Armistice Day observed
A solemn Remembrance Day Service was held yesterday at the Christian Cemetery in Gudaibiya to commemorate the ending of World War I, now known as Armistice Day.
The event, organised by the British Embassy and the Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF), was attended by three Chelsea Pensioners and many ambassadors from the former rival countries at the time of the conflict.
Yesterday’s service was led by the Dean of St Christopher’s Cathedral, The Very Reverend Chris Butt and Curate Jon Lavelle with readings from Romans and Royal Navy Chaplain the Reverend Dr Mark Davidson of the Royal Navy. Rev Butt and the British Defence Attache Andy Price delivered the Act of Remembrance speech and ‘The Last Post’ was sounded followed by two minutes of silence.
The wreath-laying ceremony took place with ambassadors from many countries accredited to the Kingdom, Consular Agents, Military representatives from the British, the US, French and Australian forces along with representatives of clubs, societies and schools.
After the service, a Curry Lunch was held and the Chelsea Pensioners spoke to DT News.
Retired Staff Sergeant James Anderson, who will turn 80 in a couple of weeks, said: “I was on Christmas Island when the atomic test bomb was dropped
by a Vulcan and was serving with the Australian forces who were based near Adelaide.” He also served in Yemen before the conflict in the 1960s started, and also in Germany, India, Pakistan, the old Soviet Union and Poland.
Sergeant John Back, aged 76, was stationed in Germany, Belgium, France Holland and Denmrk, but then was moved to Northern Ireland. “Our job was to protect people and save lives during troubles.”
Piper Michael Shanahan aged 69 says, “Hamala Camp was our base camp before 1971 and some place as off duty used to roll the pitch to organise a game of football on a good surface.”
He started as a boy soldier when he was 14 and served in Libya and was held as a ‘hostage’ by the regime of Muammar Gadaffi in 1969, but looks back at postings in the Oman during the ‘Dhofar Rebellion’ in the 1970s as not a problem and never having to go to Vietnam which was a relief after going to Fort Hood in Texas as part of the US military training.
Photo Caption: The event was organised by the British Embassy and the Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF)
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