Commemorating the role of women in partnership with the Royal British Legion, Commonwealth Day and International Women's Day were celebrated by The Memorial Gates Council on March 8.
In his opening address, Lord Bilimoria CBE DL (Chairman, Memorial Gates Council) said, “This time, last year we held the Memorial Gates Ceremony at the Memorial Gates. How the world has changed over the last year, where the global pandemic and health crisis, economic crisis that has reverberated around the world. And here we are holding this virtual commemoration event. At the outset let me thank the whole British legion for their support and partnership with the memorial gates. We are this time, this year, celebrating the contribution of women. Just look at the women today. Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne has been to the rank of General in the Army and Chief Marshall in the RAF. Many women in the Commonwealth enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary AirForce, the Auxiliary Territorial Service, served in Britain in the Second World War. India had its own Women’s Auxiliary Hall.”
He also explained how women were involved in telephony, calligraphy, and in deciphering codes and symbols. They were mechanics, engineers, and they also interpreted aerial photographs. Many members of the WAF worked in the Radar Control Systems and reporting, later guiding fighter planes against German bombs. Probably the most famous member of the WAF was Noor-un-Nissa Inayat Khan whose family were from India, who served as a special operations executive.
She was an SOE agent under the codename Madeleine she became the first female wireless operator to be sent from the UK into occupied France to aid the French Resistance during World War II. Inayat Khan was captured after being betrayed, and executed at Dachau concentration camp. She was posthumously awarded the George Cross for her service in the SOE, the highest civilian decoration in the United Kingdom
“It is sacrifices like Noor, service like hers and other women that we celebrate and commemorate. The 5 million individuals who served in World War I and II, in South Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, without their service and sacrifice, we wouldn’t enjoy the freedom we have today. They gave their today for our tomorrow. We thank you, we will always remember you and we will always be inspired by you,” he added.
Other keynote speakers included Lieutenant General James Ian Bashall CB CBE (National President, Royal British Legion), Major General Celia Jane Harvey OBE TD VR (Deputy Commander Field Army). Prayers were performed by The Rt Rev and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE (Bishop of London) and Ode to the Fallen - Catherine Davies (Head of Remembrance Programmes and Partnerships, Royal British Legion).
Major General Celia Jane Harvey OBE TD VR - Deputy Commander Field Army said, “The story of women in the British Army has been a journey of continuous service and ever increasing contribution. That contribution traces its roots back to the early days of nursing support in Crimean war, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps in World War I, the Auxiliary Territorial Service in World War II and the Women’s Royal Army Corps. In 1992, women were integrated into non-combat arms and more recently into roles and hence ranks in the British Army, including infantry and special forces; an important milestone for equality and inclusion. That golden thread of women in British Army campaigns for 150 years continues today with women confidently fulfilling their potential and taking up more leadership roles than ever before. The coinciding events of International Women’s Day and Commonwealth Day offer an ideal opportunity to observe and reflect and celebrate the service and contribution of female and Commonwealth soldiers through that journey of service. Currently, women make up about 12% of the army and over 4000 soldiers are from a Commonwealth background including nearly 400 women. These officers and soldiers bring not only the knowledge and skills which any modern army needs, they also bring the richness and variety that is our Commonwealth. The sense of belonging permeates Defence as we respect, value and understand colleagues from different backgrounds all of whom share our values, the values of the British Army.”
Representing His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales was Major Mani Rai MBE DL. He laid a wreath on behalf of HRH The Prince of Wales. Major Mani Rai was followed by Ms Gerardine Hogarth who represented the Memorial Gates Council and Catherine Davies who represented the Royal British Legion.
