Falklands 25, Dulverton 5

Twenty five years ago the atlantic force regained sovereignity for Britain in the Falklands. It was the summer of our twenty fifth wedding anniversary.



Five years ago the archbishop of York dedicated this new retirement complex in which we live. In that autumn we became the first residents of flat thirty four.




THE FALKLAND ISLANDS MEMORIAL CHAPEL


When the thunder of the guns was finally stilled in and around the Falkland Islands on 14th June 1982, 258 families were left to count the terrible cost. They had lost sons, fathers and husbands in the fierce actions fought at sea, on land, and in the air. More than half the British casualties died at sea; the majority under fierce enemy attack which sank five ships and damaged eight more, some severely. Most of those killed have no grave but the sea. Others died in the fighting on land; many on dark hillsides in night battles. Yet more were killed while flying over land and sea. The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, located in the south of England has been built in their memory. Let them never be forgotten.



The Annual Memorial Service held there today, at noon, will be attended by the Queen, the Prime Minister, and Lady Thatcher.



THE DULVERTON CELEBRATION DINNER



The anniversary here will be marked this evening by a celebration dinner followed by a community quiz around the theme of 5th anniversaries.

Wreath of autumn leaves

A feature of the Cenotaph ceremony in Whitehall yesterday that interested me was the laying of a wreath made from autumn leaves by the widow of a major killed in Iraq in August 2003. This type of wreath was intended to be symbolic of the new Armed Forces Memorial under construction at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield in Staffordshire. The location is a 150 acre site opened in 2001 near to the centre of the UK. The Armed Forces Memorial(Regular and Reserve) will be dedicated to men and women killed on duty or as a result of terrorist action since the Second World War.

A number of other Service-related memorials are located there. There will also be a Chapel and a Visitor Centre. The site is under the control of the Royal British Legion.

Two other new features of the Whitehall ceremony yesterday which also indicate the changing nature of the annual ceremony were
1. For the first time no veteran of the 1914-18 War was on parade. Only five known survivors now remain andonly oneof them, aged 110, was well enough to travel but he was representing jis comrades at a ceremony in France.
2.Also for the first time the parade included members of the Shot at Dawn campaign, now that their ancestors have been granted pardons by the Government. There is a Shot at Dawn memorial at the Staffordshire arboretum.

Sadly on this very Remembrance Sunday there were new British casualties of war in Iraq.

Remembrance Poppies

When I was a young theological student I lived at the top of Richmond Hill opposite the Star and Garter Home for Disabled Ex Servicemen and visited them regularly, conducting services in their chapel. On Richmond Hill is the British Legion Poppy Factory where some of them worked.

Prior to going to Richmond College I served as a National Service airman. I recall debates with my cousin re the Christian and pacifism. He was a Salvationist and instead of military service did his national service in a local hospital.

The coming weekend will see Saturday observed as Armistice Day and Sunday as Remembrance Sunday in which the traditional red poppies will act as a potent symbol of gratitude for freedoms enjoyed because of the sacrifices of others. Incidentally they also supply much of the funding still required in large amounts to ease the the lives of ex servicemen and their relatives.

Last year , in this house, one resident wore a white poppy at Remembrancetide. It was noted but not comented upon. This year may be different in view of the following:

Controversy over sale of white poppies -03/11/05 A church minister has provoked controversy by selling white poppies which symbolise peace, at his church in Ipswich.The Rev Andrew Kleissner has suggested that the white poppy be worn alongside - or instead of - the traditional red poppy.Some war veterans however have branded the move 'disgraceful'.Peter Thompson, chairman of the Ipswich branch of the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal organiser for Ipswich and district, said: “The red poppy doesn't promote war in any way. It's red for blood and has a black centre for grief.“I feel very sad. I have spoken to several volunteers and they all feel the same. We are out there trying to sell poppies and this comes along. I think it's disgraceful.”Dunkirk veteran Bernard Sharp, said: “The red poppy is a symbol of help and to remember those who've died. I lost and lots of friends in the war. Nobody wants war but we have to respect those who died. I don't recognise the white poppy.”The white poppies have been around since 1933 and were developed as a response to those who see war as regrettable, but necessary. Those producing them suggest that the red poppies are part of a portrayal of war as grim and regrettable yet sometimes necessary and sound in purpose. The white poppy represents another view that war is neither necessary nor purposive, and sets out to challenge what some see as comfortable and convenient formulations of the kind perpetuated every year on Remembrance Day. The culture surrounding Remembrance Day has developed to give comfort to those bereaved by war, but also to give justification to the state that embarked on it, say the producers of the poppies. ‘They did not die in vain’ implies ‘the war had a valuable purpose’. For those producing the white poppies this is a lie that has been "repeated sanctimoniously every day of remembrance since 1918".Mr Kleissner, minister at Christ Church a united reformed/Baptist church came to Ipswich two months ago from a church in West London where he also used to sell the white poppies.Mr Kleissner said: “I bought a little packet of 25. I've got about ten or 12 left and I think I will carry on selling them. I didn't mean to cause offence, it's just something I've done for years. Christ said, 'Blessed are the peacemakers'.“I don't want to detract from the sale of red poppies and I don't want to decry the memory of those who fought, but I want to look to the future and there are ways of solving problems that don't involve conflict.”Mr Kleissner's own father, who came from Germany, was involved in the student anti-Nazi movement in the late 1930s and served in the British army during the Second World War.