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Gheluvelt Commemoration Ceremony 31st October 2014

 

ON PARADE

The Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire

Lt Col P Holcroft LVO OBE

Parade Commander

Lt Col M C P Ellwood MBE

Parade Regimental Sergeant Major

WO1 (RSM) R Page

COLOUR PARTIES

 

1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment

Queens Colour        Regimental Colour

Lt P Anderson          Lt S Randell

Csgt J Dickinson    WO2 E Vezza      Csgt G Clements

 

4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment

Queens Colour          Regimental Colour

Lt L Watts                   2Lt S Moulding

Csgt M Walker          WO2 P Harding     Csgt S Coulson

THE GUARDS

No 1 Guard                    No 2 Guard

Maj H Porteous                Maj W Blackhurst

BAND OF THE ROYAL LOGISTICS CORPS

Bandmaster – WO1 S O`Neill

REGIMENTAL MASCOT OF THE MERCIAN REGIMENT

Pte Derby XXX

Standards of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association and the Royal British Legion

 

The Royal Navy - Army - Air Force Cadet Forces

 

ORDER OF CEREMONY

March On Colours and Guards (Spectators Stand)

The Ceremony will begin with a commemorative firing by 214 (Worcestershire) Battery Royal Artillery of a 105mm light gun

The Regimental Marches

Welcome by Major (Retired) R H Fox

President Worcester Branch WFRA

Address by Colonel D R Sneath MA TD DL

Reprentative Colonel The Mercian Regiment

Unveiling by Mrs Julia Brotherton

Major Hankey`s Granddaughter

Dedication of Regimental Stone

Bishop Christopher Mayfield

 

 

My apologies for any mistakes with names/titles / rank and not being able to remember some that I should. For corrections / alterations please contact through 'Feedback' page (17).

Prices for photos on page  14 (prices for photos and disc)

