Page 211 - RAPTC 23/24

209
As a registered Charity, the RAPTC Association is committed to the Objects (aims) that underpin its very purpose. Within the RAPTC Association’s Objects is one that specifically relates to remembrance:
The commemoration and remembrance of those members of the RAPTC who have died while on active service and the encouragement of public recognition of the sacrifice made by such persons.
The Association takes great pride in its commitment to remembering all those
The Corps Padre, Revd A B Harding CF, delivering the Service of Commemoration
Corps, Association and Branch Standards at the RAPTC Memorial
REMEMBRANCE
Lt Col (Retd) S Collinson, Regimental Secretary
that have died on active service, whilst also remembering those that have served the Corps and have now moved on to the ‘Gym in the Sky.’
This year we conducted our Biennial Service of Commemoration at our Corps Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) on Saturday 16 September 2023. Over 150 Association Members and their dependants attended the Service. The Service was followed by the presentation of RAPTC Association Awards by the Colonel Commandant, Lt Gen James Bashall CB CBE, and was followed by a two-course lunch.
It also afforded a suitable occasion to bid farewell to our Commandant, Brigadier Edward Chamberlain, welcome our new Commandant, Brigadier Jim Taylor; and bid farewell to our former Regimental Secretary, Lt Col (Retd) Gary Jones.
The Field of Remembrance is traditionally conducted at Westminster Abbey on the Thursday prior to Remembrance Sunday. Each eligible organisation has a small plot where they can place crosses to remember those that have died in action. Due to restoration work at the Abbey, we can only have a small group of four attend the ceremony. The review of plots is traditionally conducted by a Senior
Member of the Royal Family, which this year was Queen Camilla.
The Cenotaph Parade is always held on Remembrance Sunday. The parade comprises of up to 10,000 participants. The RAPTC Association are allocated 24 tickets for members to form a contingent to march in the Parade. Commencing from Horse Guards Parade, the route takes the contingents along Whitehall and past the Cenotaph before wheeling onto Great George Street and returning to Horse Guards Parade.
The RAPTC Plot at the Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey
LtoR: WO2 (QMSI) Syrett RAPTC, Lt Col (Retd) S Collinson, WO1 (Corps SM) D Brown RAPTC, Capt (MAA) C McMullen RAPTC
The Cenotaph Parade Marching Contingent on Horse Guards Parade