2013 Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

70 years ago in 1943, the longest continuous military campaign of the

Second World War was at its peak. Churchill called it the Battle of

the Atlantic. He said everything depended on its outcome. The bravery

of those at sea was matched in the air, by the famous Dambusters.

Tonight, we pay tribute to all who serve, to the many who've made the

ultimate sacrifice and to all victims of conflict.

# 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. Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses,

ladies and gentleman, there are 6,000 of the United Kingdom service

personnel in Afghanistan today. They have lost nine of their colleagues

in the past year. While this is fewer than in recent years, we, of

course, recognise that every individual loss deeply affects a

wide circle of family, friends and colleagues.

This remembrance weekend, we honour the memory of all those who gave

their lives in all conflicts and we recognise the work done by the Royal

British Legion, at home and abroad, to support those in need. Please

welcome the national overseas and branch standards of the Royal

British Legion and representatives of the ex-service and civilian

associations. Norman Essex, followed by

19-year-old John Formhill. Women's section, Laura Ashton and the

Scotland National Standard bearer, Terry McQueen in his ninth

appearance of the festival. Followed by the Sea Cadets. The Army cadet

force and the r Training Corps. 109 standard bearers, representing 2,500

branches of the legion across the UK, more than 40 million poppies

will have been made and distributed for the Poppy Appeal, the aim is to

raise ?37 million at least this year. The music in the capable hands

of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Barnwell.

The event is about precision, this is Garrison sergeant Bill Mott. The

ex-service associations joining us including the British Korean

Veterans Association, Peter Galloway, the Italy Star

Association, Joseph Correa, who is 67. 2013 marks the anniversary of

the beginning of the Italian campaign.

I didn't choose to be a Dambuster. I just happened to be lucky to be in

the right crew, in the right place at the right time. We were told to

form a special squadron for one special trip. And one special trip

was emphasised. The weapon used was the invention of a bouncing bomb. It

was low-level flying, 100 feet. God, that was wonderful. Lying in the

nose, I see the ground whizzing past. It was absolutely

exhilirating, it really was. My job was to get the bomb as near as I

could to the right place. Whatever the opposition was going to be, I

had to accept that however good your pilot is, you couldn't fight lady

luck, if it was against you. By the time we found the dam itself, it was

brilliant moon light. It wasn't an easy position to get into. If I

wasn't satisfied, I called "dummy run". I found out quickly how to

become the most unpopular member of the crew. On the tenth run, we were

down to 30 feet. When I said "bomb gone", "thank Christ" came from the

rear. We had just crumbled the top of the dam from 20 yards. So we set

a course for home. We didn't realise how special the raid was until the

following morning, when we saw the headlines in the papers. That was

when we really -- realised how important it had been. But 53 from

one squadron on one night, it's a hell of a loss. It was pretty

devastating. It's now 70 years since the dams

raid. I feel it was a privilege, in fact an honour, to have been able to

take part in that particular raid. Of that, I'm proud to have been a

Dambuster. On the night of 16th, May, 1943, 133

men in 19 Lancaster bombers took off for Germany. They were the men of

617 squadron, who'll always be remembered as the Dambusters.

Ladies and gentleman, we welcome to the festival members of today's 617

Squadron, Squadron Leader John Howard, Squadron Leader Tom Hill.

We're honoured they're joined by the last surviving British crewmen from

the Dambuster raids. Squadron Leader Johnny Johnson.

At this festival we remember all those who have been called upon to

make personal sacrifice in the service of our nation, including the

ultimate sacrifice. We stand shoulder to shoulder with all who

serve. We will care for those who suffer, comfort the lonely and give

support to all in need. Holding high this Torch of Remembrance, we go

forward, committed to strive for peace and justice for all people.

Later in the festival, during the act of remembrance, we will reflect

on the words which affirm the everlasting youth of those lost in

conflict. They are indeed Forever Young. Ladies and gentleman, please

welcome a friend of the festival, Alfie Boe.

APPLAUSE # May God bless and keep you always.

# May your wishes all come true. # May you always do for others.

# And let others do for you. # May you build a ladder to the

stars. # And climb on every rung.

