Every year on the second Monday in March, 53 countries join together in celebration of the links they share as members of one diverse and dynamic global family - the modern Commonwealth. This year Commonwealth Day saw the largest gathering at the Memorial Gates, in Constitution Hill, near Buckingham Palace.
Ministers, Commonwealth representatives, service personnel, veterans, and children from the City of London School Combined Cadet Force gathered near Hyde Park Corner for the annual service, as the Queen's Life Guard rode by on their way to perform their duties at Horse Guards Parade and the Band of the Coldstream Guards provided musical accompaniment.
This memorial is dedicated to the people of the Indian subcontinent, Africa, the Caribbean and Nepal who served in the Armed Forces during the two World Wars. Her Majesty The Queen officially inaugurated the Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London on 6 November 2002 as a lasting memorial to honour the five million men and women from the Indian subcontinent, Africa, the Caribbean and Nepal who volunteered to serve the Empire with the Armed Forces during the First and Second World Wars. The Gates also celebrate the contribution that these men and women and their descendants, members of the Commonwealth family, continue to make to the rich diversity of British society.
Baroness Shreela Flather, Chairman of the Memorial Gates Council said, “The Ceremony taking place today is to mark the Service and Sacrifice made in both World Wars by nearly five million Volunteers from the Indian sub-continent, Africa, the Caribbean and Nepal.
“As we move through the anniversaries of the First World War and the significant dates and events we remember that the first Standing Army to join the European conflict in 1914 was from India.
“This is John Major's third visit to the Memorial, we have to recall that, not many people have come so many times and first time we have a sitting Secretary of the State present.
“My father was a student here and he volunteered in the war, inspired by Gandhi's words. He became a stretcher bearer and was posted in Mesopotamia. For me this is an opportunity for us all to remember the contribution of Indians, Africans and West Indians.
“Today's event brought home to me how many people must have suffered in so many ways...
“I am so pleased that you all are here to remember the minorities who were involved in the great war...”
The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government said: “In both world wars millions of soldiers from across the Commonwealth fought side-by-side, defending the values of freedom and liberty, and defeating the dark forces of tyranny and oppression.~ Every Commonwealth country shares this proud history, but we also share enduring values, which provide enormous opportunities for future cooperation.”
Field Marshall The Lord Guthrie described the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, which took place a century ago this week, and whose success was largely due to the huge contribution from the Indian Army. He said: “These Memorial Gates recognise how much the United Kingdom and Dominions owe to those loyal members of the Empire who gave their support during those conflicts. We honour their Service and their Sacrifice.”
The Rt Hon Dr Richard Chartres, Bishop of London quoting the Hindu Upinashads spoke about the memorial at Neuve Chappele where Indians marched shoulder to shoulder with their brothers in arms to the battle hymn 'onward Christian soldiers'. As poem goes 'they died with their faces to the enemy'. The inscription there reads 'God is one and the victory is His'.
Also present at the service were The Rt Revd and, former Prime Minister John Major, and Lance Sergeant Johnson Beharry VC.
Representing His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Field Marshal Sir John Chapple laid a wreath. He was followed by Major General Ed Smyth-Osbourne, General Officer Commanding the Household Division and Headquarters London District, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ministry of Defence and representatives from the Embassies, High Commissions including HE Ranjan Mathai, the High Commissioner of India, associations and organisations representing the diverse communities from whom those who helped to defend our freedom have come.
photo credit: Raj Takhar, Xpressions Photography
