Remembrance Sunday Ceremony – Belgian War Memorial
Our commemoration this year has as one of its themes what was happening in November 1914, three months after the German invasion of Belgium led to declaration of war. Southampton was one of the places receiving Belgian soldiers injured in defence of their homeland. Sadly, many died of wounds. Records show the first burial of Belgian soldiers in plots surrounding me was on 28 October 1914. 110 years ago, by 10 November 1914 barely two weeks later, a dozen more had followed. To the people of Southampton this rapidly increasing number of fresh graves here must have been a poignant sign of the impact of war. It’s perhaps one factor which led to the public giving money for this Cross, unveiled in 1916, commemorating, by name, Belgian soldiers buried here and in other local cemeteries, and the response of the people of Southampton in giving sanctuary and support to them and to Belgian refugees.
Your order of service leaflet reminds us it is 21 years since the Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery was founded. The context was growing public awareness of the significant heritage of Victorian cemeteries, in no small measure a consequence of books and articles by our President, Professor Curl. By the 1990’s many were voicing concern about the way the Old Cemetery was becoming increasingly overgrown and neglected. Our three founders are John Avery, Veronica Tippetts and Geoff Watts. John had looked at how volunteer groups were helping care for Victorian cemeteries in other towns and cities. Veronica was a regular visitor inspired by the Old Cemetery’s historical importance and what it told us about our predecessors in Southampton. Geoff’s interest stemmed from his experience as a town guide, with people asking about graves and memorials in the Old Cemetery, not least those with Titanic associations. Please Lord Mayor convey our thanks to Veronica. Billy and Val, please convey our thanks to John. Geoff, we can thank you ourselves, here and now.
FoSOC was founded as a formal volunteer group in 2003. It wasn’t until 2008, five years later, the first of these formal Acts of Remembrance at the Cross of Sacrifice and the Belgian Cross took place. Those early days were taken in recruiting a member base, arranging guided walks and starting our volunteer task days. Look around you. It takes a lot of prior organising to bring us all together for an event as ambitious as this. So, it’s not surprising it was some years before the first of these Acts of Remembrance.
Over the years, FoSOC has taken an increasing role in care of War Graves. Since 2012 there’s been a formal arrangement for FoSOC to maintain War Graves on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Thanks to research by FoSOC, we now care for 144 grave plots with 130 headstones, many the familiar CWGC stones, scattered throughout the Cemetery, some in parts still very overgrown. I’d like us to recognise and give our appreciation for the work of our volunteers who do that work. Lizzie, who laid a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice for the War Graves Commission, has taken on the role of conducting regular guided walks to War Graves for the Commission and is, in their words, their eyes and hands here on the ground.
That brings us to the laying of wreaths here at the Belgian Cross. First, the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Southampton on behalf of the people of Southampton, whose predecessors a century ago erected this memorial cross.
Next, one of our members Peter Shawyer will lay a wreath for the families in Belgium of those named on this memorial. You’ll see photographs on several graves from families who’ve been in contact with FoSOC.
I now ask Mr Parsons, Royal British Legion, and the Chair of FoSOC to lay wreaths. Any others?
Thanks to all who participated in helping with Remembrance Sunday Ceremony.
Words by Graham Linecar and Photos taken by Bruce Larner
