Home » Travel » Royal Britain » Red Poppies for Remembrance

Red Poppies for Remembrance

© Stuart Buchanan MacWatt

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below."
Lt.Col. John McCrae,(Canada). May 1915.

On Sunday,11 November, The Queen accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh leads Britain and Commonwealth in the annual Royal service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall. She lays the first of many wreaths of red poppies in remembrance and tribute to men and women of Britain and the Commonwealth who fell in two world wars. They were men and women who accepted a call to arms as an obligation of citizenship and paid the supreme sacrifice. After the service, which is also attended by senior members of the Royal Family in uniform, Parliamentary politicians and Commonwealth dignitaries, Her Majesty takes the salute at a British Legion March Past of Veterans, a now rapidly dwindling band of aging bemedalled warriors from battles that are just history to a new generation.

This solemn Remembrance Day pageantry is mirrored with civic dignity in cities, towns and villages across Britain, Canada, Australia and other Commonwealth countries. It is a sombre moment that will achieve added poignancy this year as we remember the dead of 11 September and see loved ones on active service once again against the evil forces of global terrorism.

The Queen Mother, who celebrated her 101 birthday in August, has announced that she will be 'on parade' again to witness the British Legion March Past on Horse Guards Parade after a two year absence due to ill health. As Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards, she will watch from the Venetian window of the Wellington Room over the central archway of the famous 18th century Horse Guards building; architect William Kent's most famous contribution to London's architectural grandeur. The room was once the office of the C.in C., British Army and used by The Iron Duke for ten years.

In 1999 The Queen Mother braved cold, damp and blustery winds against doctor's cautious advice to lead the annual 'Poppy Service' on the Field of Remembrance outside Westminster Abbey and plant a cross in memory of her own fallen relatives. This is a quiet memorial service, held on the Thursday before the Cenotaph ceremony, to bless the masses of tiny wooden poppy-decorated crosses individually planted each year by bereaved Londoners who remember those who never returned.

It is an intensely moving and personal moment for those who mourn and the now frail Queen Mother's presence at the service is deeply appreciated by all of us who lived through the London Blitz or lost loved ones on some foreign field of battle. Every year bar one since the end of WW2 she has attended this memorial service to plant her poppy cross of remembrance. On this occasion however, she caught a chill standing out in such daunting weather and had to miss the Remembrance Sunday March Past. By my reckoning The Queen Mother has missed this on just seven occasions in her remarkable 78 years of dedicated public service as Duchess of York, (1923 -1936); Queen Consort, (1936 - 1952); and, since 1952, our Queen Mother. We pray that she will remain in continued good health to celebrate to the full with us her daughter's Golden Jubilee next year.

The copyright of the article Red Poppies for Remembrance in Royal Britain is owned by Stuart Buchanan MacWatt. Permission to republish Red Poppies for Remembrance in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.