Veterans and civilians to gather at the Cenotaph on Whitehall for Remembrance Sunday March Past
10 November 2011
Over 7,500 veterans and
1,500 civilians will march by The Cenotaph on Whitehall as part of
The Royal British Legion's March Past ceremony on Sunday 13
November 2011.
Leading the March Past will be The Fellowship of the Services in Column F (attached separately) with seven new contingents taking part this year.
Following the official wreath-laying ceremony by members of the Royal Family, led by Her Majesty The Queen, and members of the Government and opposition parties, led by the Prime Minister David Cameron, HRH The Prince of Wales will take the Salute at Horse Guards Parade for the ex-Service and civilian associations to begin their march by The Cenotaph.
Accompanying His Royal Highness will be: The Minister for the Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan MP; The National President of The Royal British Legion Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely KCB MC, Director General Chris Simpkins; and Director of National Events and Fundraising, Russell Thompson OBE.
The Legion's Board of Trustees will be followed this year by the Fellowship of the Services, leading out the first column, accompanied by music played by the massed Bands of the Guards Division.
60 representatives of the War Widows' Association will march with the ex-Service contingent. Approximately 7,500 ex-Service men and women and 1,500 civilians are expected to take part in the March Past.
At 11am, Big Ben will signal the start of the official Two Minute Silence, with the conclusion being marked by the firing of a gun from Horse Guards Parade by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. At the end of the silence, Buglers of The Royal Marines will sound the Last Post.
The Royal British Legion's National President, Lt General Sir John Kiszely KCB MC said: "Remembrance Sunday is a time for the nation to unite in its reverence for the British Armed Forces past and present. When we bow our heads in reflection, we remember those who fought for our freedom during the two World Wars, but we also mourn and honour those who have lost their lives in more recent conflicts.
"Today, with troops on duty in Afghanistan and other trouble spots around the world, Remembrance, and the Two Minute Silence, are as important as ever.
"It's a personal time for a lot of people, as we each remember loved ones, friends, comrades who have given their lives in Service to the nation."
Media information:
Accreditation and official media briefing pack: DCMS Press
office: EMMA.MARSH@Culture.gsi.gov.uk
0207 211 6271
Press enquiries for Sunday morning interviews with Russell
Thompson, Director of National Events and Fundraising at The Royal
British Legion, or information on The March Past and
Remembrance:
Jenny Keeling, Public Relations
Officer, The Royal British
Legion
T: 020 3207 2238 M: 07990 774 390 E: jkeeling@britishlegion.org.uk
