The Malayan Volunteers Group
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY – 11TH NOVEMBER 2007
This year, Remembrance Sunday fell on Armistice Day itself. The task of arranging the Annual Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall is enormous, and can be truly appreciated only by those who have marched in the Parade. The event is organized by the Royal British Legion, and it is run with military precision. Application for the allocation of tickets to the ceremony has to be made to the RBL months beforehand, and once again the MVG was allowed 12 tickets.
It’s an early start for those of us who attend the Service. A marker board, which indicates where we are to meet in Whitehall, has to be collected in Horse Guards by 9 a.m. and all marchers are requested to be in their place by 10 o’clock. This year there were 9 members of the MVG who represented the Group at the Cenotaph. Our instructions said that we were to meet outside the Old War Office Building in Whitehall, where the Civilian Column M was designated to line up.
The weather forecast gave us a few anxious moments on Saturday evening, when a wet start to the day was predicted. However, apart from a slight drizzle early on, the weather was fine for the Service and March Past, and the sun shone briefly just before the start of the ceremony.
Just before 11 a.m., the huge crowd of onlookers and marchers alike had fallen silent, and, as HM The Queen stepped out of the Foreign Office, only the plane leaves could be heard as they fluttered down to the ground. The television coverage cannot catch the atmosphere created by a vast sea of absolutely silent faces. It is an unforgettable experience. We were able to watch the Queen lay her wreath, followed by other members of the Royal Family, including Prince William for the first time, the Politicians and the Ambassadors on a giant TV screen to the left of us. The simple service which followed, which is the same every year, only serves to enhance the dignity and significance of the occasion. The ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan constantly remind us that Remembrance Sunday has lost none of its relevance to-day, and there seemed to be more people than ever lining the streets and watching the ceremony. The reaction of the crowds to the Marchers is also extraordinary, and very inspiring, as they clap each and every contingent passing them.
The MVG Wreath this year, as with the form of Service, bore the same inscription as in previous years:-
In Memory of
The Malayan Volunteers
Both Military and Civilian
Who served in WW2
1941 – 1945
Marching in the Civilian Column M, the MVG members had a long wait before marching. The Column was headed by the Bevan Boys in their white miners’ helmets, and the MVG contingent was the 4th group behind them. Despite displaying a label with the MVG number on it, as per instructions, the Group was not picked up by the BBC Outside Broadcast Unit, and there was no mention of the Volunteers.
The salute in Horse Guards at the end of the march was taken by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh this time. Standing to attention and saluting for over an hour would tax a much younger man, and we felt very privileged that, at the age of 86 the Duke performed this onerous duty with great aplomb, patience and fortitude. The Duke maintained his position until we had all marched past him and into Horse Guards. After the playing of the National Anthem, we said our goodbyes to those who could not stay for lunch, and the remaining 5 of us enjoyed a long chatty lunch at the “All Bar One” restaurant near the London Eye.
Those MVG members who attended this important annual ceremony found it to be a very worthwhile and rewarding experience.
MVG LONDON LUNCH AND REUNION 2007 was held on Saturday, September 29th at Super Star Chinese Restaurant, Soho. Some 40 MVG members attended including representatives from Australia < South Africa. These included veterans John Hedley [JVE] and Ron Mitchell [1SSVF] and Changi internee, Sheila Allan.
This year the short address was given by Stephanie Hess who spoke about her grandfather's Singapore < Japan captivity diary and her grandmother's collection of photos and press cuttings from Singapore 1930s to 1941. The talk was extremely well received. There was much lively conversation with some most interesting connections made.
DEDICATION OF THE MALAYAN VOLUNTEERS GARDEN August 15th 2007 [VJ Day]
Some twenty five members of the Malayan Volunteers Group and members of other FEPOW families met at the Changi Lychgate, National Memorial Arboretum, and were led by Pipe Major Duncan Thompson to the Malayan Volunteers Garden plot. A service of dedication followed, conducted by the Revd. Tony Wood, assisted by FEPOWs Harry Hesp, John Hedley & Ron Mitchell. The National Anthem and 'I vow to thee, my country' were sung and the piper played tunes including Highland Laddie, Flowers of the Forest and Amazing Grace.
After a lively lunchtime chat, members joined the Shropshire FEPOWs for their annual service. Despite gloomy forecasts, the sun came out.
Click here to view the ORDER OF SERVICE
Photos of the Garden dedication can be found in the gallery.
Donations for this memorial garden and for the Changi Memorial Plaque, Singapore are still needed.
