:05was in the air.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07So Bomber Command was set that duty,
0:05:07 > 0:05:12to attack the German industrial estate
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and the morale of the German people.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19And that continued out throughout the war.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24Douglas Radcliffe signed up when he was 17 years old.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26You didn't have to fly.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29You weren't conscripted to get in that aircraft
0:05:29 > 0:05:32and go on an operation - you volunteered for it.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36And the whole crew...you joined a crew and that was it.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39You were comfortable with that crew.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45Bomber Command lost 55,573 men.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Their average age was just 22.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02My faith in God helped me during the war and it helps me today.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10It's constant. I can't explain it. I really don't have to explain it.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15I don't think anybody really needs to explain that. It's there.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20I think it's there for a lot of people who don't even think about that.
0:06:23 > 0:06:29Well, two members of my first crew are buried in Germany.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35I have never visited them and I won't visit them.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36I just don't think I should,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I couldn't do that, I don't wish to do it.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Although it sustained heavy losses,
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Bomber Command has never had its own permanent memorial.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Now, more than 65 years later,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Douglas has been working with architect Liam O'Connor.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00Marvellous. Very proud to be part of it, really am.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03I think you've done a marvellous job
0:07:03 > 0:07:07and I particularly like the sculptor looking into the open sky.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10It's a crucial part of the architectural concept
0:07:10 > 0:07:15- that the roof is open immediately above the sculpture.- Yeah.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Finally, a memorial is being built,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22and is due to be unveiled in June next year.
0:07:22 > 0:07:29To think that, after all these years, we are now going to see
0:07:29 > 0:07:31the memorial in Green Park,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34in the best part of London.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38It's everything. It means everything, not just to me,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41but to the tens of thousands of people who've supported it,
0:07:41 > 0:07:45and certainly the veterans who are approaching the end of their lives
0:07:45 > 0:07:49hopefully will see that memorial go up to their comrades.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Kate Whittaker is a member of the Band of the Parachute Regiment,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28which is based here in Colchester.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31The band are all trained soldiers and musicians.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36On the brigade's recent tour of duty,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40they went out to Afghanistan to entertain the troops.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45We get off a helicopter and turn up and go,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48"Right, we're the Para Band, we're doing a gig."
0:10:48 > 0:10:51It took a lot of people by surprise, especially when they were told
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Paras were coming and then found out they'd got a band instead.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59She was following in her brother's footsteps.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Joe Whittaker had been to Afghanistan
0:11:01 > 0:11:04as a soldier in the Parachute Regiment.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Joe got a scholarship to go to Sandhurst,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11but for him, I think he felt that, to lead others,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14he really needed to be in their shoes first.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18He didn't feel he could send somebody out to put their life on the line
0:11:18 > 0:11:22if he'd not gone through the same experience himself.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25I was so aware of how important it was for Joe, being a Para,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29and what they go through to get their beret, and he was so proud of that.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Joe was killed in an explosion when he was out on patrol.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38I couldn't really believe that it was actually true.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42And it was just shock and not being able to do anything.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Just feeling completely helpless, really.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52When Joe died, I had a really strong feeling
0:11:52 > 0:11:56that I wanted to contribute something to the funeral.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58And so I wrote a song for Joe.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11His friends built a cross.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15While I was there, I had the opportunity to go and see it.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18And I was completely blown away. There were about
0:12:18 > 0:12:2212 or so crosses, and a lot of them had loads of names on them.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24And Joe's was kind of in the middle
0:12:24 > 0:12:27and there was just his name on this plaque.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35It was just fantastic to be able to go and see it.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47To be able to stand in front of the band and say to people,
0:12:47 > 0:12:52"This is my brother, he was brilliant, he was fantastic
0:12:52 > 0:12:58"and I'm going to show you what he was like," that for me is a really great thing.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04I think it's important to have faith, and if I didn't,
0:13:04 > 0:13:09then everything would be a lot worse to deal with.
0:13:09 > 0:13:15It's that sort of reassurance that Joe is still there in some respect
0:13:15 > 0:13:19and, you know, not in pain, and not suffering.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24You know, that for me, is such a comfort.
