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Moving ceremony at Imphal Barracks as soldiers remember the fallen

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Soldiers from the British Army alongside a colleague from the French Armée de Terre during the last post. Photographs: Sergeant Jamie Peters RLC
Soldiers from the British Army alongside a colleague from the French Armée de Terre during the last post. Photographs: Sergeant Jamie Peters RLC
Soldiers from the British Army alongside a colleague from the French Armée de Terre during the last post. Photographs: Sergeant Jamie Peters RLC

Soldiers and civilians gathered at Imphal Barracks in York to remember the fallen of both world wars and recent conflicts.

In the first ceremony of its kind since it was announced that the barracks is to close, more than a thousand people from from headquarters 1st UK Division, 2nd Signal Regiment and the Defence Business Services gathered for an open air service to mark Armistice Day (November 11).

The assembly observed a two-minute silence at 11am, marking the moment when when the armistice ending the First World War was signed by Germany and the Allies on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

The service outside the 1 (UK) Division Headquarters building
The service outside the 1 (UK) Division Headquarters building
Military personnel and civilians attended the service
Military personnel and civilians attended the service

The service was led by the division’s assistant chaplain general the Reverend Joseph Moesel.

The famous verse “They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old…” from Laurence Binyon’s poem, For The Fallen was read by York Garrison Sergeant Major Brian Kiernan. Signaller Daniel Sanderson, from 2 Signal Regiment read the Kohima Epitaph.

The last post was played by Lance Corporal April Farthing, a bugler with the Band of the Yorkshire Regiment.

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Bugler Lance Corporal April Farthing and Assistant chaplain general the Reverend Joseph Moesel

Major General Giles Hill, the General Officer Commanding 1st UK Division attended the service. He said:

Remembrance is a very personal thing. There are many different individual stories and different reflections.

Some remembered colleagues, some remembered people they have heard of but never knew, some remembered family members or friends.

It is what makes a day like this so special.

The senior officers from 1 (UK) Division at the front saluting during the Last Post
The senior officers from 1 (UK) Division at the front saluting during the Last Post
Garrison Sergeant Major Kieran falling out the troops after the service
Garrison Sergeant Major Kieran falling out the troops after the service