Restrictions were not going to stop me laying a wreath, defiant veteran says
For those who fought in the Second World War, it was ‘essential’ to remember their comrades, despite services being cancelled
Ken Cooke
ASecond World War veteran defied government advice to stay at home on Remembrance Sunday by visiting his local cenotaph to lay a wreath, as he insisted “a pandemic is not going to stop me”.
Ken Cooke, who served from 1943 to 1945, said he was determined to pay his respects in person to fallen servicemen and women despite the new national lockdown rules. Mr Cooke’s defiant attitude came after the Government and Sir Nick Carter, the Chief of Defence Staff, advised veterans to “stay at home on your front doorstep” for this year’s commemoration because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But Mr Cooke, 95, from York, made the five-minute journey from his home to his local war memorial to lay a wreath “for my friends who never came back home” after the official ceremony he attends every year was cancelled.
“On such occasions, like Remembrance Sunday, I take no notice of what the Government is saying,” Mr Cooke told The Daily Telegraph. “I wanted to go to lay a wreath. I have been to lay a wreath and it has made my day and satisfied me for the rest of the year. All things being possible, I will lay another one next year.
“We can’t forget what those lads did. They were unfortunate to never come home and that’s why we have to remember them. If it wasn’t for them there are plenty of people who would not be here today.”
He added: “A pandemic was not going to stop me”.
In the week that England was ordered into a second lockdown, thousands of veterans across the country were left little choice but to pay their respects at home after trips to official Remembrance Sunday services, including the Cenotaph in Whitehall, were strongly advised against.
Flanked by their neighbours rather than the Queen and former prime ministers, war heroes insisted that it was “essential” to remember those who “gave much for their country” regardless of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bob Lingwood
For 102-year-old Bob Lingwood, this year’s unusual ceremony was the first time he spent Remembrance Sunday at home. Mr Lingwood, who joined a Territorial Army unit in London as a teenager in 1937, usually attends a service at a school in his hometown of Omagh, Co Tyrone, where the young
students “crowd around” him to hear his story.
But the event, which was traditionally followed by a visit to the town’s cenotaph, was cancelled.
“They have a lovely service, and invite me to talk to the students. Last year I told them the story about the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey,” Mr Lingwood said.
“Obviously, we couldn’t do that this year because I’m in lockdown.
“It’s awful, but I had a beautiful card from them, it must have been made by the pupils, wishing me the best for the day. It was lovely.”
Mr Lingwood marked the twominute silence at 11am while watching the coverage on television at home.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was deployed to northern France. During one battle, Mr Lingwood was taken prisoner by German soldiers before he escaped quickly.
Recalling the experience, Mr Lingwood said: “When we got [back] to the other side, we were met by a captain, he interrogated me.
“At this time, all I had on was trousers and a shirt, I lost all my identification.
“He said, ‘I’m sorry, I have to check up on your story’, so we were locked in the guard room for four or five days until they found someone from our unit who recognised us.”
He added: “I’d say very few soldiers were taken prisoner by both sides on the same day.”
Seymour ‘Bill’ Taylor
For decades, Seymour “Bill” Taylor, a veteran of the Second World War, has spent Remembrance Sunday alongside his former veterans in one place only: the Cenotaph.
But this year, the former able seaman in the Royal Navy, who turns 96 next month, had to pay his respects to the fallen outside his home in Colchester, Essex.
Joined by his neighbours in a quiet cul-de-sac, Mr Taylor said this year’s ceremony was equally as special and brought his community together for the two-minute silence.
“I just feel that we’re all neighbours and we stand by each other. It’s a great feeling,” he added.
“We had our ceremony here and everything. It was most, most welcome. It’s something that’s really special and it means an awful lot.”
Mr Taylor praised his neighbours and said that having the ceremony at home “made all the difference”, adding: “Everything has been perfect.”
He said it had felt like a normal Remembrance Sunday, only more private and less crowded.
“It’s more personal for one thing,” he said, adding: “I shall remember it as a good day.”