My First Cenotaph Parade 2022 by Eileen Nolan

 

I don’t know if any of my relatives ever paid the ultimate price for their country as it was not something ever talked about in our family and now there is no-one left to ask. I know my husband’s uncle was a Japanese POW and suffered dreadfully in what he saw and what he experienced. Thankfully he came home and eventually became a Chelsea Pensioner. We had the privilege of visiting him at the Royal Hospital in the 1980s and meeting other veterans.

What I also know is that two of my brothers and three nephews spent careers in the army and all have seen action in conflict zones including Northern Ireland, the Gulf wars and Afghanistan. Thank God they have all come home but again, it is not something they talk about. Personally, I never went to any conflict zones but I did nurse soldiers who were “casevaced” back to the UK following some dreadful injuries sustained whilst serving their country.

I always watched the Remembrance Sunday Parade with respect for those who did pay the ultimate price and for those taking part. It never crossed my mind however, that I might take part myself until four years ago when my brother told me that he had been accepted to take part in the parade. My heart burst with pride for him and I looked forward to trying to find him as he marched past the Cenotaph. Unfortunately, he was very unwell on the day and was not able to take part and he doesn’t believe he will be fit enough now to ever do it.

From then on, I felt I needed to take part for him and on behalf of my wider family. Things got a bit delayed with Covid but I decided 2022 was going to be my year!

The application process was easy enough but then it’s a waiting game. Numbers have been greatly reduced since Covid and I knew there was no guarantee I would get a place. When the email came through confirming I had been accepted, I was so excited.

In preparation, I took advice from other members of the QA Association who had marched in the past. I was advised to wrap up warm and wear good shoes as I would be standing about for hours. I also realised that I needed to get a beret and a Corps scarf. When my beret arrived, I tried it on….lets face it, I never suited my beret when I was 18 and trust me, I still don’t suit it now at 66! But then again, they are not designed to be a fashion accessory.

The big day eventually arrived and I made my way to Charing Cross station. I had an idea of where I was going but if I had any doubt, I realised I just needed to follow the other berets! I joined the queue at Admiralty Arch at 08.10 and the place was buzzing. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know anyone in the queue as everybody was talking to everybody. Old friends were meeting up and new friends being made.

Once the gates opened, I quickly found B39 where 2 other QA veterans were already waiting. Soon we were 28 and for most of us, it was our first time taking part. Although I didn’t meet anyone I knew, it didn’t matter as everyone was chatting and reminiscing about their time with the QAs. The sense of camaraderie and belonging was palpable.

Yes, we were standing around but time did fly by. The next time I looked up, Horse Guards Parade was packed with thousands of veterans. Everyone was very respectful and it was moving to see the Chelsea Pensioners arrive and the applause which greeted them.

We had to ensure we were in our columns and ready to march out of the parade ground at 10.00. For some reason, I thought we would get more instruction than we did but after we were asked for volunteers to be drill leader and wreath bearer, we were simply told rows of 5. Column B led the parade this year so we were the first into Whitehall. I was shocked at the number of members of the public just outside the parade ground and the amount of clapping and cheering that went up for every contingent as they emerged into Whitehall.

Again, we waited in Whitehall for ages just chatting amongst ourselves and with members of the public. At this stage, I had the honour of meeting Brenda. She had joined the QAs as a trained nurse in 1952 and at the age of 93, decided she would like to take part in the March Past. It was wonderful to listen to her story of her life in the QAs back then.

While we waited, we couldn’t see the Cenotaph and there were 38 contingents in front of us so we didn’t really know how far away we were. We did have a large TV screen beside us so we could see what was going on up ahead and were able to see King Charles III place his wreath.

While we were waiting and watching the screen, there was a bit of a commotion right beside us and when we turned to see what was going on, an urban fox appeared from behind the railings. It sauntered up and down beside us as if inspecting the ranks and virtually posed for photographs! It probably wondered what on earth was disturbing his Sunday morning. It stayed with us for several minutes before disappearing again.

When all the dignitaries had laid their wreaths, we could see the March Past begin on the TV screen and then suddenly we were off!

I have to say that our marching left a lot to be desired at first! Afterall, it had been many years since most of us had marched anywhere…48 years in my case! What didn’t help was that although our drill leader was calling instruction, we were a small contingent and we could hear clearly all the other instructions being given by all the other drill leaders who were often on a different foot from us! After a couple of minutes, our drill instructor changed and left us in no doubt which foot we should be on! Things improved after that…she had clearly done this before!

It was an incredible experience going past the Cenotaph with all the poppy wreaths on one side and then the Salute being taken by Prince Edward on the other side. As we marched, members of the public cheered and clapped and I do believe the cheering got louder when the QAs went past!

