Page 11 - QARANC Vol 14 No 6 2013

The Royal British Legion Festival
of Remembrance Saturday 10 November 12
The Saturday evening before Remembrance Sunday, the Royal Albert Hall hosts the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, an annual festival that honours all those that have given their lives in the service of their country. I and seven other serving members of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps attended the Festival and represented the Corps in what was a magical day to say the least!
The QARANC contingent was represented by Major Marshall (MDHU FP), two senior non commissioned officers, Sgt Wilson (APHCS BFG) who joined us from Germany and Sgt Gardiner from Colchester (APHCS). There were then five junior ranks, Cpl Giles (MDHU PM), Cpl Poku, LCpl Fox, Pte Henderson (RCDM) and myself. We, as a QARANC team, were residing at Woolwich Barracks, the London Transit Centre, which Cpl Giles had pre-arranged for the party. We stayed in a flat where we attended to the last minute detail preparation of our Service Dress, as a decision had been taken for the QARANC to conform with the other two services and not parade in clinical dress. We then headed out to Greenwich town centre where the group indulged in a few team bonding tipples to ease the nerves.
Friday 09 Nov 12 consisted of a rehearsal during which we could meet the other people who were taking part in the festival from the Army, Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the much loved, Chelsea Pensioners. We were told to be ready at 1500hrs for an initial rehearsal so we continued to take in the atmosphere of the place before reporting to the co-ordination team in the main foyer. We were then briefed by the Garrison Sergeant Major (GSM), an enchanting inspirational man who can silence any crowd, and so the rehearsal began. Never in my life had I thought about walking down stairs as much as I did over the coming day, the rest of the contingent also had a slight fear in their eyes every time the GSM asked us to run through our performance.
Saturday 10 Nov was an early start as we all had to be en route to the
Royal Albert Hall by 0630hrs as we had a busy day ahead which included a dress rehearsal in full service dress, a matinee performance at 1400hrs and then the 1900hrs event sees the Legion welcome members of the Royal Family, government ministers as well as members of the Legion and their families. The event included performances from Rod Stewart, Alexandra Burke and Russell Watson, The Overtones, Amore and the Military Wives Choir, alongside the Massed Bands of the Household Division, the Band of HM Royal Marines, the Queen’s Colour Squadron and the RAF Squadronaries. Unfortunately we did not manage to see the performances due to being ‘backstage’; our attention was elsewhere as we bumped into the Olympians, Royal Artillery Captain Heather Stanning, Lieutenant Pete Reed, Royal Navy and Private Derek Derenalagi, from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
During the event we as a contingent, marched down the stairs as part of The Muster and formed up where the traditional two minutes silence was observed whilst thousands of poppy petals were released
from the hall’s ceiling, as a symbol of the lives lost in war. This was a moment to remember all servicemen and women who have fallen for their country and a truly moving moment for all serving personnel. After the service the event was to close with the finale which was the National Anthem followed by three cheers to Her Majesty the Queen.
I had a fantastic time at what was a once in a lifetime opportunity which left me beaming with pride. To represent the QARANC at this emotional yet enjoyable event during such an important and auspicious year can
only be described as an unforgettable honour and privilege.
Private Olivia McKenna (MDHU FP)
THE GAZETTE QARANC 9