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L>, Phil Banks RBL, Allan Poyner and Charlie Harding Worcester Branch Members
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on duty the youngest cadet on right
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Pte Derby XXX with Ram Major Cpl Thornton and Ram Orderely Pte Seager. Derby is a Swaledale Ram from the Duke of Devonshires flock at Chatsworth.
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Soldiers of The Mercian Regiment form up near the Sons of Rest pavillion.
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Present Arms as the Regimental Colours pass.
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The Armed Forces Community Covenant display in the large marquee.
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SSAFA Sailors Soldiers Air Force Association
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Remember the fallen
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The Western Front Association
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The Mercian Museum (Worcestershire) shop.
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The Mercian Museum (Worcestershire) display of photos of Victoria Cross recipients.
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The Pilgrim Bandits, Caring for Forces Amputees.
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Friends of Gheluvelt with their embroidery and 'Poppy Wall' with attached names of the fallen.
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214 Battery (Worcestershire), Royal Artillery. With drone on display
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The Mercian Regiment
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Global Cannon Owners Club
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The Royal British Legion.
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The TS Worcester Sea cadets
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Age UK
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L> Martin Stringfellow, re-enactors outside the World War 100 project bell tent
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The Blue Roof
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The memorial Stone ready for unveiling
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L>, Pte Dolman, Pte Wilson.
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L>, 'Mini' Cooper, ? , Dave Plant, Bill Chambers & Ernie, Dennis Wright
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R <, Alan Fish, Allan Poyner, Arthur Turner, 'Mini' Cooper.
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R<, John Walters, Alan Fish. Allan Poyner, Arthur Turner, 'Mini' Cooper.
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On epv John Cornes behind from left, Graham Yapp, Brian Hewlett, Colin Perry, John Hewlett
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front L>, Tony Grubb, ?, Val Easterlow Charlie Harding, Martin Stringfellow.
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With Wreath, Peter Dunn
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L> Canon Paul Tongue (Worcester Branch Padre).at Back,Canon Stuart Currie St Stephens Church/Parish. Bishop Christopher Mayfield, Harry Massam (Worcester Branch Chairman)
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Front Right, Laurence Gardner
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Harry Massam Chairman, talks to Mike Layland,former Mayor Worcester and Freeman of City.
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Mayors of Worcestershire and Consorts, Regimental Guests.
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L >, Dr Adrian Gregson WW100 project. Former Mayor Worcester Pat Agar and Dave Carney, Consort. Lt Col Rtd John Reynolds .
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Deputy Colonel The Mercian Regiment, D R Sneath MA TD DL.
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Haig Homes Resident, with Shiela Brice Worcester Branch Steward.
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L>, Deputy Colenel The Mercian Regiment D Sneath MA TD DL, ADC Captain Shergold.
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L>, Worcester MP Robin Walker and Harry Massam peruse the programme for the Ceremony.
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Maurice Smith,Worcester Branch Secretary. Marshal for Standard Bearers, gives the Bearers last minute instructions.
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Haig Homes Residents and Guests.
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nearest seated Ron, Kidderminster Branch
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L >,Lt Col John Reynolds ex Normandy Landings Veteran, Robin Walker MP, Patrick Baert and Sabine Vanderhaeghen, representing the Mayor of Zonnebeke, Belgium.
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The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Worcester talks with Sabine Vanderhaeghen.
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Some of the Ladies of Worcester Branch.
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The Band of The Royal Logistics Corp, march on to the Ceremony area.
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Pte Derby XXX and Handlers.
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No. 1 Guard for the Colours.
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The Queens and Regimental Colours of the 1st Battalion and 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
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The Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire Lt Col P Holcroft LVO OBE and Deputy Colonel The Mercian Regiment Col D Sneath MA TD DL. Inspect Pte Derby XXX and Handlers with Parade Commander LT Col MCP Ellwood MBE.
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In Bowler hat Mjr Rtd Richard Fox, President Worcester Branch, Mayor of Worcester Alan Amos and officer The Mercian Regt.
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Nearest Standard Bearer, John Walters Worcester Branch.
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Lord Lt P Holcroft inspects 1st Guard
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Mayor Alan Amos talks with Cpl The Ram Major.
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Mayor Alan Amos with No 1 Guard.
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Dignitaries and VIP`s
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Inspection No. 2 Guard.
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Mayor Alan Amos with The Colours of 1st and 4th Battalions The Mercian Regiment.
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Inspections over , return to positions to await the firing of the 105mm light gun by 214 (Worcestershire) Battery RA.
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Parade Commander Lt Col MCP Ellwood MBE.
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Mjr Rtd Richard Fox Worcester Branch President and Maurice Smith Worcester Branch Secretary wait for the gun to fire.
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The 1st and 4th Battalions The Mercian Regiment Colours.
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The 105mm light gun
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The gun is prepared.
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The gun is fired signalling the start of the Ceremony.
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The Royal Logistics Corps play the Worcestershire Regimental Marches, 'The Royal Windsor' and 'The Lincolnshire Poacher'.
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Welcome speech by Mjr Rtd Richard Fox, President Worcester Branch WFRA and head of the day`s organising committee
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From R <, (with sash)WO2 Rtd graham Bird Chairman Kidderminster Branch, Mercian Volunteers. Bishop Christopher mayfield, Canon Paul Tongue.
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Address from Representative Colonel The Mercian Regiment Lt Col DR Sneath MA TD DL. and invitation to Mrs Julia Brotherton to unveil the Worcestershire Regiment memorial Stone.
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Mrs Julia Brotherton Grandaughter of Major E Hankey who led the Charge of the 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment at The Battle of Gheluvelt.
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The Union Flag is ceremoniously folded and marched away.
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The Representative Colonel and Clergy prepare for the Dedication.
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Bishop Christopher Mayfield.
