Last Post Association.

Transcription

1 Last Post Association

2 content A Origin of the Last Post Association B LPA history C the organisation D the daily ceremony E Last Post Association now F Conclusion G Q&A

3 Origin - Result of 4 years of warfare Number of casualties: Commonwealth : Of which have no known grave :» graves with soldiers no known name» Others still remain missed» on Menin Gate (until 15 aug 1917)» on Tyne Cot» on Ploegsteert Memorial Germans : French : 80000

4 Ypres in 1918

5 A. Origin of the LPA : building of the Menin Gate Architect Reginal Blomfield Assigned by the CWGC Monument to celebrate the victory (lion) Shrine for those who have no known grave (sarcofagus)

6 Origin - Building of the Menin Gate

7 The Menin gate

8 Origin - Unveiling of the Menin Gate 24th July 1927 : official unveiling Menin Gate Memorial by Field Marshall Lord Plumer : they are not missing, they are here Last Post is sounded by 6 buglers of the 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

9 B. LPA history : chronology : Many local people were deeply moved and impressed by the steady stream of pilgrims during the twenties Ypres citizens looking for a way to express their gratitude to all commonwealth soldiers Head of local police Pierre Vandenbraambussche, who was impressed by the LP during the unveilling, brought up the idea of a daily Last Post Ceremony

10 Origin - Symbolism Last Post is a bugle call played in British Army to mark the end of the day In the Last Post Ceremony it is the traditional final farewell to the fallen : end of earthly live and the onset of their eternal rest Menin Gate: ideally situated, on the road to the front Each evening the traffic is stopped:» daily life stops for a brief moment to remember

11 LPA history : chronology 1July 1928 : First Last Post Ceremony 12th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme Approximately 70 spectators Stopped on 30 september May 1929 Resumed with the intension to end at the closing of the summer season. Public outcry against the winter cessation

12 LPA history : 15 May 1930: official foundation of Last Post Committee First chairman : Mr Vandenbraambussche Mission : Keeping alive the memory of the soldiers of the Commonwealth, who fought and died in the immortal Ypres salient during the Great war Simple act of remembrance Daily To do so in perpetuity

13 LP 1930

14 LPA history : chronology 1930 s: Period of consolidation LP cemented its position in public life in the city Because of economic recession funding was the major problem

15 LPA history : : WW2 German Occupation (& visit Hitler to Ieper and Menin gate) Suspention of the daily Ceremony from 2 Mai 1940 Monthly Ceremony in Brookwood Parcel of the Belgian Military near Guilford 6 September 44: liberation Ieper Bugler Jozef Arfeuille resumes Last Post

16 LPA history : : End of the 50 s : economic revival More people find their way back to Ypres May 1966 : attendance of Queen Elisabeth, duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by King Boudewijn and Queen Fabiola : Revival of interest : Travelling is getting easier : battefield tourism Schools rediscover WW1 Children and grandchildren rediscover family history Numbers of pilgrims grow New factor : the media (live broadcast BBC Remembrance day ceremony 1973)

17 LPA history Numerous VIP visitors His Holiness the Pope John Paul 2 (1985) Mother Theresa Sir Bob Geldof of Band aid British Royal Family Belgian Royal Family George Bush Sr Frank Williams Countless dignitaries of all Commonwealth countries Special groups Different army organisations Choirs, bands All Blacks NZ Aboriginal Canadian Journey Today Estimated figure : yearly visitors Still climbing

18 C. The Organisation The Last Post Association is an independent, voluntary, non-profit-making organisation. It also administers the Last Post Fund, which provides the financial resources necessary to support the ceremony. The associaton consists of 27 persons : board of administration of 13 people, 8 buglers 2 pipers 3 ceremonial assistants 1 secretary

19 C. The organisation The buglers : Members of the firebrigade Already 18 buglers in the 81 years Actual composition: Antoine Verschoot BEM MBE Rik Vandekerckhove Dirk Vandekerckhove Tonny Desodt Raf Decombel Philippe Top Jan Callemeyn Christophe Wils Ceremonial assistants : To create the right atmosphere under the gate To keep order Actual composition : Emmanuel Waelkens Michel Ghesquire Brian Claeys The board : Benoit Mottrie : chairman Guy Gruwez : Honorary chairman Philippe De Bruyn : Vice Chairman Finance Mathieu Mottrie : Vice Chairman Operations Philippe Dochy Carl Denys Patrick Donck Jacky Platteeuw Eric Huyghe Charles Vermeulen René Delobel Jan Matsaert Olivier Rys Pipers : Eric Remy Pierre Derveaux

20 C. The organisation Yearly budget : Euro Yearly income : Memberships : membership 40 euro a year Donations : As an independent and voluntary organisation, the Last Post Association survives thanks to generous donations Concert The Great War Remembered Ypres Memorial Tattoo merchandising Grants from governmental organisations Help and cooperation with city of Ypres

21 D. The ceremony Ceremony : Simple buglecall to the fallen 5 to max 20 minutes Order of Ceremony : Call to attention Last Post Exhortation (the ode) 1 silence Lament Wreath laying Reveille National Anthems Participation in the ceremony : People or groups can ask to participate in a ceremony

22 C. Ceremony abroad Remembrance Festival in Albert Hall London 9 lectures in South Africa Economic mission wit Prince Philip to Australia and NewZealand Royal Chelsea Hospital London Edinburgh Scotland Cwmbran Wales Hamilton New Zealand 2007 Arc de Triomphe Paris 2008 Winterfestival Toronto Canada 2008

23 Website LPA Calendar Membership page Aims and objectives Request form for participation in ceremony Picture gallery

24

25 Last Post Ceremony

26 Remembrance day ceremonies

27 E. Last Post ceremony Chelsea Pensioners Canadian Aboriginal journey

28 Important Visits Pope John Paul 2 Mother Theresa of Calcuta

29 Visit of HM Queen Elisabeth

30 Last Post in France Arc De Triomphe Vimy Ridge france 2009

31 Hamilton New zealand 2007 Anzac day

32 Ypres Memorial Tattoo

33 E. Concert LPA The Great War Remembered Concert LPA Ngati Ranana Maori NZ

34 Veterans Afhanistan War Trooper Donaldson VC Australia ceremony Rifleman Woods UK Ceremony

35 Conclusion th ceremony 1. The LPA will continue to be a simple act of remembrance whose aim is to pay tribute to those who fell to restore the gift of freedom to the world at cost of their own lives. 2. We will continue to honour and remember all these soldiers for ever more. 3. We also hope the memory of the past will be a lesson to future generations