Veterans’ descendants among thousands on march from Mall
IN what had been described as “a national thank you”, thousands marched past the Cenotaph for a people’s procession to mark the armistice centenary.
The descendants of veterans were among some 10,000 who processed from the Mall and into Whitehall.
Marion Lewis and her sister Dorothy Heslop were marching for their grandfather, Private John Waters of the 23rd Battalion Middlesex Regiment.
He received a serious head wound at the Somme in October 1916 which left him missing part of his skull.
As girls growing up, it was an unspoken rule not to ask granddad about the war, they said.
“They did not expect him to survive so they left him outside the medical tent and we think it’s the cold that probably saved him,” Ms Heslop said.
Jackie Sheridan, whose greatgreat uncle Oliver Davies died aged 21 while serving near Jerusalem, was also taking part.
He was a driver for the Royal Engineers who died on December 2, 1917, from a stray bullet while taking animals to water. His family still have the letter from his captain informing his mother of his death.
“It’s a proud moment to represent my family who are descendants,” Ms Sheridan said. “It’s going to be emotional to see everybody here, knowing there’s 10,000 of us.”
Wearing poppies and medals and carrying wreaths, hundreds gathered from 9am to mark 100 years since the guns fell silent.
Big screens were erected so those waiting could watch the Cenotaph service.