The Lieutenancy of Kent Supports TA 100 |
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BRITAIN'S top soldier has thanked the people of Kent for demonstrating their support for the Armed Forces at a parade and thanksgiving service in Canterbury on Saturday, 6 September. Thousands joined in celebrating Kent's major event of the Territorial Army's Centenary year. Serving and former TA soldiers and veterans from all volunteer reserves and regular Armed Forces from across the County took part. Kent's celebration of TA 100 was one of the biggest nationwide - and the Chief of the General Staff himself, General Sir Richard Dannatt, was there to take the salute. He said: "It is a great honour to be asked to take the salute at the parade in Canterbury and to read the lesson at the thanksgiving service in Canterbury Cathedral on what will be a very special occasion. "As a Nation, we ask a great deal from our Servicemen and women - often in extremely demanding operational environments. To succeed, the Army adheres to its values and standards of selfless commitment, courage, discipline, integrity, loyalty and respect for others. But the Army cannot be sustained without the support of the nation and we would rapidly wither if we lost that support. "Events in Kent and elsewhere show just how strong that support is and as Chief of the General Staff, I am very grateful to the Lieutenancy and the people of Kent for the strong support that they are giving to our Armed Forces. For our soldiers to know that they are well supported at home means a great deal to them and encourages them to march ten feet tall." Led by the Band of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, and with Colours and old comrades' standards flying, detachments from TA units based in Ashford, Canterbury, Ditton, Dover, Maidstone, Rochester and Tunbridge Wells, marched through Canterbury city centre. Joining them were hundreds of veterans - some in their 90s - and Cadets. And Canterbury Cathedral was packed for the thanksgiving service paying tribute to the contribution and sacrifice made by Territorials and their comrades over the past century. The Lord Lieutenant, Allan Willett, The Queen's representative in the County, whose initiative this was, also thanked the public for honouring the marchers - despite a torrential downpour. He said: "This was a wonderful opportunity for the people of Kent to enjoy the greatest spectacle of its kind for years and at the same time demonstrate their support for all the Forces of the Crown - past and present." The event was made possible through close cooperation between the Lieutenancy, Canterbury City Council, Canterbury Cathedral and the Army's 2 (South East) Brigade. The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Carolyn Parry, was with the Lord Lieutenant and General Dannatt at the saluting base, and the thanksgiving service was led by the Dean, the Very Reverend Robert Willis. Among those attending was Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, who won the Victoria Cross for valour saving comrades in Iraq although himself grievously wounded. A collection was taken in aid of Help for Heroes - Support for Our Wounded. Images of the TA 100 Parade, Thanksgiving service and reception
ADDRESS BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF KENT, ALLAN WILLETT CMG, AT THE TA 100 SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING IN CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL Here on this special Kentish morning, there could be no better place than this ancient and holy Cathedral Church in which to hold the Lieutenancy's historic service marking the Centenary of the Territorial Army. Once again this soaring monument to the faith and spirit of all mankind that so often has justified its description as English history in stone and glass, this powerful symbol of Kent and England's history and heritage, provides the magnificent setting for an occasion of celebration and thanksgiving. For today, we are honouring the sacrifice and service given so unstintingly over the past 100 years by all the reserve forces of our County and particularly the Territorial Army. And also we remember those, whether regulars or volunteer reservists, who are today risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Looking around this iconic building, represented here today is not only the Territorial Army that we celebrate, but a golden thread of voluntary service and sacrifice that stretches back centuries well before the formation of today's Territorial Army, and encompassing all volunteer reserves of all the Forces of the Crown. And it is good to see so many of them here shoulder to shoulder with Territorials past and present - and, of course, representatives of the regular forces led by the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, whose presence here today speaks volumes for the significance of this occasion - and for his leadership. We are also privileged to have with us at this historic service Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, awarded the Victoria Cross for valour in Iraq when severely wounded and under heavy enemy fire he twice rescued his colleagues. His presence symbolises the courage, integrity and loyalty of all our Servicemen and women. This celebration today is about people - the human factor - courage, comradeship, pride, loyalty and leadership. It was heart-warming to see the generations on parade today. From the youngest Cadet to veterans in their 90s - one a 95-year-old Royal Engineer from Dover whose son has come all the way down from the Isle of Skye to push his father's wheelchair in the parade. When I launched the idea of today's celebration I immediately began to receive messages of interest and support from many veterans. Typical was one who wrote that although ill health prevents his attendance, he said: "On the 6th September I shall don my medals and blazer and stand at home to pay my respects to the Terriers." Another, from Canterbury, and