ex-MediaOfficer

All views my own

[Moz Perkins⚓️🇨🇶🇬🇧 Author 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 @MozPerkins]

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.

[4th Regiment RA @4RegtRA]

#FightingFouurth are part of the multi national fires Exercise DYNAMIC FRONT 23 in Denmark. #StrongerTogether as we prepare for Very High Readiness operations with @7thRats

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

Did you see @WendyFaux @Faux2Faux

[Maj Sharpe 🫡🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 @sharpe_le]

Those that are old enough will know who this man is (clearly not the old bloke on the left) but the legend on the right. #BAOR #SLR

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

Lest we Forget. Needs no other words @BritishArmy https://t.co/Gbm4ZGbhpe

[Armend Mehaj @armend_mehaj]

Another step further in advancing our bilateral relations with 🇬🇧: We signed a MOU to establish a KSF Liaison Officer Position at the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster. This brings our Forces closer and will improve our capabilities in Force Development.

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

. @Army_AIB

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

@UKCivilService shambolic #civilservicelive

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

@BritishArmy Congratulations Cpl B, well deserved

[British Army 🇬🇧 @BritishArmy]

📣 Showing the best camera craft and editing skills for a video over 60 seconds, congratulations 🎉👏 go to the winner of the Long Video Award in the 2020 Army Film and Photographic Competition. 📷 🎥 #ArmyPhotComp
Read more https://t.co/M87k4egbxa

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

@ChelseaHistFest @CarolineWyatt @PeteAJohnston @RichardShirreff On-line ticket booked and really looking forward to this.

Picture brought back some wonderful memories of walking across the River Elbe in 2017!

@PeteAJohnston will have to arrange a book signing next time @NAM_London

@WendyFaux @APO2Ge

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

As the 11th November draws to a close here are a few images from memorials in Wiltshire.

Pause. Reflect. Remember

#LestWeForget

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

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.

#LestWeForget

[Army Media Office SW @ArmyMediaCommSW]

Here is a picture video we put together of D-Day Vet Harry Read as he prepares for his tandem jump into Normandy with the @RedDevilsOnline https://t.co/MVLKOEnhzU as part of the #DDay75 commemorations.

Harry's story will feature on @BBCBreakfast tomorrow.

Sir #WeSaluteYou

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

Spread the word - free food for military personnel!

[Army Media Office SW @ArmyMediaCommSW]

As part of @SalisburyAFD serving personnel are being invited to join @wiltscouncil for a BBQ & an evening of entertainment on the 28 June.

More info on how to apply for free tickets will be posted on @Tickets4Troops website next week @3rdUKDivision @ColREME @RHQ_The_RLC

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

@combat_boot @mistymccready LOL. Or catching a blue light taxi home from OOB😇

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

@combat_boot @mistymccready Remember those days well. Also the infamous early breakfasts on Limassol strip with teapots full of something that did not resemble Earl Grey

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

@thearmyleader One of my favourites photos from the 2015 commemoration event to mark the liberation, spending time speaking with 2 of the ex-POWs was very humbling. @Official_REME @2CS_Bn_REME @wzn_bbchistory @thehistoryguy

[British Normandy Memorial @britishmemorial]

93 year old Harry Billinge was just 18 when he landed on Gold Beach on D-Day. Harry has raised thousands of pounds for the #NormandyMemorial Last weekend our Royal Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales visited Harry to thank him. Here's Harry's #DDAY75 story #sacrificeforfreedom

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

#ArmedForcesDay2019 in Salisbury is just 100 days away - save the day 29 June 2019 #ShowYourSupport

@SalisburyAFD @SalisburyCC

[ex-MediaOfficer @MediaOffr]

Great memories and happy times. Hard to believe it was 5 years ago! Ex PIPEDOWN 2014 #LesContamines. @aligibson @ForcesNews @1UKDivision https://t.co/uFQaUDyr3b