Dear Mac
Over
the recent months I have attended Wootton Bassett on
4 occasions when Guardsmen have come in.
3
times for Coldstreamers and once when the Grenadier RSM and Guardsmen came in.
As Secretary of my Branch of the Royal British
Legion I usually take our Standard Bearer with me.
The week before last, when the Coldstream L/Sergeant and three others came in, there were
31 RBL Standard Bearers present.
It is very moving when hundreds of people
stand in complete silence when the coffins come past and flowers are on the
placed on the hearse.
I have met many old friends from the Regiment there, including the wife of Colonel Havergal who is President of the Women's Section of the RBL.
I have now received a report on what actually happens at RAF Lyneham and I thought I would let you know.
The
Regiment is allowed 4 official representatives, these
are normally the Lt/Col, Regimental Adjutant, OC rear party and if possible a
friend of the deceased.
Of
these the friend is most important as as his presence
makes a real difference to the family, the family is allowed 7 members.
Everybody
arrives at RAF Lyneham at 10.30hrs, the families
congregating in one room and the military representatives
in the other, if guardsmen are involved, if at all possible the Major
General will be present.
At
1100hrs everyone moves outside, informally to watch the C17 fly past; as it does it dips its wings, always a most moving moment. It
then lands and then de-flare's (gets its anti missile stuff disarmed)
After
the flypast the two groups return to their respective rooms. There is a brief
interval for the families to compose themselves and then the military
representatives go and meet the families.
They
are confronted by shocked , stunned people whose world
has been turned upside down since the moment when a stranger in an Army uniform
turned up their doorstep.
These families are all to
rarely stable families and often they are split families coming together for
this grim reunion in appalling circumstances.
It is then the task of the Military
Representatives to try to be comforting, to try to be positive and reassuring
and to listen, it is here the friend of the dead man
plays an invaluable part.
After the Military representatives have met the family the padres conduct their prayers with them, the C17 taxies into position for the Repatriation Ceremony. and then everyone goes into the Marquee for the Ceremony, families sitting at the front, military representatives at the rear.
As
the first coffin is borne out of the aircraft, the last post is sounded as the
bearer party makes it way to the hearse. this is the
awful moment when the reality of what has happened hits each family in turn.
This is probably the worst moment of all.
Some families stand there steadfast, others wail, others sob, family members try and comfort one another. Welfare officers, visiting Officers and Padres are on hand to comfort them. All are humbled by the dignity and hearts go out to them.
At
the end of the Ceremony, reveille is sounded and
everyone goes back inside and the families if they wish have an opportunity to
meet the Bearer Party.
Thereafter
the families can be with the coffin in the chapel of rest before the drive to
If you can let your members know what goes on at these all to often heart rendering occasions.
Regards,
John Welch
L/Sgt 23452910