Jerusalem
Some of you will have noticed that I was not present at
this year's Armistice Church Parade on Sunday, 14th November.
At the time of the
service here at Fulwood, I was on the Dunkirk to Dover ferry, returning from
a 4-day visit to Belgium. I had been involved with the organisation of a
West
Lancashire County Scouts trip to attend the 
Armistice
Parade at Ypres, or
Wipers
, as the British Tommy
of World War One would know it.
A small group of seven travelled over, the youngest being Christine, a 15 year old Explorer Scout from Wyre District. We set off from Lancashire on Wednesday, 10th at 6.30pm and caught the 1.45am ferry, arriving in Ypres at about 6.30am on Armistice morning. It was quite strange, looking at the Menin Gate in the dark shadows of the early morning, but with it highlighted by spot lights… enough light to find our way about, but not enough to read the names of the missing, on some of the panels.
Slowly, we made our way into the town centre and waited
for the café lights to go on, signalling the chance of a coffee.
We were all feeling tired from the long journey and the lack of sleep. After
coffee and a croissant we went in search of St Martin's Cathedral and St
George's Church (This being the British Church in Ypres). The service began
at 9.30 am followed by the Poppy Parade at 10.20 am and the act of remembrance
at
the Gate at 10.45 am. We were able to gain entrance to St George's because
there were a few spaces left after those with tickets had been seated. The
British
Ambassador and other Civic Dignitaries were in attendance for a truly memorable
service, which included buglers of the Last
Post Association playing a very
emotive Last Post
. As the service finished, the congregation joined others
in lining up for the Poppy Parade. I had the privilege of carrying the West
Lancashire Scout Wreath, and as we reached the Menin Gate, I was lined up with
the other wreath carriers.
The service proceeded in both English and Walloon, with the area absolutely bursting at the seams. I noticed many languages and accents: French, English, Dutch, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Indian, Nepalese, etc. Ambassadors, Military Serviceman, Fire Brigades, Police Forces and yes, 2 Scout Leaders from England, laid wreaths. I felt proud but tearful as I gazed around at the names of some 54,896 missing, who have no known grave. This only lists those up to 15th August 1917. Those missing since that date are commemorated at Tyne Cot Cemetery. What an emotional moment consisting of many differing emotions. Pride, anger, amazement, hopelessness… a complete mixture !
As the service finished, I was able to join up with my party again and start thinking about the next few days. Several of us hoped to locate graves of relatives or just a name on a tablet commemorating those missing. We visited Poelkapelle Cemetery and after finding Christine's great uncle, we looked for the grave of Private J. Condon of The Royal Irish Regiment who was killed on 24th May 1915, aged 14. This really brought it home to us— he was old enough to be a Scout, but not to have moved up to Explorer Scouts.
I hope to continue recollections of our trip in the next magazine.
© Fulwood Methodist Church
15:14:28 Wednesday, 26 October 2005
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