At Allan Webb, we understand that Remembrance Day is more than just a moment of silence – it’s a deeply personal reflection on sacrifice, service, and the extraordinary stories of those who have served our country. This year, we invited our team to share their individual connections to Armistice Day and how they are paying tribute to our Armed Forces personnel, past and present.
Paul Mather recently joined Allan Webb as a Safety Consultant, but is also deputy Secretary for the Royal Air Force Armourers Branch 1366, a charity established to “promote, through the comradeship engendered by its members, the welfare by charitable means of all serving and former members of Our Air Forces, their spouses, and dependents, together with the widows and widowers and dependents of those who died whilst serving or subsequently”. He shares how the Association commemorates Armistice Day:
“It all starts on the Saturday afternoon prior to Remembrance Sunday where we gather at the Bomber Command Memorial in London’s Green Park. Here we hold a short ceremony to remember all those who fought and died in the service of Bomber Command during the Second World War (55,000 aircrew were killed in that conflict). More poignantly for the Armourer community we remember all the armourers who lost their lives during that conflict. A significant number of armourers lost their lives due to accidents whilst preparing the bombs and aircraft for the missions. The greatest loss of life occurring at RAF Spilsby in April 1944 which claimed the lives of 10 armourers, of whom 3 have No Know Grave. At this gathering we lay a wreath and read out the Roll of Honour. We read out the names of all the armourers who have died in the last year. To date it is 42. Following a two minutes silence and the last post we disperse to a local tavern for a meal, a drink and good old chin wag.
On remembrance Sunday we gather on Horse Guards Parade along with approximately 10,000 other veterans in preparation for the National Service of Remembrance. This year we are a contingent of 90 who, under my command, will take part in the march past (If you were watching on TV, we were in column D. We are easy to spot as we have very distinctive waistcoats). After passing the Cenotaph we march back round to Horse Guards, where a member of the Royal Family takes the salute. We than dismiss from there, and yes, you have guessed it we end up in another pub for a very well-deserved refreshment.”
“This was the first year that the Queen’s Royal Lancers’ (QRL) marched as their own Old Comrades Association (OCA).
The QRL was formed from the amalgamation of 16/5 Queen’s Royal Lancers’ and the 17/21st Lancers. The 16/5th and QRL were the only regiments actually owned by the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The 16/5ths Colonel in Chief was the late King of Spain until his death in 1941. On Princess Elizabeth’s 18th birthday, King George VI gave her the 16/5th as a birthday gift. Her Majesty became the Colonel in Chief (CoC) of the 16/5th Lancers in 1947, and remained CoC of the 16/5th, QRL and RL until her death.
The QRL amalgamated with the 9/12th Lancers on the 2 May 2015 to become the Royal Lancers’ (Queen Elizabeth’s Own).”
“This photo was taken yesterday, prior to me laying a wreath on behalf of Chard Royal Naval Association (RNA) in my hometown.
I was asked to lay the wreath by my local branch as I am the longest serving member of the branch. Other members of the branch were in London, either watching the parade or marching in it.
I always mark the armistice event, either in person at my local church or just watching it on the BBC if I can’t make the local service.
For me, armistice day holds lots of thoughts, feelings and emotions. Having served for over 32 years, I have been to several war zones and come under attack from the enemy. Basra (Iraq) was the most frightening being under almost daily mortar fire. That said, it doesn’t come close to those poor men and women of the First and Second World Wars who endured the conflicts for many years, not just a few months.
My brother served on HMS Argonaut in 1982 in the Falklands War and his ship was badly bombed. He survived but two of his crew mates didn’t. I was working on HMS Ardent in 1982 and was asked to stay on to go to the Falklands. The ship left before I could join but it never came back. It was badly bombed and sank.
Proud to remember and proud to wear my medals with pride.”
“Remembrance as a Reservist is always a key time to come together, not only as our Company, but with local Veterans and the Community. It’s a busy weekend for us, starting in plenty of time beforehand to prepare our kit and plenty of polishing…
On Saturday I led a team to raise money for the Royal British Legion (RBL) at Crawley Town FC’s game against Huddersfield Town. This is a yearly event for our Company, and not only for a great cause but also excellent for local Community engagement, awareness of Remembrance, and a chance for some good banter with both sets of fans.
We carried out a wreath-laying ceremony with the teams and local RBL veterans.