THE NATIONAL MALAYA AND BORNEO VETERANS ASSOCIATION MERDEKA CELEBRATION
Four MVG members joined our NMBVA friends at the National Memorial Arboretum on August 31st 2007 for their Merdeka Celebration. The service was conducted in the chapel by the Rev. Bernard J. Ward and the Association members, led by our friend Pipe Major Duncan Thomson, then marched to their memorial plotfor the Last Post and Two Minute Silence. After an ample buffet we were entertained by a kukri dance by young Gurkha soldiers.
2ND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHING FEPOW HISTORY CONFERENCE
2nd International Conference
at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire
on Saturday & Sunday
31 May – 1 June, 2008
The focus will be FEPOW and civilian internment in
SINGAPORE, MALAYA < HONG KONG, 1942-1945
Keynote speakers:
Mr Jeyathurai – Director of the Changi Museum, Singapore
The Fall of Malaya and Singapore,
How Singapore commemorates WWII
Tony Banham – Founder of the Hong Kong War Diary website
The battle for Hong Kong, FEPOW < Civilian Internees and
the Hellships
Guest Lecturers:
Peter Francis – Commonwealth War Graves Commission ?????
Dr Nigel Stanley – Medical aspects relating to FEPOW and civilian internees
David Tett – FEPOW mail and postal history
Sears Eldridge – FEPOW entertainments ?????
Special guests:
Roderick Suddaby – Imperial War Museum
Roger Mansell – Director of the Center for FEPOW Research, USA
Fred Seiker, FEPOW
Once again, we hope to be joined by at least 12 FEPOW guests including
representatives of two famous Highland regiments.
£100 per delegate for the two days
(Deposit £40 now, balance to pay Feb.08)
Contact:
For a registration form contact Meg Parkes by e-mail mm.parkes[at]talktalk.net
or write to: Kranji, 34 Queens Road, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 2AJ
or log on to www.researchingfepowhistory.org.uk
Previous delegates have priority booking for a limited period only.
Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear leading international experts
in the field of FEPOW history research.
APPEAL LAUNCHED FOR THE MEMORIAL GARDEN PLOT TO THE MALAYAN VOLUNTEERS AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM
Click on image to enlarge
The Board of Trustees of the NMA have approved a 8m x 15m plot. It is planned to plant Chinese birch trees at the top of the bank to provide some shade for the two MVG memorial benches. These will be set on a level paved area overlooking the lower part of the plot and the Arboretum itself. Between the benches there will be a black polished granite commemorative stone. Below the benches there will be a paved 'V' laid into the grassy bank, about 5 metres in overall length, which will lie parallel to the Malay kris in the adjacent NMBVA plot. Towards the lower part of the plot there will be some clumps of hardy bamboo at each side.
Please contact Rosemary Fell if you wish to make a donation
dinraf-millbrook[at]tiscali.co.uk
MVG Plot moves towards completion
MMBVA PLOT DEDICATION 24th September 2006
The dedication of the redesigned National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association plot at the National Memorial Arboretum on September 24th was attended by 7 MVG members After the service in the Chapel there was an impressive parade with standards to the plot led by a former Argyll & Sutherland Highlander Pipe Major in full dress uniform. Two serving Gurkhas also participated. The dedication was followed by a good buffet meal.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 12th November 2006
The Malayan Volunteers Group was represented this year by 8 members and a 5 month old baby girl called Freya, at the annual Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, lead by HM The Queen. It was a beautiful, sunny autumn day as the marchers lined up in Whitehall prior to the start of the Service. Security was very tight, but the crowds of onlookers were as great as ever, filling every vantage point along Whitehall, across Parliament Square and even overflowing into Great George Street and Horse Guards Road. The simple, dignified service was preceded by the laying of wreaths by HM The Queen and other members of the Royal Family, the Politicians and foreign Ambassadors.
After the dignitaries had departed, the columns of marchers began to weave their way down Whitehall to the Cenotaph where they handed in their wreath to the ushers waiting to place them around the Cenotaph.
MVG marched near the beginning of the Civilian Column M and handed in a simple Poppy Wreath bearing the following inscription:-
In memory of
The Malayan Volunteers
both Military and Civilian
who served in WW2
1941-1942
This year, the salute at the end of the March Past was taken by HRH The Duke of Kent, and the marchers were requested to remain in Horse Guards until everyone had arrived, and the National Anthem had been played. Some members had to leave immediately after the parade, but a small group of 4 had a leisurely lunch together, which rounded off a successful and very rewarding day for the MVG.