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On Wednesday, 14th May 2003, The Queen, as Patron of the Victoria Cross & George Cross Association, and the Duke of Edinburgh were present at the Service of Dedication of the Victoria Cross & George Cross Memorial in Westminster Abbey. The memorial is engraved in nabresina stone with enlarged bronze and silver crosses inlaid with enamelled ribbons. A tri-service guard of honour stood outside the Great West Door, whilst inside a further guard of honour held flags of nations whose citizens have been recipients of the VC and GC. The Dean of Westminster, The Very Rev Dr Wesley Carr, assisted by the Rev Nicholas Holtam, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, officiated, with readings given by Colonel Stuart Archer GC OBE ERD, and Lieutenant Commander Ian Fraser VC, DSC, RD, Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the VC & GC Association. The newly dedicated Memorial was carried by a Sailor, Soldier, Airman and a Policeman to its site at the west end of the Abbey. The party was preceded by four holders of the George Cross, Michael Pratt, Alf Lowe, Anthony Gledhill and Derek Kinne, and followed by four holders of the Victoria Cross, Lieutenant Commander Ian Fraser, Keith Payne, Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank and Captain Rambahadur Limbu. Following the playing of the Last Post and Reveille, and the conclusion of the service, the memorial stone was placed on its stand by the Great West Door. ( The memorial stone was lowered into its place in the floor of the Abbey following the ceremony ). Below are listed the Victoria Cross & George Cross holders who attended the ceremony. |
Rank | FName | LName | Service |
Captain | Richard | ANNAND VC | Durham Light Infantry |
Flt Lieutenant | John | CRUICKSHANK VC | Royal Air Force |
Lt Commander | Ian | FRASER VC | Royal Navy |
Mr | Lachhiman | GURUNG VC | 8th Gurkha Rifles |
Captain | Rambahadur | LIMBU VC | 10th Gurkha Rifles |
Captain | Keith | PAYNE VC | Australian Army Training Team |
Sub Major | Umrao | SINGH VC | Royal Indian Artillery |
Mr | Ernest | SMITH VC | Seaforth Highlanders of Canada |
Mr | William | SPEAKMAN VC | King's Own Scottish Borderers |
Sir | Tasker | WATKINS VC | Welch Regiment |
Lt Colonel | Eric | WILSON VC | East Surrey Regiment |
( Victoria Cross holders unable to attend the ceremony ) | |||
Lance Naik | Bhanbhagta | GURUNG VC | 2nd Gurkha Rifles |
Mr | Edward | KENNA VC | 4th Infantry Bn, AMF |
Captain | Gerard | NORTON VC | Kaffrarian Rifles |
WO I | Tulbahadur | PUN VC | 8th Gurkha Rifles |
Colonel | Stuart | ARCHER GC | Corps of Royal Engineers |
Mr | John | BAMFORD GC | Civilian |
Mr | James | BEATON GC | Metropolitan Police |
Lt Commander | John | BRIDGE GC | Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve |
Colonel | Dick | BUTSON GC | Royal Army Medical Corps |
Mr | Harry | ERRINGTON GC | Fireman, London Aux Fire Service |
Mr | Kenneth | FARROW GC | Constable, Cardiff City Police |
Mr | Henry | FLINTOFF GC | Civilian |
Mr | Anthony | GLEDHILL GC | Metropolitan Police |
Mr | John | GREGSON GC | Merchant Navy |
Mr | Derek | KINNE GC | Royal Northumberland Fusiliers |
Mr | Alfred | LOWE GC | Royal Navy |
Mr | Joseph | LYNCH GC | Royal Navy |
Mr | Kenneth | PRATT GC | Victoria Police ( Australia ) |
Mrs | Margaret | PURVES GC | Civilian |
Mr | Awanganak | RAWENG GC | Soldier |
Mr | Geoffrey | RILEY GC | Civilian |
Mr | Henry | STEVENS GC | Metropolitan Police |
Lt Colonel | George | STYLES GC | Royal Army Ordnance Corps |
Mr | Charles | WALKER GC | Royal Navy |
Mr | Charles | WILCOX GC | Civilian |
Mr | Jim | MCDONALD | RUC GC Foundation |
Dr | Lawrence | GONZI | Deputy PM of Malta GC |
Altogether 1,400 descendents of past recipients of both awards attended the ceremony, along with Ambassadors, High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries, representatives of government, senior officers of the Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air Force, representives from the Police, Merchant Navy, ex-Service organisations and many other distinguished friends. |
Iain Stewart, 14 May 2003