As we arrived back into Horse Guards Parade, there was what seemed like a guard of honour with serving soldiers and volunteers clapping and cheering the veterans as they arrived back onto the parade ground. It was a very moving experience.

After the parade, photographs were taken, new friends shared contact details and we prepared to make our way home.

I believe that remembrance is a very personal thing. It is right that the nation formally remembers those who have paid the ultimate price but I also think about those who have served and seen action in conflict many of whom continue to live with their experiences every day and may never be the same.

On reflection of taking part in the Cenotaph Parade, I take away how moving the whole experience was and the respect in which I believe our Armed Services are held. I am proud to have taken part and I will remember the day always.

May the annual parade always continue……….Lest We Forget.


Eileen Nolan – CMH 74-75
BMH Rinteln 1975-1977
Royal Herbert/QEMH 1977-1978

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

During the year where everything has been cancelled or put on hold, DHE were determined to still go ahead with Remembrance Day commemorations by holding a virtual event for both the Chain of Command and Tri-service Nursing students across three years of training.

After an opening address by the OC DHE Major Burden, a recording was played from three retired QARANC nursing officers – Lt Col M Bate, Major K Foster and Captain J Westbury. They highlighted the vital role of military nurses during the Gulf War and the trials they faced caring for such a vast multitude of patients while also sharing their own personal views on events during the war. I believe this also provided a reflection for nursing students on how medicine has advanced so rapidly upon viewing the pictures that were shown to us and the stories which were shared.

There were also recordings from two past QARNNS nurses, R Webb and PONN J Nicholls who shared their own personal experiences from working as Naval nurses, their journeys in their military careers and, also their careers within the NHS after leaving the Royal Navy. This gave an insight to the opportunities available to military nurses during their careers with many opportunities for specialisms and motivation to those still in training.

At 11am, the last post was sounded and a two minutes silence was observed in order to remember those who have served and lost their lives in giving the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms both during the First and Second World Wars and also more recent conflicts.

Several nursing students including myself also shared personal accounts of what Remembrance Day meant for us, with some students sharing pictures of them at military events and other in their clinical uniforms. Cpl Bushnell-Shilling also gave an insightful piece of the history of the poppy and its significance during Remembrance Day Commemorations.

It was a real joy to see the number of nursing students across the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy who were so willing to get involved in this event making it a Remembrance Day to remember in a year when the impact of COVID-19 has compromised so many events.



AB Leah B Badger Student Nurse QARNNS

2020:REMEMBERING THE FALLEN

The pre-Covid noise and bustle of the London street on which Westminster Abbey stands, the queuing traffic, the sounding of horns and the faces of frustrated car and van drivers. The exhaust fumes from the stationary traffic. Pedestrians walking quickly along the pavements, heads down, eyes focused on their phones. Everyone in such a hurry, wrapped up in their own world. 

If one stops to pause and look up at the splendour of Westminster Abbey, to take time to stand still and think about the building one might remember that within the walls of the Abbey there lies the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. 

In 1920, it was proposed that the body of an unknown soldier, sailor or airman lying in an unmarked grave abroad be returned to England for burial in Westminster Abbey. This was to symbolise all those who had died for their country, but whose place of death was not known, or whose body remained unidentified.

It is generally agreed that between four and six bodies were exhumed from each of the main British battle areas on the Western Front on the night of 7 November 1920, and brought to the chapel at St Pol, in northern France. Each was covered with a Union Jack.

The commander of British troops in France and Flanders, Brigadier General Wyatt, picked one. This was placed in a coffin which was taken to Boulogne, where it was transported to Dover on HMS Verdun. The other bodies were reburied.

On the morning of 11 November 1920 - the second anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War One - the body of the Unknown Warrior was drawn in a procession to the Cenotaph. The Cenotaph a new war memorial on Whitehall, designed by Edwin Lutyens was then unveiled by King George V.

At 11 o'clock there was a two-minute silence, and the body of the Unknown Warrior was taken to Westminster Abbey where it was buried at the west end of the nave. The text inscribed on the tomb says 'They buried him among the kings, because he had done good toward God and toward his house'.

In the week after the burial an estimated 1,250,000 people visited the abbey, and the site is now one of the most visited war graves in the world.

Thousands of Navy, Army and RAF personnel have no known grave. The RAF memorial at Runnymede in Surrey is just one of thousands of war memorials in the UK. It is a place that provides the opportunity for quiet reflection as one walks along the colonnades pausing to look at the ranks and names of the 20276 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Second World War who have no known graves. They came from all parts of the Commonwealth.

As I stand at the gallery window and look out across to West London, I think about the hundreds of airplanes that fly every day over the memorial at Runnymede as they take off from and land at Heathrow. I wonder whether the passengers look out and realise that the freedom they have to travel freely across the world on business and leisure is only possible because of the sacrifice made by those whose names are listed on the memorial plaques.

