1,200 awards made under the Armistice and Armed Forces Communities programme
Youth organisations, community centres, village halls and places of worship are among the organisations celebrating receiving awards through the second round of the Armistice and Armed Forces Communities programme. This programme makes awards of evocative silhouettes that provide a focus for community events to bring people together to think about the Armistice; and people in Armed Forces Communities today, which includes serving personnel, their families and veterans.
Compton Dando, in Somerset, will be bringing their community together to remember all those who fought during the First World War, especially the three villagers who died during the war: Ben Harding, Henry Harvey and Fred Light. The project was awarded three silhouettes under round one of the programme These silhouettes will be placed in the village as reminders of the three soldiers who died between 1914-1918. There will be an exhibition which will be open for three days, and a church service on the Sunday 11th November, followed by the Act of Remembrance at the war memorial. The church bell ringers will also be ‘Ringing for Peace’ on Sunday. Teas and cakes will be available on all three days.
10 Silhouettes were awarded Guild Chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon. Each silhouette will represent a soldier from Stratford-upon-Avon who fought in the First World War with a plaque giving their name, regiment and dates. Many of those who went to war and never returned were former pupils of King Edward VI School and the school is collaborating with the Chapel for a special ‘Evening of Remembrance’ as part of the project. On Tuesday November 7th, the ‘old’ boys of KES and of Stratford will be commemorated by the ‘new’ boys who attend the school. Ten pupils will sit next to the ten silhouettes, standing to read their name, regiment and story.
560 awards were made under Round two of the programme, and 641 awards were made under a special round supporting uniformed youth organisations who are wishing to hold community events. Working with Youth United, this programme is delighted to have made awards to 140 different Army Cadets Units, 136 Girl Guide Units, 74 Scouts Units and awards to groups from the Boys Brigade, Fire Cadets, Girls Brigade, Royal Air Force Cadets, Sea Cadets, St John Ambulance Cadets and Volunteer Police Cadets. Events supported under these programmes will take place on or around the Armistice on 11th November 2018.