# May you stay forever young. # Forever young.

# May you stay forever young. # May you grow up to be righteous.

# May you grow up to be true. # May you always know the truth.

# And see the lights surrounding you.

# May you always be courageous. # Stand upright and be strong.

# May you stay forever young. # Forever young.

# May you stay forever young. # May your hands always be busy.

# May your feet always be swift. # May you have a strong foundation.

# When the winds of changes shift. # May your heart always be joyful.

# May your song always be sung. # May you stay forever young.

# Forever young. # Forever young.

# May you stay forever young. # Forever young.

# May you stay forever young #. APPLAUSE

Few institutions in the United Kingdom have a record of service

spanning more than three centuries. The Royal Hospital Chelsea was

established by Charles II to provide soldiers with a fitting home in

retirement. It still provides a secure environment for men and women

who have known military life. The warmest welcome, once again to the

Festival, to the Chelsea Pensioners. APPLAUSE

Led in by Sergeant Major, and pensioners tonight have a combined

age of 420 years. Between them they have 281 years' of service.

Among them the eldest is Dorothy Hughes, who is 90, one of the 18

Chelsea Pensioners who lined the steps of St Paul's's cathedral at

the funeral of Baroness Thatcher and also among them Mike Funnell, 85.

This year's Poppy Appeal is being boosted by five young singers, the

youngest is just ten. The oldest 17, whose fathers are serving in the

Armed Forces. And they were recruited following a global search

for musical talent among forces' families. The Poppy Girls have

recorded this year's fundraising song for the British Legion's

appeal. They will be joining us in a moment. Their single, The Call, will

be officially released tomorrow. And they've been sharing their hopes and

their experiences with us. My dad's probably been away for 30%

of my life. Sometimes you do get paranoid about worrying if he is

safe or not, but there is still a part in you that knows that he will

come back. Hi, darling, all right? Yeah. It's really hard when my dad

goes away because my mum's having to be two people. It's difficult for

her, we sort of get upset because she gets upset. So, it's all sort of

stressful when he is away. It's not the easiest in the world, because

you are moving around all the time. You are having to make new friends,

you are having to start your life over again in a different place. I

have been to about seven or eight schools by the time I was 11. My dad

is in the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant Commander, and now he is based in

the Seychelles to do anti-piracy. He has been away three months. We are

missing him so much and want to run up to him and give him a big hug.

Being a Poppy Girl is so much fun. We keep getting called the Poppy

Family. That's accurate, because we are really close. I think it's

important to wear a poppy to remember all the soldiers that were

injured and that died in the World War I and Second World War and ones

fighting at the moment in Afghanistan. It's great to remember

them. I think performing in front of the Queen will be an amazing

opportunity. It will be really nerve-racking. At the same time,

it's really exciting. This whole experience has been amazing and I

never want it to end. # It started out as a feeling.

# Which then grew into a hope. # Which then turns into a quiet

thought. # Which then turned into a quiet

word. # And then that word grew louder and

louder. # Till it was a battle cry. ??# It

started out as a feeling. # No need to say goodbye.

# Just because everything's changing.

# Doesn't mean it's never been this way before.

# All you can do is try to know. # Who your friends are as you head

off to the war. # Pick a star on the dark horizon

and follow the light. # You'll come back when it's over.

# No need to say goodbye. # You'll come back when it's over.

# No need to say goodbye. # No need to say goodbye.

# Now we're back to the beginning. # It's just a feeling and no-one

knows yet. # But just because they can't feel

it too. # Doesn't mean that you have to

forget. # Let your memories grow stronger

and stronger. # Till they're before your eyes.

# You'll come back when they call you.

# No need to say goodbye. # You'll come back when they call

you. # No need to say goodbye #.

Let me just explain that one of our Poppy Girls has a father currently

deployed on operations in the Indian Ocean. Lieutenant Commander Billy

Adams isn't due back for another three months. Unfortunately, he

wouldn't have been in a position to see his daughter perform tonight.

Well, Megan, we have a very, very nice surprise for you right now.

APPLAUSE Now the longest continuous military

campaign of the Second World War was the Battle of the Atlantic, the name

given by Winston Churchill to the most complex Naval conflict in

history. 70 years ago, in 1943, the Allies achieved a turning point

considerably reducing the threat posed by the U-boats. The battle

involved all three services, in partnership with the Merchant Navy,

whose men paid a heavy price as they maintained a flow of vital supplies

for the people of Britain. So as we pay tribute to all those who

contributed to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, let's hear one

