As part of the work we are doing in researching the men whose names are on the Whitstable War Memorial we felt it would be appropriate to attend the service with the intention of laying a wreath on behalf of their families and descendants who are now scattered around the world and cannot be there in person.
To our dismay, we found out too late that we should have contacted The British Royal Legion to take part in the full march and ceremony. Nevertheless we attended as spectators and bring you this page as a record of the service. We didn't push in front to get you the best shots, instead just joining in amongst the crowd as you would have done.
The procession gathered at Victoria Street car park. This was appropriate in many ways. This was one of the areas that was bombed in WW2 with the loss of lives and many of the houses at the beginning of Victoria Street that are found in our census records in the latter part of the 1900's.
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and past St. Alphege Church where the George Cross flag flew at half-mast. They continued along through Oxford Street towards the memorial at the town library, members of the public joining alongside them as they marched. |  |
The Standard bearers assembled around the memorial, followed by the representatives of the Services and local organisations. Soon the whole area was filled with people making it difficult to keep the memorial in view. Fortunately a P.A. system kept everyone in touch with the proceedings.
The Service was introduced by Reverend Joyce Outen of the Whitstable ministry. Everyone joined in singing the hymn 'O God our help in ages past', followed by a reading of Psalm 46 from the Scriptures.
The Act of Remembrance continued with the 'Last Post' and the Exhortation read by Henry E. Frend B.E.M. - President of the Whitstable branch of the Royal British Legion:
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." |  |
The two-minute silence was then observed.
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This was followed by The Kohima Epitaph:
For your tomorrow, we gave our today." |  |
At this point the RNLI set off a maroon over the sea to sound the end of the two minute silence. This startled the local seagull population into a flight over the area, squawking as they do, almost as if in a tribute to their companions - our sailors that died at sea.
After this impromptu performance a pigeon was released for every name on the memorial. These swooped past and into the sky, circling behind the seagulls. Doves may have been more appropriate, but these have a tendency not to return home.
The wreaths were then laid on behalf of:
Mayor & Citizens of Dainville Royal British Legion Royal British Legion (Women's Section) Royal Naval Association Women's Royal Naval Association Royal Air Forces Association Royal Marine Commandos Special Air Service Women's Land Army To the Memory of the two Royal Marines (Iraq 2003) To the Memory of Capt. Niarac (Grenadier Guards) Womens Royal Voluntary Services Royal National Lifeboat Institution Kent Count & Special Constabularies St. Johns Ambulance Brigade Salvation Army Community College - Whitstable Whitstable Sea Cadet Corps 1st Cadet Bn - Whitstable Platoon, Kent ACF 1st Whitstable Scout Group 2nd Whitstable Sea Scouts 5th Whitstable Cubs & Beavers 7th Whitstable Cubs Girl Guides Association Boy's Brigade & Girl's Brigade Freemasons of Whitstable Men of Kent & Kentish Men Whitstable Chamber of Commerce Whitstable Improvement Trust Whitstable International Lions Club Whitstable Invitation Racing Pigeon Club Whitstable Rotary Club Whitstable Society Whitstable/Dainville Twinning Association Personal Wreaths |    |
The Act of Commitmant was then given by the Minister, followed by the singing of the National Anthem.
After the Blessing everyone joined together in The Lord's Prayer. To end the service the Hymn 'Eternal Father, strong to save' had been chosen to commemerate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. (..for those in peril on the sea).
I spoke to Alan Harvey who had laid a wreath for his former employee and family friend Mark Stratford, who along with another Marine, Stephen Ballard, had died during the Iraq conflict earlier this year. We agreed how pleased we were that the memorial was soon to include their names in addition to the names of other men, from the two World Wars, that had come to light recently.
WW1 Casualties. Now with more specific details of some of the men on the Town's Memorial.
As always the images we show are compressed to ensure the quickest viewing for those with slow connections. If you would like a higher resolution original (470K) of any of our pictures emailed to you just let us know.