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Veterans plenary
Meeting of Veterans Plenary - 23 March 2005
Commemorative Events to Mark the End of World War II and Veterans
Awareness Week by
Air Vice-Marshal David Pocock - Defence Services Secretary
(INTRODUCTION)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It seems like yesterday I stood in front of you and set out our plans for the 60th commemoration of the Normandy landings. My diary insists it was a full year ago.
I am sure you are all aware that the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War will be commemorated on 10 July. I should like to brief you on what is intended for that day, the events that surround Veterans Awareness Week which begins on the 4th July, and the actual VE and VJ Days themselves.
(COMMEMORATION DAY)
Starting with the Commemoration day itself. Planning is well advanced on the 3 major events which will take place on 10 July:
The service in Westminster Abbey will begin with The Queen's
arrival at 1100. The order of service is currently being drawn up by the
Dean and Chapter but the intention is to acknowledge all who suffered as
a consequence of the War - both civilian and military.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will make an address and the service as a whole
will last about 50 minutes. The congregation will number around 2000, most
of whom will be veterans - both military and from the Home Front. We still
have a few tickets for this event if you know of any veterans who would like
to attend.
After the service, The Queen will return to Buckingham Palace. Veterans who have tickets to the Abbey service will be able, if they wish, to move to the Veterans Centre and Living Museum in the St James's Park. The centre and museum will be closed to the general public on that day so the Abbey attendees will have exclusive use of the area at this time.
Lunch in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace, hosted by The Queen, will begin at 1300 and last about 1 hour 15 minutes. 2000 guests, the overwhelming majority veterans, have been invited to the lunch. There is still space on the reserve list if you know of veterans who would like to attend. Access and other instructions will be sent out in May.
The event on Horse Guards Parade is coming together well. It
will begin at 1430 with a 'warm-up' period. The Queen will arrive from Buckingham
Palace at 1500 by State Landau accompanied by a Captain's Escort of the Household
Cavalry.
The programme contains a light-hearted period of reminiscence leading to
a more sombre period of reflection and then an act of Remembrance.
After this, the standards of WW2 organisations and associations will be marched off and handed over to the youth of today, as chosen by the organisations, many of whom will be young service personnel. As The Queen leaves the parade square for Buckingham Palace (at about 1600), the standards from Horse Guards will join with a further group in front of Admiralty Arch and, led by a 150-strong tri-Service marching band, will follow The Queen up the Mall to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.
We still have a reasonable number of seats for Horse Guards and encourage further applications for tickets.
The day will end with the appearance of The Queen and other members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace where they will witness a fly past of WW 2 vintage aircraft - including a poppy drop by the BBMF Lancaster.
Coincidental with the events in London there are major events planned in cities and towns around the United Kingdom. Edinburgh and Cardiff are already well advanced with their planning, as are Birmingham, Hull, Blackpool and many others.
(VETERANS AWARENESS WEEK)
The week preceding Commemoration day will be Veterans Awareness Week. The key point is that this is for all veterans, regardless of age, and it is taking place nationwide. Already, over 100 events and exhibitions are being planned for VAW and have been notified to the project team and the Veterans Agency. The latter is maintaining a calendar of events on their website so that people can choose events in their area they may wish to attend or support. It should be noted that many, many more events will take place over the period April to October, but most of these are outside our direct remit.
In London VAW events will focus on the end of WW2. Of particular
note are:
The 'Living Museum'. This open-air museum featuring many aspects of the War,
including the Home Front, will be situated in St James's Park. Some exhibits
will involve re-enactment while others will be interactive. The museum will
be open each day to the general public free of charge.
Adjacent to the museum will be a veterans centre. This area will be open to all veterans (not just those who experienced WW2) where they can purchase refreshments and food. The centre will also include an area where charities and organisations can hold receptions and reunions. Any organisations who have not already applied to use the reception facilities, and wish to do so, should contact the project team.
At the main entry point to the museum and the Veterans Centre (via Marlborough Gate), there will be an avenue of stands where larger charities can set up displays to show the work they do in support of ex-Service personnel. This area is being organised on behalf of the project team by The Royal British Legion. Although most space is now filled, the Legion should be contacted if any more organisations wish to be present.
In the evening during the week, images of WW2 will be projected onto the façade of Buckingham Palace. The show will last 20 minutes and will be repeated 3 times.
(LAUNCH)
VAW will be launched in St James's Park on 4 July by a senior member of The Royal Family. Later that day, there will be a reception at the Royal Opera House for Veterans and Children, and a Parliamentary reception in Westminster Hall to which all members of both Houses will be invited – along with representatives of welfare organisations. At the end of the week, it is expected that the Lord Mayor of London will host a reception in St James's Palace.
(WOMEN IN WW2)
There is more.
On Saturday 9 July, the monument to the Women of the Second
World War will be unveiled by The Queen in Whitehall. The unveiling of this
monument is the culmination of many years of hard work and fundraising led
by Baroness Boothroyd.
We in the MOD have been assisting with the organisation, providing a band,
and female service personnel as ushers and route liners, by arranging a helicopter
flypast and by offering the use of the MOD main building as a venue for a
reception for 500 guests.
(VE DAY AND VJ DAY)
Planning for the wreath laying ceremonies for VE and VJ Days at the Cenotaph continues. The ceremonies will be attended by a Minister, Chiefs of Staff and senior representatives from ex-Service Charities. Notwithstanding press reports to the contrary, you will understand why we are working particularly closely, and I think to their satisfaction, with The Burma Star Association.
(ATTENDANCE)
Attendance by VIPs at events on 10 July, VAW and both VE and VJ days is currently being considered. While The Queen has confirmed that she will attend the events on 9 and 10 July, the presence of other members of the Royal Family both in London and the regions remains under consideration.
As far as attendance at the main events on 10 July by both veterans and members of the general public who participated in WW2 is concerned, I have already mentioned that there still some seats available, particularly on Horse Guards Parade. A radio broadcast by Raymond Baxter, was made on 23 February and other announcements are being made through regional press and media during this month inviting veterans to apply.
(FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)
A significant number of events being planned for VAW by charities have already received financial assistance from both the Big Lottery Fund and the MOD. (£240K has been paid out by MOD). The Big Lottery Fund has extended its offer of funding both in time and available grants, and smaller sums may be available in the new financial year from MOD according to need.
We are engaged here on mounting a major national event and I consider it
an absolute privilege to be involved. As ever, the bulk of the work has
been falling to relatively few people – and I should like to acknowledge
the considerable efforts being made by Cdre Geoff Edwardes and Wg Cdr
Chris Pickthall. The week will, of course, be a success; but it would
not have happened without their efforts.
Happy to take questions.
