Veterans' Service for Armed Forces Day 30 June 2024
A bright Sunday day and a full Chapel were present for the Veterans' Service and Commemoration of D Day 80.
Licensed Lay Minister Mark Newman led the service.T he Mayor and Mayoress of Bromley, Councillor David Jefferys and his wife Anne-Marie ( both LLMs who hold services in the Chapel) attended. Five flags were paraded at this special service. Together with our three centenarian veterans, several younger veterans attended, though some were in their 90s.
The window sills and altar were decorated with D Day commemorative candles. A beautifully boxed candle was given to each Veteran and all who attended the lunch in the cafe.
Licensed Lay Minister Mark Newman led the service.T he Mayor and Mayoress of Bromley, Councillor David Jefferys and his wife Anne-Marie ( both LLMs who hold services in the Chapel) attended. Five flags were paraded at this special service. Together with our three centenarian veterans, several younger veterans attended, though some were in their 90s.
The window sills and altar were decorated with D Day commemorative candles. A beautifully boxed candle was given to each Veteran and all who attended the lunch in the cafe.
click on link to read the order of service 2024_veteransservice.pdf
Two interesting pieces not printed in the service were the tale of the lanterns and a tribute by Rodney a 12 year old.
Please see these below -
Please see these below -
George, the Chapel Lantern and pictures of many other lanterns at the D Day 80 Commemorations at Memorials in Normandy |
LIGHT IN THE DARKEST HOUR LANTERNS.
The Lanterns were first created in 2014 by Shorncliffe Military Museum in honour of all those who lost their lives whilst serving in a military force. Roger, the RAF Lantern was named and blessed here in St. George’s RAF Chapel in 2022, and George, the Chapel’s own Lantern in 2023. This year George was part of the Commemorative events for D Day 80. This is his story. Sunday afternoon June 2nd. Tommy, the British Army Lantern, came to the Chapel; he had been lit at Chartwell as the symbol of the spirit of Churchill , he gave his light to George. George is the symbol of the front-line defence and the over head support that the RAF Fighters gave to the beaches at Normandy. So the journey to Normandy began. Accompanied by Maple, the Canadian Lantern, and escorted by 2 Canadians, they travelled to London, to the Canadian High Commission, where Brigadier General Parsons lit Maple. Mary, the British West Indian Lantern for Commonwealth troops, arrived with Jack, Royal Navy and Roger, RAF and together all 6 Lanterns were brought to Shorncliffe Military Cemetery. They were lit on the ‘Eve of D Day, at a ceremony with the Canadian Training Corps stationed at Shorncliffe and then travelled to their base in Le Havre. 6th June. On Juno beach the lanterns were joined by Poppy and Bluet, the French Lanterns, and 850 Canadian students, at a Service of Remembrance. In the afternoon, Poppy and Bluet were part of the French Commemoration at Ouistrehem with the
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Major and French Commandos, to mark Kieffer, the first town to be liberated in France. On June 7th. a new member of the Lantern family was christened; Pegasus, the Airborne Lantern; his flame was lit by Madamoiselle Arlette, whose parents owned the café, the first house to be liberated in France. That afternoon all lanterns were at the D Day Museum in Caen for a special service with 1, 000 American students. Finally, Sunday June 9th, all the lanterns were at Sword beach under the Piper Memorial for a commemorative event. The Lanterns were extinguished except the French Lanterns; Poppy and Bluet will remain shining their light until the end of August when the people of France were finally liberated. George returned to our Chapel on June 15th.
Welcome home George, we are proud that you represented us at the D Day 80 commemorations and joined your light with the rest of the Lantern family, to remind us of the sacrifices made in the darkest hour; lest we forget.
Welcome home George, we are proud that you represented us at the D Day 80 commemorations and joined your light with the rest of the Lantern family, to remind us of the sacrifices made in the darkest hour; lest we forget.
Returning of the flags
The Royal Salute
Cllr Melanie Stevens, the Mayor and Mayoress
A superb lunch was served by Dominic (on his day off) and his team - his wife Nikki, Lewie and Jack, together with Katie Edwards, the previous Museum Director. All helped voluntarily. |
Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley, Councillor David Jefferys.
Twelve year old Rodney Cairns, who went to the D Day 80 commemorations in Normandy, gave a very moving tribute to Harry Billinge. Harry raised more than £50,000 towards the magnificent British memorial. Rodney proudly wears Harry's beret.
Rodney's tribute to Harry Billinge In 2019, I was lucky enough to meet Harry Billinge when I was in Normandy for the D Day celebrations. He was an amazing man, we got talking and became really good friends. Although we couldn’t meet up because of the covid pandemic, we phoned each other regularly, sent photos, cards and gifts to each other.
His stories were amazing, when he landed on Gold Beach, he was only 18 years old; that’s only 6 years older than I am now! Only Harry and 3 others from his unit survived. What he saw and went through must have been very frightening. He used those experiences to help raise money to honhis friends and other soldiers who died. He helped to raise thousands of pounds to build a memorial for all the soldiers who died on D Day and the battle of Normandy.There were 22,442 of them. Harry was determined that everyone should remember those brave men who lost their lives fighting for all of us. I went to Cornwall for Harry’s funeral. His daughters gave me a few of Harry’s things including his beret, which I will treasure forever. This year I went back to Normandy for the D Day 80 commemorations; there were many people at the memorial, and veterans. I remembered Harry, how brave he was, his stories, and all his friends who died. I wore his beret every day. Harry said he wouldn’t be here forever, so he asked me to carry on his work for him and that’s what I am doing now. |
Mayor and Mayoress with the Veterans. In the foreground centenarians -
(L to R) Harry Winters, Anne Galley and Peter Lemon (103)
(L to R) Harry Winters, Anne Galley and Peter Lemon (103)
Photos curtesy of P Bissett, D Evans and GDB.
