Silence for The Fallen
At dawn in the tranquillity of Westminster Abbey, four old soldiers pay poignant tribute to dead of the First World War
HEADS solemnly bowed, these four retired soldiers surround the tomb of the Unknown Warrior at dawn to pay their respects to the heroes who lost their lives for Britain.
the Chelsea Pensioners’ silent ceremony in Westminster Abbey was held in the run-up to the centenary of the Armistice of the First World War on November 11.
Former Royal Marine David Griffin, 77, said: ‘Some of our members are almost 100 years old – they know what it was like after the First World War and during the Second.
‘We wanted to do something really special for the centenary. Before the doors are open to the public, the cavernous silence by the grave is profound. We arrived around 6am, before the cleaners and the crowds, and stood in just total emptiness and deadly silence – as it should be.
‘i think the picture of us exudes this loneliness and silence which emphasises the fact that so many of those who died were never found after being blown to pieces. they never came home.’
Mr Griffin was joined at the grave by John Denton, 81, who served in the Royal engi- neers in Cyprus, Ray Pearson, 82, another Royal engineer, and Fred Rook BeM, 92, who joined the Royal electrical Mechanical engineers in 1944.
they were invited to perform the vigil by John Hall, the Dean of Westminster Abbey, as part of its commemorations for the Armistice centenary.
All four men now live at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, alongside 300 other veterans. Any former British soldier over the age of 65 who faces spending their advanced years alone can apply for residence.
Mr Griffin said he believes the centenary is a vital chance to educate younger generations of the horrors of war. More than 700,000 British soldiers died in the Great War.
He added that the Chelsea Pensioners represent the ‘essence of the Army of old’ and the anniversary is a ‘brilliant opportunity’ to remind people of the importance of the Armed Forces. Despite the moving ceremony, Mr Griffin has a dark cloud hanging over him – he is among Northern ireland veterans facing possible murder charges in a police review of decades-old cases.
the Unknown Warrior represents all those who died who have no other memorial or known grave.
the body in the tomb was chosen from four unknown servicemen exhumed from the battle areas of Aisne, the Somme, Arras and Ypres. it was brought back from France and was buried on November 11, 1920 during a service attended by King George V and other dignitaries and ministers. the marble tombstone was unveiled a year later, with the inscription: ‘Beneath this stone rests the body of a British warrior unknown by name or rank brought from France to lie among the most illustrious of the land.’
‘We arrived before the cleaners and the crowds’