Every year my husband, a retired RAF Officer, and I visit Runnymede to pay respects at the plaque listing his uncle Richard and the crew of his plane who were shot down in June 1940 by the Luftwaffe as they returned from defending the beaches of Dunkirk during the evacuation of British and other Allied forces in Europe. Their final resting place, a watery grave somewhere near Godwin Sands.

During last year’s visit we saw a group of children laying a Royal British Legion remembrance cross at each plaque and standing for a minute with their heads bowed. It was poignant moment.

Their teacher explained that he arranged for his pupils to do this every year because it was so important for everyone, especially those for whom WW2 is something they read about it in history books, to recognise the sacrifice made by so many.

‘When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say,

For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.'

Lt Col (Retd) Merrill Bate ARRC 1980-2002: Served for 22 years in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.
Nursing Officer 1980-1982
Clinical Nurse Teacher 1982-1985
Nurse Tutor 1986-1990
Senior Nurse Tutor 1990-1996
Head of Army Nurse Education 1996-1999
Head of School of Healthcare Studies, Royal Defence Medical College 1999-2002
NHS Leadership and Talent Management Consultant 2003 -2016

Remembering Remembrance by Merrill Bate

 

REMEMBERING REMEMBRANCE

    

It’s October 1984 and in the midst of a posting to the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital (QEMH) I get summoned to Matron’s office, why I wonder? Funny how I always think I’ve done something wrong when summoned to the ‘top corridor’! To my relief it’s good news. I have been selected to be one of the 8 QAs who will be representing the Corps at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. What an honour.

There are 4 of us from the QEMH who will be joined by 4 QAs from the Louise Margaret Maternity and Cambridge Military Hospitals. Unfortunately, I didn’t know anybody who had been part of ‘The Muster’ but I did know that my marching skills needed some serious practice. I hadn’t marched anywhere since my Passing Out Parade in June 1980. Help!

Assistance came from the RSM who soon had the 4 of us marching everywhere. He was determined that we would not let the QAs down. Every day for a week the RSM had us marching up and down the car park, through the hospital and up the stairs, along the corridor (goodness knows what the patients coming back from lunch in the Patients Dining Room thought) and back down the stairs. Again, and again. “Left, right, left right”. “Don’t look down when you are coming down the stairs”. “Look up”. “Keep in Step” were words that rang in my ears every day.

Uniforms were inspected. A new grey ward dress was ordered and my best Tippet dry cleaned. My best white veil was starched with copious amounts of Dip and carefully pressed before being stored flat. My shoes were polished by one of the RAMC Nurse Tutors so they looked like mirrors and just in case many pairs of ‘pearl grey’ tights were purchased from M&S!

The Thursday before the ‘big day’ we were joined by the “Aldershot 4” and the RSM really began to work us hard. He had 1 day to whip us into shape as a squad – forget teaching or nursing duties - every hour was spent rehearsing.

Friday saw us at the Royal Albert Hall for rehearsals. We quickly realised that although we were very accomplished at marching down the stairs at the QEMH the steps at the Albert Hall were completely different.

So, to the amusement of many we practised marching along the circular corridor outside the main auditorium, up and down stairs. Friday: practice, practice, rehearsal 1. Saturday: practice, practice, dress rehearsal and then…...

As the last of the Royal Navy contingent make their way down the steps into the auditorium the heartbeat quickens. We begin to march on the spot remembering that the London District RSM said this was a good way to ensure we didn’t falter on the first step. Left, right, left, right, keeping in time to the music. We inch forward slowly. We are standing in formation lining the corridor behind the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards and the Gurkha’s.

We are nearly ‘on’. Help! There’s no going back now. Must not let the Corps down.

Raymond Baxter announces “The Army”.

We’re on!

…… and we did it. In step all the way down the stairs, across the auditorium floor

and up the stairs again taking our places beside the Gurkha’s.

A sigh of relief and a quick look up at the box where my parents were seated. My mother was dabbing her eyes with a tissue and my father, a WW2 veteran, well I think you can imagine how proud he was!

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: age shall not weary them, not the tears condemn. 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them” (L.Binyon) 

What an honour and privilege and a memory which will stay with me forever. 

Afternote: there is a recording of the QAs contribution to the 1984 Festival of Remembrance available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN8mzNqIwaw





Lt Col (Retd) Merrill Bate ARRC 1980-2002: Served for 22 years in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.
Nursing Officer 1980-1982
Clinical Nurse Teacher 1982-1985
Nurse Tutor 1986-1990
Senior Nurse Tutor 1990-1996
Head of Army Nurse Education 1996-1999
Head of School of Healthcare Studies, Royal Defence Medical College 1999-2002
NHS Leadership and Talent Management Consultant 2003 -2016