Field of Remembrance

FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE SERVICE 2019 7 November 2019

On the 7 November 2019, members of the Gurkha Brigade Association, and representatives from all the current and past Regimental Associations gathered together for the Field of Remembrance service at Dean’s Yard in Westminster Abbey. The event is organised by the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory as part of the annual Poppy Appeal commemorations. Each year hundreds of volunteers help to plant more than 120,000 tributes across six Fields of Remembrance in the UK. Members of the public can make a Remembrance Tribute to be planted in the fields in the form of a religious or secular symbol carrying a poppy and a personal message to someone who lost their life in the service of the country.

The Field of Remembrance was started in 1928 by Major Howson MC, the founder of the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory. Major Howson and a few disabled ex-servicemen from the Poppy Factory grouped together around a battlefield cross and with a tray of poppies invited passers-by to plant a poppy in the vicinity of the cross. Since then, the field has evolved to include a wide range of military interests. Ex-servicemen and women, both young and old, turn out for the opening ceremony to pay their respects to their colleagues.

HRH The Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry) and his wife HRH The Duchess of Sussex (Meghan Markle) represented The Queen on this occasion. Field Marshal Sir John Chapple GCB, CBE, Major General Jon Cole OBE and “stand in” QGOOs were presented to the Royal couple. As always, a number of 6 GRRA members attended the Service.

After the Field of Remembrance service the Gurkha Brigade contingent moved to the Gurkha Statue in Horse Guards Avenue. En-route the GBA, 6 GR and 7 GR laid wreaths, as they do every year, at the statue of Field Marshal The Viscount Slim. This was followed by a small private ceremony at the Gurkha Statue honouring all Gurkha soldiers. A Gurkha bugler played last post which was followed by a two-minute silence and Reveille. Wreaths were laid for all Gurkha Regiments including those currently in the Indian Army.

Manikumar Rai

On the following page, clockwise from top left: HRH The Duke of Sussex with Field Marshal Sir John Chapple GCB, CBE and Major General Jon Cole OBE with the QGOOs; Wreaths laid by the GBA, 6 GR and 7 GR at the statue of Field Marshal The Viscount Slim KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC; Manikumar Rai at the Field of Remembrance