On 11th November 2018, 100 years since armistice, bells rang out in unison from churches and Cathedrals in villages, towns and cities across the country, to mark the end of the First World War Centenary Commemorations. When the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey were inaugurated in 1920, they became the focus of national mourning. By the end of the Great War, more than three quarter of a million British Soldiers were dead, more than 192,000 wives had lost their husbands and nearly 360,000 children had lost their fathers. The scale of the suffering was almost beyond comprehension and the official and public recognition of that pain, even if it was just a name on a memorial to the missing as the great arch of the Menin Gate at Ypres, was enormously significant in helping these families to face the future.
War Memorials matter. They stand in village squares, on railway stations, in churches and in football grounds and they are cared for by the same communities from which men were drawn. Many were Kitchener volunteers, who had been to school, worked and enlisted together. Their families knew each other well and the grief was shared. Today, the record may be up to date, including the dead from Iraq or Afghanistan, but the suffering they represent is the same as it ever was.
In Kelvedon and Feering we gathered around our churches and memorials, to remember those lost men, who at the call of King and country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardship, faced danger and finally passed out of sight of men by path and duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives, that others may live their freedom.
To mark the 100th Anniversary of the end of WW1 and to commemorate this historic event, as the guardians of Remembrance, the Royal British Legion (RBL) Kelvedon Branch (which includes Feering), supported and worked with our communities (churches, councils, schools, groups and organisations), to plan and hold a number of events including: the “Big Knit” Poppy Challenge for the cascade of poppies at St Mary's Parish Church, creating a Poppy Banner, publication and launch of ‘The Lost Men of Kelvedon and Feering’ Book, Feering Cinema Club screened the film ‘Testament of Youth’, Kelvedon Players in association with the Kelvedon Community Association put on a performance of “Oh What A Lovely War” and there were interactive RBL presentations at Kelvedon and Feering schools. We also displayed Silent Soldier silhouettes at the various initiatives and events, which were part of the “There But Not There” commemorative event. The commemoration events and initiatives held across our two villages, led up to a procession, Act of Remembrance and Ecumenical Service of Remembrance on Sunday 11th November 2018.
You can find photos and write ups about the events and initiatives organised by the RBL Kelvedon Branch and the various groups and organisations involved as follows:
www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/kelvedon
http://www.kelvedonandfeeringchurches.co.uk/
Kelvedon and Feering Parish Magazines
Kelvedon and Feering Village Facebook pages
All Saints’ Church Feering and St Mary’s Church Kelvedon Twitter
Posters, flyers around the villages
Local press / media
You can also contact: Joanna Brown (Publicity Officer, RBL Kelvedon Branch) – Tel. 07855 369516
Email: rblkelvedon@gmail.com
We were so pleased to see so many joining in the commemoration events being held and helping our communities to come together and remember and honour those lost during WW1.
Stephen Laccohee
Royal British Legion – Kelvedon Branch Chairman
Note: We are currently producing a commemorative booklet which includes a record of the various events and initiatives that took place in Kelvedon and Feering. Further details will be shared once the booklet is available.