also in his 90s, declined the invitation to be here today with regret - because he felt what he called "attempting such an adventure" with his disability might create a burden for others. Both of them are with us in spirit. Also among the veterans with us today is one who recalls reporting at Tunbridge Wells drill hall in 1938 to join the unit in which his father was already serving. A lady with us today, now living in Lincolnshire, wrote to tell me that her father joined the TA in Maidstone and was killed at the Battle of El Alamein and that three of her brothers - one of whom is here today - were also Territorials. And so this golden thread of service and sacrifice entwines our Country and this County together. Winston Churchill, the greatest Englishman, who lived in our midst here in Kent, called our County: "This glorious foreland of England, the shrine of its Christianity, the cradle of its institution, the bulwark of its defence" And we in Kent are proud to be the Frontline County and the bulwark of the defence of this Nation. We played our frontline part in seeing off the Armada and Napoleonic invasion threats, through to the frustration of Hitler's plans by the RAF who won the Battle of Britain fought largely in Kentish skies. Let us never forget that a third of The Few were reservists. When the cause of freedom hung by a single thread they came from every walk of life from our own Country and from the four corners of the globe. And those of us who were on the storm-lashed cliffs at Capel le Ferne for this year's Battle of Britain Memorial service will never forget the sight of some of the last of The Few - still standing firm against the worst weather an English summer could throw at them - just as they did against the storm of enemy fire 68 summers ago. Territorials from my own Regiment, The Buffs, and from The Queen's Own Royal West Kents, were among more than 700 TA battalions that fought in World War I. They fought again in World War II. At Kohima, on the eastern border of India, it was a Royal West Kent Battalion - only 438 strong and supported by a small number of Gurkhas - who held an entire Japanese Division at bay for 16 death-defying days and stopped the invasion of India. With us in this congregation today is an officer who won the Military Cross for bravery in that desperate battle. And, like him, we will never forget the immortal message that came from that far away battlefield: "When you go home tell them of us, for we gave our today for your tomorrow". This golden thread of service runs on through the vital part the Territorials and other Reservists played in facing down the Warsaw Pact throughout the Cold War. A largely bloodless victory maybe, but one of crucial importance and in which many National Servicemen also served and are proudly represented here today. And our TA soldiers from Kent are involved today in Iraq and Afghanistan. But let us always remember this golden thread of service and sacrifice that runs through the history of our Country and this County of Kent is a precious asset that should never be exploited. It must always be nurtured and maintained. Because the Army cannot be sustained without the support of the Nation and morale will rapidly disappear if it is lost. I am sure that all here today will be well aware of General Dannatt's appeal for greater public understanding and support for those in uniform. He has spoken out on their behalf - our behalf - passionately, persuasively and without regard for his own position and we thank him for that. Here in Kent we have responded to his appeal and I am delighted to say that the Lieutenancy's campaign to increase public awareness and support for our Armed Forces and their families has received a united, enthusiastic response from all the local authorities across this County. I should emphasise that in giving thanks today we are not for one moment forgetting the families who sacrifice so much in supporting those who serve. The quiet fortitude of the Service families is a wonderful example to us all and the communities of Kent will always make sure that they are looked after properly and with understanding when they are left in our care. Many in this congregation today will know only too well the strain that such service - and especially deployment on operations - imposes on family relationships and on civilian careers. And this is an opportunity to thank the many companies and organisations that support the Territorials by allowing them time off for training and deployment overseas. Today's service is about serving and on this day we pay a special tribute to Her Majesty The Queen who for more than half a century has dedicated herself to serving our Country. Before the burden of monarchy fell upon her young shoulders 56 years ago, she had already served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in the Second World War.. And so Her Majesty - sheet anchor of our Nation and Commonwealth - is herself a full member of this great uniformed Band of Brothers and Sisters. Let there be no doubt: this celebration is not of military successes or triumphalism. It is about the spirit of humanity across generations from Kent who have served so unselfishly - and with such quiet distinction - in the Territorial Army, our other reserves, and our regular forces. We do not know where this golden thread of service may lead us in the future. However I am confident that in the years to come this Frontline County's volunteers will always continue to answer our Nation's call. And now I invite you to stand with me and pause for a moment to give silent thanks for all those who have served our Nation and our County in the last century - and especially we remember those who did not come home. Will all those who can please stand. We stand together in silent tribute And thanks be to God. Here, the Lord Lieutenant, Allan Willett CMG, President of the County of Kent Committee for Reserve Forces and Cadets, explains why the Lieutenancy is leading the celebrations.