man's experience of the Merchant Navy at war. I was two months short

of my 17th birthday when I joined the Merchant Navy as a deck officer

apprentice. Virtually everything was coming in to the United Kingdom

across the Atlantic from the United States of America. Winston Churchill

described the Battle of the Atlantic as one of his major fears of the

war. Without the Merchant Navy, the nation really could have starved. We

set sail and shortly after we experienced the tail end of a

hurricane. When a ship was almost vertical, when you are looking down,

wallowing and then diving down over the crest of the wave and forcing

into the bottom of the next wave, that is a fairly hair-raising

experience. I was in the stewards' pantry when I heard the sound of the

torpedo hitting the ship. I have been asked whether I was terrified,

I was not terrified. I was too busy to be terrified. But before I could

climb on the raft myself the sea washed me overboard. Actually I

believe it saved my life, because it carried me away from the ship as the

ship sank. In total, 60 people on board, 50 lost their lives on that

fateful night. My next ship was another tanker, the Scottish

Heather, just over three months after that incident we were

torpedoed. To experience another torpedo attack in a short period of

time was quite an experience, I can tell you. The loss of seafareres'

lives and the Arctic convoys too was something in the order of 30,000. I

personally will not forget them. BELL RINGS

This year as we remember the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the

Atlantic, we remember the tribulation and sacrifice of those

who fought to defend these isles, amongst them the men of the Merchant

Navy, 30,000 of whom were lost, in a battle that claimed 2,000 merchant

vessels. Tonight we welcome to the festival, Donald Staddon, Anthony

Cash, Leonard Dibb-Western, Charles Downs, Frank Kelly, and Ronald

Quested. Ladies and gentleman, let us acknowledge the courage and the

contribution of the men of the Merchant Navy.

as British troops prepare for the final stages of withdrawal from

Afghanistan, their work as focussed on reaching out to local communities

and often they benefit from the services of a cultural advisor,

whose role it is to give guidance on cultural matters, religion and local

customs. Some of these advisors are reservists p and they're playing an

increasingly important role. I'm a reservist. I've been in the

military for just over ten years now. I started my life being a

territorial. When this opportunity came up, that I could learn a

language and work for the defence cultural specialist unit, I thought

that was the thought of thing I've always wanted to do. It's simply by

talking to people and giving them the time of day that you find out

the snippets of information that are so useful to yourself and to the

military planning. Afghanistan is made up of lots and lots of

different tribes, many with their own languages. Pashto is just one of

those. It's spoken a lot in Helmand, that's the language I went to learn.

When you can start speaking to someone in the dialect, they're so

impressed that immediately you've won so many points with them. I'm

quite nosey, so speaking to people every day and interviewing people

and getting an insight into how Afghans live, I found that

fascinating. Being welcomed into their home and you have to accept

they're prepared to protect you for the duration of your stay. If you

say with your helmet and glasses and gloves on, it's rude and

untrustworthy. You will be offered chai, a cup of tea, when you go to

their compounds, their farms, despite the fact that maybe some of

them think that we are the enemy. I've been told this by farmers,

yesterday we hosted the Taliban and they drank our cups of tea. Today

you sit here. They are showing you the fact that they're stuck in the

middle of this difficult war. But they'll be friendly and I don't see

that as being two faced. I see that as treating everyone the same. I

felt lucky to be invited into their houses. The defence cultural

specialist unit has made it possible for us to reduce the risk of life to

coalition forces and the Afghan civilians. So I think that as long

as we continue to understand the environment in which we operate, the

better it is going to be for reducing risk to life on all sides.

# She is like the lady down the road.

# Or just the woman up the street. # Like any mother you may know.

# To me. # She is the one who had it planned.

# To lead us all to Wonderland. # She always wanted us to go.

# And she said. # Don't ever be lonely.

# Remember I'll always care. # Wherever you may be.

# Remember I will be there. # And like another lady that we

know. # She has a smile so bright and

sweet. # And hair as white as driven snow.

# Though life is never easy day today.

# She has a very special way. # To make us smile when we are low.

# And she says. # Don't ever be lonely.

# Remember I'll always care. # Wherever you may be.

# Remember I will be there. # Don't ever be lonely.

# Remember I'll always care. # Wherever you may be.

# Remember I will be there. # I will be there.

# I will be there #. Since its creation in 1921 the

British Legion has embraced its duty of care to those close family

members affected by the loss of a parent, partner, or sibling. In a

few moments, we will stand to receive a group of widows and

relatives attending the Festival. Before they join us, we pause to

reflect on the words of a mother mourning the loss of a son, but

deeply proud of his exceptional courage and heroism.

You can't describe the pain of losing a child. Ever. You just shut

down. And then realise that you have to tell his brothers... And sister.

And it's that. The whole family's been hit so hard by it because he

was such an inspiration and you know that he is never going to come back.

