Vigilance can report that today, the town of Wootton Bassett is to hold a sunset ceremony at 1958hrs to mark the end of the repatriations passing through it.
In an act of remembrance organised by the local council, the people of Wootton Bassett will watch as the Union flag is lowered and taken to the Memorial Garden in Oxford. At this garden specifically commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council, the flag will be raised in a civic ceremony tomorrow morning.
An MoD source said as from the 1st of September, the repatriation of service personnel killed on operations would return to RAF Brize Norton where there is a newly purpose built repatriation centre.
The facilities include a £2.8 million repatriation centre and the newly named ‘Britannia Gate’ through which the corteges of fallen service personnel will leave RAF Brize Norton.
The centre includes a calm and quiet space away from the bustle of the station where families can gather ahead of the repatriation flight to watch the aeroplane landing and then observe the formal military repatriation ceremony. There is also a Chapel of Rest where the families can spend private time with their loved one before the journey to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Group Captain Dom Stamp, Station Commander, RAF Brize Norton said: “This centre has been designed with the needs of the families and loved ones of those being repatriated at its heart. All along this has been of paramount importance and I am confident that the facilities we now have will assist us in our efforts to ensure we provide the maximum support at what is an extremely traumatic time.”
Grp Capt. Stamp added: “The symbolism of Britannia Gate is huge. It is the last time those who have been killed will leave a military base. The importance placed on getting this right by the personnel at RAF Brize Norton is clear to see – this is the greatest, and most humbling, of responsibilities and I am confident that they will preserve the dignity, sanctity and professionalism shown by those at RAF Lyneham.”
Grp Capt. Stamp revealed: “Oxfordshire County Council and the local authorities have worked hard to provide the public with the opportunities to pay their respects and I know that this means a great deal to service personnel and their families.”
After the cortege leaves RAF Brize Norton, the cortege will travel to the JohnRadcliffeHospital via a route decided by the local authorities after detailed consultation with the Police and Royal British Legion.
Oxfordshire County Council has made this decision that includes safe vantage points for the public to stop and pay their respects, including a specially commissioned memorial garden where the cortege will pause for a minute before continuing its journey.
In the garden, a flag will fly at half mast and a variety of trees and shrubs will be planted to create a peaceful space where loved ones and the wider public are welcome to come to reflect and give their personal thanks to the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan, said: “Public support for our Armed Forces is tremendous and the efforts made by the Nation to recognise our fallen is simply humbling. The ceremonies today in Wootton Bassett and tomorrow in Brize Norton are a clear demonstration of this unfaltering support.”
Adding: “The facilities at RAF Brize Norton will give the families of those who pay the ultimate sacrifice on operations a calm and peaceful place where they can bring their loved ones home. We have worked hard to ensure that the families of the fallen are afforded the best possible support, whilst also ensuring that the public have an opportunity to pay their respects.”
Whilst Robert Lee, Spokesman for The Royal British Legion said: “The Royal British Legion has been in close consultation with the Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Police and RAF Brize Norton over route that fallen service personnel will take from RAF Brize Norton to the John Radcliffe Hospital. Our views have been taken into account in informing the route decision and we feel the chosen route provides our members and the wider public with opportunities to pay their respects.
Lee added: “The Legion encourages its members to pay honour and respect to those who have fallen in service to the nation. Our presence is most visibly demonstrated by the parading of the Branch Standards, but as the Legion is part of the local community many Legion members will stand silently among those who gather to pay their respects. We are however not responsible for repatriation flights and ceremonies themselves, these are military operations.”
He concluded: “Oxfordshire County Council has commissioned a MemorialGarden near RAF Brize Norton and we feel that this is an excellent location where our members can continue their dignified tradition of paying respects to the fallen.”