A WARTIME poster showing a defiant Kentish Territorial astride the map of our County sums up what TA 100 is all about. Let’s be clear about this: we are the Frontline County, with every reason to be proud of our role as Guardians of the Gateway to England, and every reason to celebrate the Centenary of the Territorial Army. Not lightly did the great Kent historian Edward Hasted write two centuries ago: ‘A privilege…claimed by the men from Kent…is that of being placed in the vanguard of the army….which right was granted to them on account of their gallant and noble behaviour in the encounters between the Saxons and Danes, long before the Conquest…’ We alone were not conquered by William the Norman. And right down through the centuries to today we have a wonderful record of volunteer military service and of seeing off would-be invaders.
Throughout that time until 1908 the Lieutenancy played a key role in raising Kentish forces and organising the defence of the County – and we still retain strong links with our Armed Forces today. A century ago the Territorial Force – later called the Territorial Army – was formed from the Yeomanry, Militia and Rifle Volunteers. Celebrating this great milestone is my Lieutenancy’s main initiative this year. But we are not forgetting that no fewer than one third of The Few who fought and won the Battle of Britain in Kentish skies, making eventual victory possible, were Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Nor are we forgetting that down here in Kent we claim we invented the Royal Navy through the Cinque Ports!
It would take a book to record the service and exploits of Kent’s Territorial soldiers, many of whom made the supreme sacrifice in World War I. Their tough Kentish spirit lived on during World War II. One outstanding example is the epic story of the 4 th Queen’s Own Royal West Kents who fought off the Japanese surrounding them at Kohima for 16 death-defying days. The unit, only 438 strong, held an entire Japanese Division at bay and stopped the invasion of India. Remarkably, it was the only TA infantry battalion that fought all three of our major wartime enemies, the Germans, Italians and Japanese, on three continents.
Another extraordinary example was that of Kent Fortress Engineers, a TA unit that sent groups of soldiers across to France at the time of Dunkirk and after, to blow up oil refineries and depots along the coast of Europe. More than 2,000,000 tons of oil was denied to the enemy and its destruction had a major effect on the decision not to invade England. Kent’s Territorial Army soldiers played a vital part in facing down the Warsaw Pact throughout the Cold War and the thread of service continues through to the important contribution they are making today in Iraq and Afghanistan. The TA used to be known by some as a force of last resort. It is now the reserve of first choice. The unit names may change and today the numbers may be smaller, but our TA soldiers are of the same tough Kentish stock.
In the words of the old recruiting slogan they are Twice a Citizen serving the Nation in uniform as well as holding down a civilian job. Our TA soldiers are a great asset to our County and the Nation – valuable and valued – and they deserve greater public support. Such service – and especially deployment on operations – imposes great strain on family relationships and on civilian careers. Yet they and their predecessors have always been – and still are – ready and willing to answer the Nation’s call.
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