THE GREAT PILGRIMAGE TO YPRES 2018
The Great Pilgrimage 90 was the largest membership event the Royal British Legion had undertaken in modern history. Over the 6 - 8th of August, two members of the Kimbolton Branch (Brian Strand and Roger Watson) visited former WW1 battlefields in France and Belgium. They laid wooden crosses where those from Kimbolton are commemorated.
They also visited St Georges Church, Ypres to check on the state of two benches that the branch had donated to the church a number of years ago. On the 8th August Standard Bearers and Wreath Bearers of the represented branches (1100) took part in a parade and memorial service at the Menin Gate, Ypres, marking the centenary of the launch of the "Hundred Days Offensive”.More photos on the media page.
REPORT ON GP90 BY BRIAN STRAND AND ROGER WATSON.
The Great Pilgrimage 90 was the largest membership event the Royal British Legion had undertaken in modern history. We would like to thank the Kimbolton Branch for giving us the honour and privilege of representing Kimbolton.
Travel and accommodation was arranged by Leger Travel on behalf of the Legion. This worked well, except for our accommodation which was sub standard. We have since received a letter acknowledging this fact from Leger, who as a gesture of goodwill have awarded the RBL the sum of £50 per person for the Branch to use.
The tour took place over the 6th - gth August, it visited a number of WW1 battle fields in France and Belgium. This included the Thiepval Memorial where we saw the work of the War Graves commission. We placed wooden crosses at the cemeteries where those from Kimbolton are commemorated. We visited St George's chapel, Ypres to review the condition of two benches donated by Kimbolton branch (happy to report both in good repair)
On the 8th August, Standard Bearers (BS) and Wreath bearers (RW) of the represented branches (1100) took part in a parade through Ypres to the Menin Gate where a memorial service took place and the wreaths were laid. Marking the centenary of the launch of the "Hundred Days Offensive.
