St Dunstan's march on Remembrance Sunday
06 Nov 09
On Remembrance Sunday 8th November, St Dunstan’s marched at the Cenotaph. During live coverage of the event, Corporal Simon Brown, the only Serving St Dunstaner marching, was interviewed by the BBC. Along with Second World War St Dunstaner Wallace Burnet-Smith, Simon laid a wreath in memory of those who have fallen.
St Dunstan's President Ray Hazan recalls some memories from the day, ‘St Dunstan’s contingent marched onto Whitehall with Sgt Major (no, not a print error, that is his surname) and Sgt Jimmy Ashton of the Irish Guards calling the step. We waited patiently for the chimes of Big Ben, followed by the crash of the gun shot on the strike of eleven. Every man and woman on parade must have known someone who was lost to them and if not, there are plenty of Servicemen and women plus their families out in Iraq and Afghanistan who were in our thoughts.
It seemed eerie that, as the Bishop of London initiated the Service of Remembrance, the wind dropped and it seemed to warm up a little. As soon as he had finished, the wind rose again!
As we 'eyes left' to the Cenotaph, it was good to be right behind a Guards band and the base drum kept us well in step. The pavements were more crowded than usual in view of current military deployments, no doubt. It was an 'eyes right' to Prince Andrew before stumbling into a very warm bus and the pleasure of sitting down!’
Order of March
St Dunstan’s contingent marched split into three groups: Second World War
St Dunstaners, Post Second World War St Dunstaners and Widows. We were placed at the head of Column F, near to the band and camera crew. Of the 198 marching, there were 105 St Dunstaners, 4 widows and 89 Service guides.
Head of Column
St Dunstan’s Chairman, Major General Andrew Keeling CB CBE, former Colonel Commandant in the Royal Marines. He served in the Royal Marines from 1961-1995, seeing active service in Borneo, Aden, Cyprus, The Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland and Iraq. The majority of his service was in the Commando Brigade, where he commanded at all levels from Troop to Brigade. He was Representative Colonel Commandant Royal Marines from 1997-2001. After leaving the Royal Marines, he became involved with several other charities and voluntary organisations. He is a Lay Canon of Salisbury Cathedral and a Freeman of the City of London
On the Chairman’s right was:
St Dunstan’s President, and St Dunstaner Mr Ray Hazan: A former Captain in the Royal Anglian Regiment, Ray lost his sight and his right hand and his colleague was killed when a parcel bomb exploded whilst he was serving in Northern Ireland in 1973. Ray received extensive practical and emotional support from St Dunstan’s enabling him to return to work. He has been president of St Dunstan’s since 2004.
On the Chairman’s left was:
Mr Bob Waller. Bob served with the Royal Army Ordinance Corps (RAOC) as a Supply Controller between 1962 and 1988. He served in Belgium, Germany, Borneo, Cyprus, Singapore, Bahrain and Lebanon. Bob lost his sight as a result of his Service.
1st group: WWII column
Front Rank (left to right):
- Mr Harry Henson - Enlisted in the RAF in Dec 1944. Having trained in Arbroath as a radar fitter, he installed equipment in ground installations and aircraft, serving at RAF Arbroath, RAF Yaterbury, RAF Hullavington and in Norfolk. He remained in the UK throughout his RAF career and was eventually discharged in July 1948. He was escorted by his son Michael Henson
- Mr Dennis Rapp - He joined the Army Air Corps in December 1944 and spent time in the Parachute Regiment serving in Palestine. He was escorted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Roger Palin. KCB OBE MA FRAeS FIPD former Controller of the RAF and Commander of 43 Squadron
- Mr Wallace Burnet-Smith - He served with the Royal Air Force as a Pilot during WW2 and beyond, reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant. The majority of his Service was on night fighters including Defiants, Hurricanes, and Mosquitos. He suffered concussion and 2nd degree burns to his hands and face after crash landing with an engine fire when on patrol in 1942. He was escorted by General Sir Peter de la Billière KCB, KBE, DSO, MC, DL, Vice Patron of St Dunstan’s since 2007. A former Director of the SAS, he commanded British Forces during the Gulf War. He has been actively involved with the welfare of military personnel and regularly joins St Dunstaners at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday
Wreath layer: Mr Wallace Burnet-Smith, escorted by General Sir Peter de la Billière
These were followed by the wheelchair bound WWII St Dunstaners
2nd group: post-WWII column
Front Rank (left to right):
- Corporal Simon Brown - 30 year old Simon Brown from Morley, West Yorkshire became a St Dunstaner after being blinded by sniper fire whilst serving with the British Army in Basra. Simon was a Corporal in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to 2 Lancs in Iraq when he sustained facial injuries during a rescue mission. Simon lost his left eye and retains only ten per cent peripheral vision in his right. Simon was escorted by his father Mr Michael Brown. Simon laid a wreath for St Dunstan’s.
- Mr Matthew Rhodes - Matthew was an Army Physical Training Instructor with the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. He served in Germany, Canada and the summer of 95 tour in Bosnia, until sustaining severe injuries as a result of a motorbike accident. The accident left him paralysed down the right side of his body, and registered as blind due to brain damage. Matt was accompanied by Mr Steven Eyre.
- Mr Anthony Haskey – Served as a Marine in the Royal Navy between 1975 and 1986 Served in Hong Kong, Brunei & Northern Ireland. Joined St Dunstan’s in 1990 after losing his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa. St Dunstan's has helped re-house Mr Haskey and re-train for a new career as a computer programmer. Mr Haskey was accompanied by Mr Steve Pearce.