After that, we decided to push our luck and see where in the ground we could get without being asked to leave. On a mission to maximise our RBL collecting potential, we snuck our way into the Director’s box, hoping that being in dress uniform and carrying a box of poppies would give us some forgiveness if caught. We were actually warmly welcomed once in, offered a table next to the VIPs to set up and even asked to present the Man of Match award! We were inundated by donations, lots of photo requests and even got a chance to meet and spend time talking to the VIPs. These just happened to be acting Royalty in Eastenders’ Shane Ritchie, and amazingly Huddersfield Town fan Sir Patrick Stewart. To get a ‘Good Afternoon troops’ from Captain Jean-Luc Pickard in his finest Thespian voice is now the highlight of my career.
We decided not to outstay our welcome and left 30 minutes later after collecting more in that time than the 2 hours beforehand.
Sunday was our formal parade and service. It started with a quick trip to join in with the local Armed Forces Breakfast Club, ready to fuel ourselves for the day. After the parade, act of Remembrance and church service, our families and veterans were invited back to our Barracks for a buffet lunch and to share stories. For me, this is a great way to cover the Remembrance weekend, with colleagues and veterans and share stories to keep memories of others alive.
Monday was a chance to reflect and remember quietly in my own way, to a sadly growing list of absent friends.
Arte Et Marte/Fierce Pride.”
This year our company marked Armistice Day with a poignant virtual two-minute silence. Colleagues from across the organisation united together, despite our physical distances, to pay our respects.
As the clock struck 11am on 11 November, we paused our work to reflect upon the sacrifices the Armed Forces have made and continue to make to protect our freedoms. The collective moment of reflection felt particularly meaningful, connecting us all in a shared, respectful tribute.
“I am a Community Volunteer for Combat Stress and this year for Remembrance the Combat Stress team reached out to the Community Volunteers to ask if we could be postman and deliver Combat Stress Newsletters along with Church Supporters leaflets.
I took the time recently, along with my wife, to deliver 31 copies of the Newsletter and Leaflet to Churches across Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Stourport and Worcester which was a great experience.
I had the opportunity to talk to Ministers, Parishioners, Staff members, volunteers and even a cleaner who all spoke so passionately about their Church, services, their congregation and most importantly on this occasion Remembrance. I was also given a tour of a Church that was over 300 years old learning that there are actually Tree stumps inside some of the main supports holding the Church up which was extremely eye opening.
Remembrance is a time when Combat Stress finds that veterans reach out to them and also take the opportunity to attend churches. This is why they are hoping to start this campaign moving forwards, where they can collect details from the churches they deliver to and stay in contact with them. The leaflet also provides the opportunity for churches and suchlike to hold collections in the name of Combat Stress. I know that one or two churches are holding their entire collections this year in the charity’s name due to the important work they do.”
Mark Baker, AWL’s Chief of Staff, has been introducing his son, Flynn (aged 6), to fundraising activities. Flynn has been supporting the Poppy Appeal with the Bitton and Oldland Branch (Bristol) of the Royal British Legion (RBL). He completed a total of 4 hours of volunteering running the appeal stall in the local ASDA store.
“This is Flynn’s second year of volunteering, and he has absolutely loved supporting and encouraging shoppers to donate! Last year he was awarded for being their youngest volunteer and was given an RBL educational book for children. He has been really interested in learning about the importance of remembering those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.
Supporting the appeal is teaching him compassion and the value of giving back to those who have served their country. It’s a meaningful way for Flynn to understand and appreciate the history and contributions of veterans, fostering a sense of respect and community from a young age.”
“Having only recently moved to North Yorkshire; my partner and I attended our first Remembrance Day parade and service in Masham. We were made incredibly welcome and it was, as ever a poignant event for us and a day to reflect and remember all those effected by conflict. In the afternoon we attended a small service in Healey, our local church to lay crosses on the 5 commonwealth graves and the grave of 1 German soldier.”
“I try to attend a local Remembrance event every year. This year my Ex Army friend and myself dusted off our medals and headed of to Plymouth Hoe.
This event is always well attended and this year was no exception. Despite being a cloudy morning at 1050 the sun broke through, the sky’s cleared and the sun shone down on Plymouth Hoe for the entire service.
Having served 34 years in the Royal Navy Armistice Day gives me the opportunity to reflect and remember friends I served with who are no longer with us.”
As part of HMS Defender’s affiliation with Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club, Claire Shaw’s husband, Chris, as Officer in Charge (OIC) was invited to lay a wreath on 9th November before Exeter’s match vs Hartbury RFC. The ceremony was followed by the Last Post, played by a lone bugler, and a minute’s silence in the stadium. Claire’s family were invited to then watch the match from the Director’s Box.
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