Latest news with #RoyalBritishLegion
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
New memorial for soldiers killed in D-Day training
A new memorial plaque in Kent commemorates 22 soldiers who died during a D-Day training exercise. The men from the 4th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry died when boxes of anti-tank grenades exploded at Dymchurch Beach on 29 May 1944. About 300 people attended a drumhead memorial ceremony on Thursday, where the memorial was unveiled on the sea wall. Attendees included military personnel, local scout groups and representatives from the Royal British Legion and Dymchurch Parish Council. The Reverend David Parrott, who led the memorial service, said: "What greater privilege can there be than to work with so many different age groups and all remembering the same event?" An army officer said in 1941 that either an act of God, the heat of the sun or a match head igniting in a box of detonators caused the accidental explosion. The incident was not widely publicised at the time for fear of affecting morale ahead of the D-Day landings. Ceremony flag bearer Richard Thompson, of the Rifles and Light Infantry Association Somerset, said: "Unfortunately and tragically they lost their lives in Dymchurch, but it doesn't make their contribution any less." Mr Parrott added: "Some of our local community discovered this and decided to do some research. "The result of their work and preparation is that today this plaque has been dedicated to make sure that those men are remembered in this place." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. What were the D-Day landings? Centenarian veteran reflects on VE Day anniversary Evacuees from South East remember war experiences
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
D-Day training exercise dead remembered with new Dymchurch plaque
A new memorial plaque in Kent commemorates 22 soldiers who died during a D-Day training men from the 4th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry died when boxes of anti-tank grenades exploded at Dymchurch Beach on 29 May 300 people attended a drumhead memorial ceremony on Thursday, where the memorial was unveiled on the sea included military personnel, local scout groups and representatives from the Royal British Legion and Dymchurch Parish Council. The Reverend David Parrott, who led the memorial service, said: "What greater privilege can there be than to work with so many different age groups and all remembering the same event?" An army officer said in 1941 that either an act of God, the heat of the sun or a match head igniting in a box of detonators caused the accidental incident was not widely publicised at the time for fear of affecting morale ahead of the D-Day landings. Ceremony flag bearer Richard Thompson, of the Rifles and Light Infantry Association Somerset, said: "Unfortunately and tragically they lost their lives in Dymchurch, but it doesn't make their contribution any less."Mr Parrott added: "Some of our local community discovered this and decided to do some research."The result of their work and preparation is that today this plaque has been dedicated to make sure that those men are remembered in this place."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In pictures: Residents get together for celebratory afternoon in honour of VE Day
RESIDENTS in Stanway celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE Day over the long bank holiday weekend. The picnic in the park united young and old in a celebratory spirit on Saturday on the playing field in Villa Road. Vendors offered sweet treats and handcrafted goods, while volunteers raised funds for the Royal British Legion. Music by DJ Busby added to the festive vibe of the event, while youngsters were entertained with games and a bouncy castle. Ella-Rose Everitt, 5, promotes the Fidget and Fun stall (Image: STEVE BRADING) Carol Gosgen and her bath bomb and salts stall (Image: STEVE BRADING) Rebecca King of Bex Bakes (Image: STEVE BRADING) Taking it easy (Image: STEVE BRADING) Charlotte Baker selling personalised cups (Image: STEVE BRADING) Patriotic - Malcolm Campbell on his stall (Image: STEVE BRADING) Tom Baldwin swings Sophie, 4 (Image: STEVE BRADING) The Collier family enjoy their ice creams (Image: STEVE BRADING) John and Jenny Allen enjoy a cooling treat (Image: STEVE BRADING) Connor Rodman, 7, gets some bubbles going (Image: STEVE BRADING) Connie Martin, 3, with Dexter, 6, on the ibouncy slide (Image: STEVE BRADING) Bob Brookes and Jim Welton of the Poppy Appeal (Image: STEVE BRADING) The event was also supported by Community Energy Colchester, which offers free energy saving advice sessions and visits to residents.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
York's new Lord Mayor feels 'weight of history'
York's new Lord Mayor has said he felt "the weight of history" on his shoulders after being appointed to the centuries-old councillor Martin Rowley was officially chosen for the office - which is second only to that of the Lord Mayor of London in terms of its status - at City of York Council's annual meeting on told the meeting he relished being the next custodian of an office which dated back about eight centuries."I'm looking forward to stepping into this historic position and acting as an ambassador for this great city during what will certainly be a busy and exciting year for York," he said. Rowley, councillor for the Osbaldwick and Derwent ward and deputy leader of the Conservative group on City of York Council, was first elected in 2019 and re-elected in Army veteran and owner of Rowley and Sons Funeral Services originally hails from Sheffield and he has lived with his wife Elizabeth and family in Osbaldwick since was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2021 for service to his community and he currently serves as the council's armed forces to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he also plays the Eb bass tuba in the York Railway Institute Development Band. Rowley said his chosen charities would be the Royal British Legion, York Against Cancer and Family Matters York, adding that he looked forward to meeting those who put others before said he had a tough act to follow in outgoing Lord Mayor Margaret Wells, and that the Labour councillor had served York with compassion, dignity and said: "I look at the names of the mayors who've gone before me and I see captains of industry like George Hudson and Joseph Rowntree. I feel the weight of history on my shoulders."But it isn't lost on me that I'm simply the next custodian of this office that dates back 800 years."Wells, of Clifton ward, was appointed York's Deputy Lord Mayor for the coming the same meeting, former Conservative councillor Paul Doughty was made Sheriff for the coming year, succeeding outgoing office holder Fiona is among the cities in England which has the right to appoint a Sheriff, granted by charter from Richard II in they served as the representative of the monarch at a local level, but the role has evolved over time and is now ceremonial. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The Times Daily Quiz: Thursday May 22, 2025
1 The border collie dog was originally bred for herding which animals? 2 The Royal British Legion calls which flower 'a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future'? 3 Rebbetzin is a term for the wife of someone who holds which title in Judaism? 4 According to Guinness World Records, what is the most frequently sung song in English? 5 French brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier invented the first practical type of which aircraft? 6 Which British-born South African mining magnate's will provided for an University of Oxford scholarship to be established in 1902? 7 Atom Splitter beer is brewed in which university city? 8 Austin Stowell played which U-2 spy plane pilot in the Spielberg film Bridge of Spies? 9
