The Royal British Legion
www.britishlegion.org.uk

This is the 
(Lt. Waltham branch)

Click here for Programme for 2005

A respectable crowd assembled before the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday to honour the fallen of two world wars.


Wreaths were laid by the Lt. Waltham branch of the Royal British Legion, by the Parish Council 

and by three youngsters representing the youth of the village. The short service was conducted by the Rev. Chris. Elliott and the exhortation was said by Col. G.C.P. Morgan.
There followed a second service in the United Reformed Church.

Click here for pictures of the ceremony in 2003 

Why do you still march, old man, with medals on your chest?
Why do you still grieve, old man, for those friends you laid to rest?
Why do your eyes still gleam, old man, when you hear those bugles blow?
Tell me why you cry, old man, about those days so long ago?

I'll tell you why I still march, young man, with medals on my chest.
I'll tell you why l still grieve, young man, for those I laid to rest.
Through misty fields of gossamer silk come visions of distant times,
When boys of tender age lost lives and all their mothers pined.
We buried them in a blanket shroud, their young flesh scorched and blackened,
a communal grave, newly gouged, in blood stained gorse and bracken.

And you ask me why l march, young man?  I march to remind you all,
That but for those apple blossom youths, you'd never had freedom at all.

 

The Cream Teas Afternoon at the President's Residence
exemplified :-

 

 

 

 

 

Contemplation

Expectation

Satisfaction

While a goodly crowd feasted, at least one person was putting in a rounded performance bowling for a pig (or was it a fiver?).

 

The womens' section of the branch celebrated their 59th anniversary in March 2005 with a birthday party to which the men were invited.

The main buffet

The dessert

Remembrance Sunday 2003
03110904a.jpg (36977 bytes) Each year at 10.15 a.m. the Little Waltham branch of the Royal British Legion meet outside The Bell public house.

 Here they line up prior to marching over the river bridge to the Memorial.

Click on a small image to enlarge
03110905a.jpg (47977 bytes) 03110907a.jpg (28985 bytes)
03110911.JPG (41478 bytes) Following a short service, conducted this year by Rev. Chris Norrish, wreaths are laid by the Royal British Legion (both Men's and Ladies divisions), the Parish Council and by two youngsters representing the Lt. Waltham C of E Primary School.
 Then a tape recording of the last post is sounded to indicate the start of the Two Minutes Silence.

 Due to the shortage of buglers at this time of year, practical necessity made a recording inevitable.
At the start of the Two Minutes Silence, the standards, borne by Doug. Naitby and Maureen Knappett are dipped in homage.  

 

 

 Following this short service, the R.B.L members march to one of the two churches in Little Waltham.  This year it is to the United Reformed Church.  The standards are laid up on either side of the altar. Later, during the principal service, Rev. Chris Elliott talks to the children.

  Click on a small image to enlarge.

For the commemoration at the American Memorial, Boreham Road, click here.