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British community members remember fallen heroes

Guests of the British Embassy and Royal British Legion in Dubai observed silence to respect fallen veterans on Tuesday, at a Remembrance Day - or Poppy Day - service.

  • By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:54 November 13, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • A Remembrance Day service held in Dubai saw (from right) David Burns of the Royal British Legion; Roye Palmer, Second World War RAF veteran; and Commander Brian Mair, Royal Navy Liaison Officer with his wife in attendance.
  • Image Credit: Alice Johnson/Gulf News

Dubai: Guests of the British Embassy and Royal British Legion in Dubai observed silence to respect fallen veterans on Tuesday, at a Remembrance Day - or Poppy Day - service.

The Reverends Steven Miller and John Weir led the service, which was held in the presence of Consul General Guy Warrington, troupes of girl guides, brownies and scouts and members of the British community in Dubai.

The service was also attended by Second World War veteran Roye Palmer, 88, who served as a Royal Air Force bomber pilot during the conflict.

Remembrance Day services are held in the UK traditionally on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (November 11), or on the nearest Sunday.

The Royal British Legion sells paper poppies, traditionally worn on the lapel, to raise funds to provide financial, social and emotional support to those serving and who have served in the Armed Forces, including their dependants.

Poppies were the only thing that grew on the battle fields of Flanders and Picardy in Belgium and Northern France in the aftermath of First World War conflicts. John McCrae's poem In Flanders' Fields, written in 1915, was inspired by the sight of the flowers and is traditionally read at Remembrance Day services.

Younger veterans

David Wallace of the Royal British Legion (RBL) in Dubai, said: "The message is that we are there to help service and ex-service families and communities. We remember people throughout the world, throughout conflicts, people who are victims of terrorist attacks. We're not only remembering the fallen during wars, but also the fallen from terrorist attacks. One of the big things that we need to remember, is that when you and I were younger and thought of the RBL as stuffy - veterans are becoming younger and younger. People are coming back from service in Afghanistan for example, aged 19 or 20."

The Royal British Legion is an entirely voluntary organisation.

Seven Girl Guides from the Jumeirah Guides troupe were also presented with the Baden Powell Challenge Award by the Consul General during the course of the evening.

We're not only remembering the fallen during wars, but also the fallen from terrorist attacks."

David Wallace

Royal British Legion representative

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