This years' Remembrance Sunday is the Centennial anniversary of the signing of the Armistice which ended the 1st World War. This makes the day all the more poignant and 1st Taxal Scout Group will be attending the service, as always, as well as assisting throughout the day with other events.
You may not be aware but eleven leaders/boys from 1st Taxal Scouts lost their lives in the second world war and are commemorated by an inscribed altar cross which is still on display at St James Church (see pictures below). A special service was held in 1962 which all the the Scouts attended there was a parade held afterwards. All of the names are also on the cross in the memorial park and will be read out with all of the others who gave their lives.
Research has so far shown:
George Reekie was a Corporal in the Royal Armoured Corps. He died 30th Dec 1944 aged 21 and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
Percy Jones was an Air Gunner RAF Volunteer Reserve died 13th August 1944 in Germany aged 19.
Thomas Goddard died 12th Feb 1944, aged 25, and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the East Africa War Memorial in Kenya.
Bernard Hall was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, he died 7th Feb 1944, aged 23, and is buried in the Delhi War Cemetery India.
Cedric Norbury was a Surgeon Lieutenant on the HMS Sirius for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. He was killed on the 6th Dec 1945, aged 30 and is buried in Moascar Cemetery Africa
Louis Oldham was a Gunner for the Royal Artillery, he died 5th March 1943, aged 31. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Singapore War Memorial.
Able Seaman Fred Simpson, Royal Navy, served on the HMS Bullen and died 6th Dec 1944 aged 21. He is buried in Orkney, Lyness RN Cemetery.
Sergeant Ernest Thomasson was in the Army Royal Ordinance Corps, was killed 21st June 1942 aged 20 and is buried in Tunisia.
The traditional service will take place at the War Memorial in Whaley Bridge Memorial Park starting at 10.45a.m. A special poppy will be laid in memory to the Scouts this year.
Also to mark the centenary of the end of World War I, at 4.30pm, Whaley Bridge Band are holding a Centenary Concert and meal at the Uniting Church (Tickets £3).
At 6.40pm the Friends of the Park lantern parade will start at Reservoir Rd and process to the War Memorial where, at 7.00pm, there will be a further short Act of Remembrance before the lighting of beacons and Taxal bells ring out.