That's the worst thing, because you just know you are never going to see

him again. When you find out the circumstances around his death, he

was such a good lad. He did such a good job. His section were clearing

the compounds when they saw the Taliban insurgent and they couldn't

get a position on him to kill or capture him. It was quite a lengthy

attack and their options were running out and I think that's when

they decided the posting the grenade was probably the best option. The

decision was someone's got to do it and James was like, I am doing it.

James is 6'8" and he crawled behind a wall two foot high to throw the

grenade to get this insurgent who had already shot and killed some of

his men. Unfortunately, when James went forward and, calls for him to

come back, but he is stubborn and carried on and that's when he posted

the grenade and, sadly, lost his life. They were all saying that what

he did that day went beyond the call of duty. And then they wanted to

come and see me about something and says, well, we would like to tell

you he's been awarded the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross is the

highest award you can win in the military. Sadly too often than not

they're posthumously awarded because of the kind of acts to win the

award. For James to win the Victoria Cross is amazing. It gives you a

good warm feeling to think that your little boy who you had all them

years ago turned out to be a man of valour and that's a great honour for

a mum and a family to have. The bereaved families, led by the

mother and brother of Lance Corporal James Ashworth, holder of the

Victoria Cross, only the second to be awarded during the 12-year

conflict in Afghanistan. Among the group too, Karen Stevens,

whose husband Corporal Seth Stevens who died in Afghanistan, Captain Ken

Smith is with us, whose son Matthew Smith was killed in Afghanistan in

August last year. And Sally Veck whose daughter was killed at the age

of 19 in Iraq, providing medical support and killed near Basra.

Our next guest knows all about the high standards achieved by those who

graduate from the Royal Military Academy because James Blunt left the

Army in 2002, having served for six years and rising to the rank of

Captain in the Life Guards. Today he is an award-winning musician,

enjoying worldwide success. Ladies and gentlemen, would you please give

him a very warm welcome. APPLAUSE

# How come you don't want to see me? # How come you've gone and left me

alone? # How come you took a slow boat to

China? # What can I do if I, I can't get

through to you? # Baby, blue on blue.

# I want you more than I ever wanted.

# Than I ever needed. # Anyone I ever knew.

# I love you more than ever. # Thought that I would never feel

the way that I do. # How long you going to leave me

here standing? # How long till you're going to make

up your mind? # How long is your balloon ride to

nowhere? # And what can I do if I, I can't be

there with you? # Baby, blue on blue.

# I want you more than I ever wanted.

# Than I ever needed. # Anyone I ever knew.

# I love you more than ever. # Thought that I would never feel

the way that I do. # Coming under fire.

# I'm coming under fire. # I'm coming under fire.

# I'm coming under fire. Tonight the Act of Remembrance will

be observed when the poppies fall and we reflect in silence on the

sacrifice of so many. For generations, from the battlefields

of the Somme, to the waters of the South Atlantic, service and

sacrifice have gone hand in hand. All who serve and have served are

represented in tonight's Muster of servicemen and women and that is

after Jack Toppings sings for us, he is going to sing For The Fallen.

# With proud thanksgiving. # A mother for her children.

# We all mourn for our dead across the sea.

# Flesh of her. # Flesh they were.

# Spirit of her spirit. # Fallen in the cause of the free.

# They shall grow not old. # As we that are left grow old.

# Age shall not weary them. # Nor the years condemn.

# At the going down of the sun. # And in the morning.

# We will remember them. # Solemn the drums thrill.

# Death august and royal. # Sings sorrow up into immortal

spheres. # There is music in the midst of

desolation. # And a glory that shines upon our

tears. # And a glory that shines upon our

tears. # They shall grow not old.

# As we that are left grow old. # Age shall not weary them.

# Nor the years condemn. # At the going down of the sun.

# And in the morning. # We will remember them.

# We will remember them #. APPLAUSE

To lead off the Muster, the Royal Navy.

42 members of the Royal Navy, representing ships and submarines,

air squadrons, commander units and shore establishments. The oldest of

the armed services, of course. The Senior Service.

The Royal Naval Nursing Services, officers and full-time and reserves

offering clinical care all over the world. The family white helmets of

the Royal Marines. Their motto, by sea, by land. The Royal Marines

Reserve, based in Wandsworth. Royal Fleet Auxiliary supplying fuel and

food, stores and ammunition. The Army.

The tune tells us it's the Scots Guard, F Company, involved in all

major activity in the past 12 months. 60% of soldiers from

Scotland, majority from Glasgow and the surrounding area. Here we have

ball law -- Balaclava Company 5 Scots.

Queen's Gurkha Orderly Officers. We have Queen Alexandra's Royal Army

Nursing Corps, representing a tradition of Army nursing going back

to the Crimean War. The Army Reserve. Lots of change

over the next few years. The number of reservists to increase by 30,000

by 2018. Personnel drawn from a range of

bases. The RAF regiment represented by the

Queen's Colour Squadron. The servicewomen n of the Royal Air

Force. The RAF Police, playing a crucial part in protecting personnel

and aircraft. RAF Nursing Service. They bring cash well toys from the

point of -- casualties from the point of wounding to field

hospitals, often in very dangerous conditions.

Royal Auxillary Air Force led by Liz Foster. They represent some 1400

personnel from 23 squadrons. The Volunteer Reserve. They're to be

boosted by five squadrons in the next few years.

The Royal British Legion and civilian services.

A group of poppy collectors representing more than 300,000, who

make up the Poppy Appeal volunteers across the UK and overseas. Civilian

services, including the defence medical welfare services, they

provide support to wounded, sick service personnel and their families

during the year. The British Red Cross here, 150th anniversary.

On 25th March, 2013, the insurgents drove a truck with approximately

half a ton of explosives on the back into the north-east corner of patrol

base. Cop ral Griffiths was in the -- Corporal Griffiths was in the

scuff house at the time. He was thrown from his berth to the other

side of the bench. When I came to, there was screaming, lads shouting,

saying, I need help. Friends need help. I didn't know I was injured

myself He took it upon himself to arm himself, wearing nothing by a

T-shirt and trousers and boots and took the fight to the men I. It --

Fight to the enemy. It wasn't until I pushed through the tent did I see

the insurgents in camp. As I realised I had to kill them before

they killed all our lads. My eye started hurting a bit. He looked at

my face and said, "You've been hit in the face." The base was secure.

He had done his bit. I was sent back to Camp Bastion. They did the

assessment on me and they realised my back was broke too. We

unfortunately lost a sole -- soldier that day. Lance Corporal Jamie Webb.

I was devastated. I thought he was going to make it. He had a massive

personality. Any favour you wanted, he would help you out. It's a great

loss. He was a good lad. I believe what Corporal Griffiths did that day

was heroic. His back was broken and he received shrp knell in the eye --

shrapnel in the eye. That is worthy of being given an award. I'm proud

to take the award for the company. When I walk into the Albert Hall

holding the Book of Rememberance, I will be thinking of Jamie and his

family and all the soldiers killed protecting our country.

# O Lord my God. # When I in awesome wonder.

# Consider all the works thy hands have made.

# I see the stars. # I hear the rolling thunder.

# Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

# Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee.

# How great thou art. # How great thou art.

# Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee.

# How great thou art. # How great thou art.

# When through the woods. # And forest glades I wander.

# And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

# When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur.

# And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

# Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee.

# How great thou art. # How great thou art.

# Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee.

# How great thou art. # How great thou art.

# And when I think that God, his son not sparing.

# Sent him to die. # I scarce can take it in.

# That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing.

# He bled and died to take away my sin.

# Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee.

# How great thou art. # How great thou art.

# Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee.

# How great thou art. # How great thou art.

# When Christ shall come. # With shout of acclamation.

# And take me home. # What joy shall fill my heart.

# Then I shall bow in humble adoration.

# And then proclaim, "My God, how great thou art."

# Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee.

# How great thou art. # How great thou art.

# Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee.

# How great thou art. # How great thou art #.

We are here in the presence of God to remember with thanks giving and

sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present,

have been given and taken away in the cause of justice and freedom. To

pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to

suffer the consequences of fighting and terror. And for the Royal

British Legion, as it continues its ministry of care, support and

advocacy for them. And to commit ourselves, young and old, to work in

penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations

of our troubled world. That under God, people of every race and creed

may be at peace. These thoughts and prayers we offer now in the words

that Jesus taught: Our father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name 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 forever and ever, amen.

Jesus said, "This is my commandment, love one another as I have loved

you. There is no greater love than this, that a man should lay down his

life for his friends. Are you my friends, if you do what I command

you. I call you servants no longer. A servient does not know what his

master is about. I have called you friends because I have disclosed to

you everything that I heard from my Father. You did not choose me. I

chose you. I appointed you to go on and bear fruit, fruit that shall

last. So that the Father may give you all that you ask in my name.

