Remembrance Day
During this weekend of Remembrance, three poppy wreaths have been laid by Birchwood Town Council on behalf of the Birchwood community.
Published: 8 November 2024
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Cross Lane South Memorial -
Birchwood Forest Park ROF Memorial
Birchwood’s annual Service of Remembrance took place on Saturday, 9th November 2024 at the memorial located near the entrance to the Birchwood Shopping Centre.
The service which was officiated this year by the Reverend Stuart Nixon was organised by the Birchwood Lions.
The community and representatives of local community organisations, uniformed groups, schools, Birchwood Shopping Centre, Birchwood Lions, Birchwood Brass Band and Birchwood Town Council gathered together to remember all those who have died serving their country and to give thanks for the selfless sacrifice they have made.
Sgt Tom Edwards, the Detachment Commander of Birchwood Army Cadets recited The Exhortation, followed by the Last Post being sounded during which standards were dipped in salute and the area fell silent. The period of silence was ended with the sounding of Reveille.
During the poignant service the Birchwood Community High School Choir performed whilst poppy wreaths and other tributes were laid by representatives of the community, local organisations, residents and children.
Councillor David Ellis, Chair of Birchwood Town Council laid a wreath at the memorial on behalf of the Town Council and the community of Birchwood.
The Town Council has also laid two other wreaths in remembrance; one at the memorial at Cross Lane South Cemetery and the other at the Royal Ordnance Factory Memorial in Birchwood Forest Park.
The Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph
The Exhortation is an extract from a poem written by Robert Laurence Binyon called “For the Fallen” composed in September 1914, just a few weeks after the outbreak of the First World War.
The Exhortation
‘They shall grow not old, 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 Kohima Epitaph
The Kohima Epitaph is the epitaph engraved on the Memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery of Kohima (North-East India), which reads:
‘When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.’