0:13:36 > 0:13:43# O brother man Fold to thy heart thy brother
0:13:43 > 0:13:52# Where pity dwells The peace of God is there
0:13:52 > 0:14:00# To worship rightly is to love each other
0:14:00 > 0:14:08# Each smile a hymn Each kindly deed a prayer
0:14:08 > 0:14:16# For he whom Jesus loved has truly spoken
0:14:16 > 0:14:25# The holier worship which he deigns to bless
0:14:25 > 0:14:33# Restores the lost and binds the spirit broken
0:14:33 > 0:14:41# And feeds the widow and the fatherless
0:14:52 > 0:15:00# Follow with reverent steps the great example
0:15:00 > 0:15:08# Of him whose holy work was doing good
0:15:08 > 0:15:16# So shall the wide earth seem our Father's temple
0:15:16 > 0:15:26# Each loving life a psalm of gratitude
0:15:26 > 0:15:34# Then shall all shackles fall the stormy clangour
0:15:34 > 0:15:42# Of wild war music o'er the earth shall cease
0:15:42 > 0:15:53# Love shall tread out the baleful fire of anger
0:15:53 > 0:16:06# And in its ashes plant the tree of peace. #
0:16:15 > 0:16:17It was back in April
0:16:17 > 0:16:21when 16 Air Assault Brigade came home from Afghanistan.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26In the six months that they were out there, they lost 22 men.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34How important is it for you guys to have a memorial garden like this one we're standing in?
0:16:34 > 0:16:36It's very important for us.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Every year, at this time of the year, we all get together
0:16:39 > 0:16:42and gather in places like this and say prayers for our fallen.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Do you ever think of your own mortality?
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Generally, you go out and the expectancy is not
0:16:48 > 0:16:53that you're going to be one of the people who ends up being fallen.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Um, it makes you take a step back and look at what your job is,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59for sure.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04For most people, the idea of going out to Afghanistan during wartime would be hell on earth.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05Is it the same for you?
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Yeah, it is horrible when you go there.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10The height of summer and winter are the worst conditions.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12The amount of kit the blokes carry, over 100lb of kit,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15- they're suffering all the time. - A lot of people would say,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18"Where you find war, you obviously don't find God."
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- What do you say to that? - I pity those without faith
0:17:21 > 0:17:24because, for myself, when times get really difficult,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I know I can turn to God to give me inner strength.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30I hope that he never puts me in a situation
0:17:30 > 0:17:35I wouldn't be able to handle, rather than giving me protection.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Yeah, so I thrive off the knowledge that he's there to support me.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41When you see your fellow soldiers fall, do you ever think to yourself,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43"Why is God letting this happen?"
0:17:43 > 0:17:46No. It's not God's fault. He can't protect everyone,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49if you want to look at it like that. He can't look after everyone.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52I never pray for God to protect me.
0:17:52 > 0:17:58I pray that God guides me to do his will in a moral way.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01I also pray that he protects my muckers.
0:18:01 > 0:18:06Don't mourn the fallen, just thank God that such men existed. And I do.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Remembrance Sunday is probably the most important day of the year.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Has been since the end of World War I.
0:20:43 > 0:20:49For 90 years, the Royal British Legion has been the custodian of remembrance.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52It was formed to help veterans of the Great War
0:20:52 > 0:20:55who were left injured and unable to work.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01In 1921, they launched the Poppy Appeal
0:21:01 > 0:21:05to raise money for servicemen and women and their families.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09They're still supporting people today,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12fundraising in increasingly dramatic ways.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17The Royal British Legion remains an important organisation
0:21:17 > 0:21:20for many of those who have served in past conflicts.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23And to mark their anniversary, we sing a hymn
0:21:23 > 0:21:25that was written especially for them.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10The Royal British Legion has been a help and support to Kirianne Curley.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14I know they're always by my side.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16Their slogan is "Shoulder to shoulder with those who serve".
