On Saturday 28th June two members of the East Wickham and Welling War Memorial Trust, Chairman Nigel Betts and Governor Gill Buckenham, were honoured to join the Mayor and Mayoress of Bexley, Cllr Howard & Mrs Diane Marriner, at a Solemn Drumhead Service at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The service to honour the men and women who volunteered to serve in the First World War was was attended by HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and several other members of the Royal Family, including the Earl of Wessex, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra . It was taken by the Bishop of London, Rt Rev and Rt Hon Richard Chartres who is a “Remember WW1” Ambassador.
The event marked the 100th anniversary of the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo which triggered the chain of events that led to war. It was also Armed Forces Day, with celebrations and commemorations taking place across the country.
After the service, the Queen was presented with Stepping Forward, a book written in tribute to volunteer military reservists and supporting auxiliaries from Greater London 1908-2014.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is home to 300 pensioners who fought in the major conflicts of the last century Lieutenant Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Major Gen Sir Peter Currie said: “There is no more fitting site for this event in London than the home of the Chelsea Pensioners, which for over 300 years has stood as a symbol of the nation’s gratitude.”
