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The
"We Remember" Booklet 2006
REMEMBRANCE
 The
official Period of Remembrance is for around ten days in
November. For most serving men and women, however, and for those
who have served in action, Remembrance is an ongoing thing, as I
am sure it is for those who have lost loved ones in war, or in
conflicts since.
Certainly, as a WW2 Gunner, I
find that not many days pass without a thought of the friends
who didn`t come back with the rest of us, but who lie in a
corner of a foreign field. I will always remember them.
The Royal British Legion plays a
large part in focusing the minds of people on the reasons for
Remembrance with its annual Poppy Appeal. This was first
instituted in 1921 and raises money for its ongoing work in
assisting serving and ex-service personnel in many ways - not
only financially but in such things as health care, pensions
advice, residential care, and so on. In today`s climate, with
casualties still being suffered by our armed services this help
is needed as much as it ever was.
In Dover the local branch of the
Legion has played its part for many years, and although sadly it
no longer functions, a small number of dedicated former members
ensure that
the long established
 Field
of Remembrance is prepared and set out in front of the Town War
Memorial, and manned throughout the period leading up to
Remembrance Sunday, so that local people can pay a tribute to a
relative, or relatives, who served their country, and by so
doing raise money for the Poppy Appeal. In the past it has
been touching to find that many young people, including
children, have wanted to show their respect and gratitude for
those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
On Remembrance Sunday many Poppy
wreaths are laid at the War Memorial. On other occasions they
are laid at other memorials around the town, including the
Railwaymen`s Memorial at the Cruise Liner Terminal, the
Anglo-American Artillery Memorial and the RFC Memorial, both on
Langdon Cliff. In Deal the Burma Star Association remember
fallen comrades at their Memorial on VJ Day.
If we ever stop remembering, we
may forget the cost in lives of the freedom we now take for
granted.
Arthur Tolputt,
Hon Sec
Royal Artillery Association, Dover Branch
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