0:23:16 > 0:23:21Well, very much so. I've always felt that they've stood by me.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Her husband, Stephen, was killed in Afghanistan.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Stephen left when William Arthur was eight weeks old.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34So we didn't have a huge amount of time together.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38William Arthur was very young when Stephen deployed.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42I was very much in limbo.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46It was kind of a blip before we could start our family life together.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53I'd been praying for Stephen and for his protection the whole time he was out there.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55It was something I did every day.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59And the day he was killed, I prayed a lot more than I ever have before.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03Believing in God and having prayed for Stephen's protection,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05and then Stephen being killed, made me
0:24:05 > 0:24:09really struggle with the concept of God answering our prayers.
0:24:09 > 0:24:15'However, it hasn't stopped me having a faith.'
0:24:15 > 0:24:17- Look!- A cat.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22'There's a common misconception that having a child makes this situation easier.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24'It actually makes it a lot harder.'
0:24:26 > 0:24:31I think people are very shocked when they find out that I am a war widow.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34This is what one looks like.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37There's a lot of us knocking about who are young,
0:24:37 > 0:24:39often with young children.
0:24:40 > 0:24:46When my son grows up and he asks me, "Why did Daddy die in a warzone?"
0:24:46 > 0:24:50I'll tell him that Stephen went out there knowing what he was doing.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52He was a hugely experienced soldier.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56I'll let William Arthur know that his dad went out there to do a job
0:24:56 > 0:25:01and he believed in the good of what he was doing.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06And that's what gives me comfort, and I hope it will give him comfort as well.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18# Back when I was a child
0:25:20 > 0:25:25# Before life removed all the innocence
0:25:25 > 0:25:30# My father would lift me high
0:25:31 > 0:25:37# And dance with my mother and me And then
0:25:37 > 0:25:41# Spin me around till I fell asleep
0:25:42 > 0:25:47# Then up the stairs he would carry me
0:25:47 > 0:25:53# And I knew for sure I was loved
0:25:57 > 0:26:02# If I could steal one final glance
0:26:02 > 0:26:05# One final step
0:26:05 > 0:26:10# One final dance with him
0:26:10 > 0:26:14# I'd play a song that would never, never end
0:26:14 > 0:26:18# Cos I'd love, love, love
0:26:18 > 0:26:23# To dance with my father again
0:26:24 > 0:26:30# Sometimes I'd listen outside her door
0:26:30 > 0:26:35# And I'd hear how Mama would cry for him
0:26:36 > 0:26:41# I'd pray for her even more than me
0:26:42 > 0:26:47# I'd pray for her even more than me
0:27:02 > 0:27:07# I know I'm praying for much too much
0:27:07 > 0:27:15# But could you send back the only man she loved
0:27:15 > 0:27:19# I know you don't do it usually
0:27:19 > 0:27:23# But, dear Lord, she's dying
0:27:23 > 0:27:28# To dance with my father again
0:27:31 > 0:27:35# And every night I fall asleep
0:27:35 > 0:27:40# This is all I ever dream. #
0:28:01 > 0:28:06They shall grow not old As we that are left grow old
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Age shall not weary them Nor the years condemn.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13At the going down of the sun And in the morning
0:28:13 > 0:28:15We will remember them.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18We will remember them.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22When you go home Tell them of us and say,
0:28:22 > 0:28:26"For your tomorrow We gave our today."
0:28:28 > 0:28:33TRUMPETER PLAYS "LAST POST"
0:30:16 > 0:30:20My brothers and sisters, may the road rise with you.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23May the wind be always at your back.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25May the rain fall softly upon your fields.
0:30:25 > 0:30:31And until we meet again, may God keep you safe in the hollow of his hands.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
0:30:36 > 0:30:39be upon you and remain with you always.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41- Amen.- Amen.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46And on the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion, and the first Poppy Appeal,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49we give thanks to all those who have made sacrifices
0:30:49 > 0:30:51in conflicts both past and present.
0:30:51 > 0:30:57And we remember all those who laid down their lives for our freedom.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11Next week, Eamonn Holmes returns to his home, the city of Belfast,
0:33:11 > 0:33:14and the parish church of St Thomas,
0:33:14 > 0:33:18where he'll be exploring the theme of doubt to belief.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22He also visits an enclosed order of Poor Clare nuns.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24And there's music from the choristers
0:33:24 > 0:33:28of St Peter's Cathedral, Schola Cantorum.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:33:44 > 0:33:47E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk