For every retweet of this post, I will donate £1 to the @VC_and_GC_Assoc up to £50,000.
Time is running out following @I_W_M’s decision to close the Lord Ashcroft Gallery.
Visit while you still can, to honour the bravery of those who risked so much to protect our great nation.
The Government must put a stop to the vexatious and vengeful pursuit of brave Northern Ireland veterans.
Failing to do so will only serve the IRA’s attempt to rewrite the history of Northern Ireland.
Protect our veterans. Sign and share the petition 👇🏻
https://t.co/LkXDIYZb5L
Yesterday the guys passed the 2,000 nautical miles to go mark! 🥳
It's SO good to see them so happy and positive in this video, and as Rob mentions, morale is up! 😁
June 11, 2004, Today marks the 20th anniversary of a pivotal event that I'll never forget. It was in the early hours of the morning when, as the driver of an Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) in Amarah, Iraq, my platoon and I were ambushed. Our AFV took heavy fire, including a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) that detonated just 6 inches from my head, causing a severe head injury with less than a 1% chance of survival. Despite the odds, I was able to navigate the AFV out of the ambush, saving the lives of my crew. This is just one of two significant events where I was able to ensure the safety of my comrades. The mental and physical toll of that experience is still very real to me. I want to extend my support to my fellow comrades who are going through similar challenges. You are not alone. And to those who didn't make it back, your sacrifice will always be remembered. We will Remember Them! #WeWillRememberThem #hero #army #british #pwrr #vc #war #johnsonbeharryvc #Grenada
Congrats to Lorraine Larman, installed as the new Master of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners on Friday. Great to celebrate this special occasion with the industry! Best wishes to Lorraine for a very eventful and enjoyable year. #ProfessionalCleaning#WCEC#Livery
The view from my office window this lunchtime at @FusiliersRHQ@FusiliersLondon. The Royal Marines contingent head for refreshments at @TowerOfLondon having completed the Ceremony of the Constable's Dues.
It’s the 10th anniversary of The City of London Freeman’s Guide today. What began as notes for a lecture at @ClareCollege Cambridge, led to encouragement from @NigelPullman and @MJMike_Jenkins to publish. That was 5 editions and 20,000+ copies ago!
https://t.co/JD7UzasTaJ
On November 7th, 1920, in strictest secrecy, four unidentified British bodies were exhumed from temporary battlefield cemeteries at Ypres, Arras, the Asine and the Somme.
None of the soldiers who did the digging were told why.
The bodies were taken by field ambulance to GHQ at St-Pol-Sur-Ter Noise. Once there, the bodies were draped with the union flag.
Sentries were posted and Brigadier-General Wyatt and a Colonel Gell selected one body at random. The other three were reburied.
A French Honour Guard was selected and stood by the coffin overnight of the chosen soldier overnight.
On the morning of the 8th November, a specially designed coffin made of oak from the grounds of Hampton Court arrived and the Unknown Warrior was placed inside.
On top was placed a crusaders sword and a shield on which was inscribed:
"A British Warrior who fell in the GREAT WAR 1914-1918 for King and Country".
On the 9th of November, the Unknown Warrior was taken by horse-drawn carriage through Guards of Honour and the sound of tolling bells and bugle calls to the quayside.
There, he was saluted by Marechal Foche and loaded onto HMS Vernon bound for Dover. The coffin stood on the deck covered in wreaths, surrounded by the French Honour Guard.
Upon arrival at Dover, the Unknown Warrior was met with a nineteen gun salute - something that was normally only reserved for Field Marshals.
A special train had been arranged and he was then conveyed to Victoria Station, London.
He remained there overnight, and, on the morning of the 11th of November, he was finally taken to Westminster Abbey.
The idea of the unknown warrior was thought of by a Padre called David Railton who had served on the front line during the Great War the union flag he had used as an altar cloth whilst at the front, was the one that had been draped over the coffin.
It was his intention that all of the relatives of the 517,773 combatants whose bodies had not been identified could believe that the Unknown Warrior could very well be their lost husband, father, brother or son...
THIS is the reason we wear poppies.
We do not glorify war.
We remember - with humility - the great and the ultimate sacrifices that were made, not just in this war, but in every war and conflict where our service personnel have fought - to ensure the liberty and freedoms that we now take for granted.
Every year, on the 11th of November, we remember the Unknown Warrior.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
In accordance with ancient tradition (and the Port of London Thames Byelaws) a bundle of straw is dangled from Millennium Bridge to warn shipping of work under the bridge (we’re not making this up, honest). Robert, from our rope access contractor CAN Ltd, does the honours.