This is my commandment to you: Love one another."

# Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

# Hear us as we pray to you. We give thanks in this, the 60th anniversary

of the year of her Coronation, for our Sovereign lady, Queen e-Liz bit,

Pat -- Elizabeth, Patron of the Royal British Legion, for her

unstinting devotion to duty and her unswerving commitment to the service

of all her peoples. Grant that she may be so strengthened by God's

grace and guided by his spirit that following in the way of Christ with

her whole heart she may at the last come into his ie ternl kingdom --

eternal kingdom. # Lord, hear my prayer

We pray for those upon whom the responsibilities of Government are

laid and for all who, through positions of influence and

authority, serve the well-being of this nation, the Commonwealth and

the world. Give them the courage and integrity always to do what is

right, that upholding honour and justice and restraining evil and

oppression, they may enrich our common life and further the cause of

goodness and truth. # Oh, Lord, hear my prayer

# Hear my prayer # Lord hear my prayer

We commend to God the men and women who serve today in the Royal Navy,

the Army, and the Royal Air Force and all who support them in their

mission at sea, on land and in the air. May they meet danger with

bravery and, facing whatever lies before them with discipline and

loyalty, truly serve the cause of justice, freedom and peace.

# Oh, Lord hear my prayer # Oh, Lord hear my prayer

# Lord, hear my prayer # And bring us your peace.

# Amen. The Festival Organist again is Peter

Crompton. # I vow to thee, my country, all

earthly things above. # Entire and whole and perfect, the

service of my love. # The love that asks no question.

# The love that stands the test. # That lays upon the altar.

# The dearest and the best. # The love that never falters.

# The love that pays the price. # The love that makes undaunted.

# The final sacrifice. # And there's another country.

# I've heard of long ago. # Most dear to them that love her.

# Most great to them that know. # We may not count her armies.

# We may not see her King. # Her fortress is a faithful heart.

# Her pride is suffering. # And soul by soul and silently.

# Her shining bounds increase. # And her ways are ways of

gentleness. # And all her paths are peace #.

Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest, to give and in

the to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and

not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that

of knowing that we do thy will through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall

not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the

sun and in the morning, we will remember them. We will remember

them. When you go home, tell them of us

and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.

Representing the youth of the United Kingdom, Kiara and Mia, aged nine

and seven, their father Gary is recently returned from Afghanistan.

They will present poppies to the Royal British Legion. We present

these poppies from children to say thank you to all those who gave

their lives so that we can live and be free. Thank you very much.

Ever-living God, we remember those whom you have gathered from the

storm of war into the peace of your presence, may that same peace calm

our fears, bring justice to all peoples and establish harmony among

the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The final hymn at

this year's Festival is The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended.

# The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended.

# The darkness falls at thy behest. # To thee our morning hymns

ascended. # Thy praise shall sanctify our

rest. # We thank thee that thy church,

unsleeping. # While earth rolls onward into

light. # Through all the world her watch is

keeping. # And rests not now by day or night.

# The sun that bids us rest is waking.

# Our brethren 'neath the western sky.

# And hour by hour fresh lips are making.

# Thy wondrous doings heard on high. # So be it, Lord.

# Thy throne shall never. # Like earth's proud empires, pass

away. # Thy kingdom stands, and grows

forever. # Till all thy creatures own thy

sway #. # Sunset in the western sky.

# Darkness falls o'er land and sea. # Praise Lord we raise to you.

# This night and for evermore. # We think of loved ones near and

far. # And those who've fought the fight

before. # Keep safe your people, Lord.

# This night and for evermore. # Keep safe your people, Lord.

# This night and for evermore. # This night and for evermore #.

God grant to the living grace, to the departed, rest. To the church,

the Queen, the Commonwealth and all people, peace and Concorde and to

us, and all his servants, life everlasting. And the blessing of God

almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and

remain with you always. Amen. # 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 parade will remove head-dress. Remove. : Head-dress. Three cheers

for Her Majesty the Queen. Hip, hip. Hooray. Hip, hip. Hooray. Hip, hip.

Hooray. Parade will replace head-dress. Replace head-dress.

As Her Majesty and the members of the Royal Family leave the Royal

Box, this year's Festival of Remembrance is at an end. The Queen

will be at the Cenotaph tomorrow morning, leading the nation's

tributes to the fallen in the company of thousands of veterans and

families. Our coverage starts at 10. 20 on BBC One. From now, from the

entire BBC team, at the Royal Albert Hall, good night.