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The Dedication of the Stone.
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Canon Paul Tongue. He is wearing the robes of Reverend Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, better known to the public as Woodbine Willie,
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Bishop Christopher Mayfield finishes the Dedication with the sign of the cross.
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The Bishop and Colonel Read out the Worcestershire Regimental Prayer for all to join in.
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Mjr Rtd Richard Fox worcester Branch President requests all to remain where they are, whilst the Colours, Guard, Band and Veterans proceed to the Interpretative Feature.
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The Band reverse order to march the short distance to the feature.
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The Standards march to the rear of the Feature.
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The Colours arrive opposite the stone altar.
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L>, John Walters with the WFRA Area Standard, Alan Fish with The Worcestershire Regiments Standard (Worcesters, Worcs Hussars, Worcs Artillery)
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Centre, Dave Plant, Worcester Branch member who done the groundwork for Memorial Stone. Right, Mick Salter Kidderminster Branch.
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WFRA Association and other Regimental Associations members.
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Maurice Smith discussing the wreath laying procedure with the Lord Lieutenant.
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L > , Col Rtd Brian Clarke, Patrick Baert, Mjr Rtd Bob Prophet, Sabine Vanderhaeghen.
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R < < Lord Lieutenant Lt Col PHolcroft LVO OBE, Representative Colonel The Mercian Regiment Lt Col DR Sneath MA TD DL, Mrs Julia Brotherton, Mayor of Worcester Alan Amos, Robin Walker MP, Pam Davey Chairman of Council, Maurice Smith Worcester Branch Secretary Instructing Mayors of Worcestershire on wreath Laying procedure.
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Canon Paul Tongue (in red) conducting Commemoration service.
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Canon Paul Tongue Reads the names of the 34 men on the Gheluvelt Roll of Honour whilst the band plays Elgars 'Nimrod' . The Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire lays the first wreath.
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Lt Col DR Sneath and Mrs Julia Brotherton.
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L> Lt Col DR Sneath, Mrs Julia Brotherton, Worcester Mayor Alan Amos, Robin Walker MP.
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Pam Davey Chairman of Council, Worcestershire County Mayors.
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L > , ? , Dave Waldron Chairman Worcestershire Royal British Legion, Hazel Gandy (wife of the late Joe Gandy Worc Rgt), ?.
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L > , ?, Lt Rtd Peter Dunn Secretary Kidderminster Branch WFRA, WO2 Graham Bird Chairman Kidderminster MVRA, Capt Dave Morgan 214 Battery (Worcestershire) RA.
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L > , Sea Cadets Cheif Petty Officer Paul Hormsby, TS Worcester. Major Jeff Hyde Hereford and Worcester ACF, John Johnson Chesterfield Branch WFRA.
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The Last Post
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Standards are at the dip for the 2 minute silence
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Reveille
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Canon Paul Tongue with the 'Kohima Epitaph'
When you go home, tell them of us and say:
For your tomorrow we gave our today.
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Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire Lt Col P Holcroft, standing next to him is a grandson of Mrs Julia Brotherton.
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Heads are bowed as the prayers are read out.
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After Canon Paul Tongue has recited the prayers and Mercian Regimental Prayer, the Bishop Christopher Mayfield closes the prayers with the Blessing.
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The Colours are lowered for the National Anthem.
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Parade Commander Lt Col MCP Ellwood MBE asks the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire for permission for the Colours to march off.
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Standards are lowered in salute as the Colours March Off.
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Mjr Rtd Richard Fox President Worcester Branch WFRA give a short speech of thanks and invites people to tour the displays.
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Representative Colonel The Mercian Regiment with the Bishop and Canons.
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Worcester Branch WFRA Worcestershire Regiments Standard Bearer Alan Fish awaits the dismissal.
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L > , Representative Colonel The Regiment Lt Col DR Sneath MA TD DL, Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire Lt Col P Holcroft LVO OBE.
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Poppy Crosses are placed in the centre of Feature.
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Centre Col Rtd Mark Jackson talks with Mrs Holcroft.
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Brigadier PFB Hargrave CBE DL. With Colonel DR Sneath MA. TD. DL. Representative Colonel The Mercian Regiment
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Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire with Cecil Duckworth CBE and Freeman of the City of Worcester.
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Alderman Mrs Sabine Vanderhaeghen and Mr Patrick Baert, representing  the Mayor of Zonnebeke.  Zonnebeke is a Belgian municipality comprising five villages, including Gheluvelt. 
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L >, Mrs Julia Brotherton and Mr Brotherton.
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L > , Dr Adrian Gregson World war 100 Project, with Mrs Julia Brotherton explaining the items in her grandfather`s ( Major EB Hankey who led the 2nd Worcesters at Gheluvelt) cuttings book.
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L > , back of Robin walker MP with Mjr Rtd Chris Howse ( whose Great Uncle, William Morris name is on the Roll Of Honour) and Mrs Howse.
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Mjr Rtd C Howse and Mrs Howse
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Mjr Rtd C Howse near the name of his great uncle, William Morris.
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Mr Patrick Baert and Sabine Vanderhaeghen next to the Gheluvelt Roll of Honour.
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Maurice Smith Worcester Branch Secretary.
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Mr and Mrs Bagley, Mr John Bagley`s Grandfather John Thomas Bagley 9701 fought at Gheluvelt and survived the War. He was presented with a 50th Anniversary medal which Mr John Bagley is wearing, he is the third generation to be named John.
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John Bagley`s Grand father`s 50th Anniversary of Gheluvelt Medal.( Two photos from the 50th Anniversary parade can be found on the Old photos of interest page on this site, two Worcester Branch members were on parade that day in 1964)
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Pte Hall`s name has been missing from the Roll of Honour and has now been added at the bottom of the centre column.
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Mrs Julia Brotherton next to the Memorial Stone
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Mrs Brotherton was wearing a Worcestershire Regiment with Naval Crown and Banner 'Sweetheart' badge
on her hat.
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Tenbury Wells Royal British Legion singers.
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214 (Worcestershire) Battery 105mm light gun and crew.
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The Mercian Regiment recruiting stall.
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The Tenbury Wells Royal British Legion Male Voice Choir.
Click for Map
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