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Remembrance Sunday is always well-supported in Penistone and district, with a Remembrance Parade from the Bowling Cub into Penistone town centre led by Thurlstone Brass Band, then the Remembrance Service outside Penistone church in Market Place.
Tommy
Our armed services are often taken for granted and sometimes treated with disdain (or told not to wear uniforms in public) but they are essential to the security of our country and ought to be respected. We salute them.
Rudyard Kipling sums it up in his poem 'Tommy.'
New War Memorials
The support for Remembrance has always been strong in our district, given the losses incurred during two world wars and other campaigns such as liberating the Falkland Islands (1982). Every town and village in the land had been affected by losses in the Great War.
In recent times, several new War Memorials have appeared in our local area, such the Old Boys' Memorial, Penistone Grammar School (2012), Thurlstone (May 2014), Ingbirchworth (November 2015) and Thurgoland. Oxspring has a plaque of the fallen on the wall of St Aidan's church. Penistone Railway Station also has a plaque to the fallen of the Great War 1914-1918, on Platform 2 (trains to Hudderfield). Local churches and Penistone Royal British Legion also have their Rolls of Honour.
Remembrance Ceremonies in the UK
The act of Remembrance respects and remembers the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the service of their country. The first Remembrance Ceremony was held in Britain on Armistice Day, 11am, 11th November 1919, at the request of King George V, a year after the Armistice Day of the Great War 1914 - 1918. King George V decreed that on the eleventh hour of the eleventh month there would henceforth be a two-minute silence; a time of reflection in remembrance of the fallen. This has been performed every year since. In the early days, trains and buses would stop and people would stop what they were doing at 11am on 11th November.
In the modern age, most of this has moved to Remembrance Sunday but such as Radio 4 and others still pay regard to the correct date and time, in cities, towns and villages throughout the country. BBC tv also shows the big remembrance parade which goes past London's Cenotaph, a monument to an unknown soldier who represents every soldier who gave his life in the defence of our country. This is how we pay tribute to our armed forces, whom we owe for our freedom and British way of life. Our armed forces have always done a tough but professional job, in old or modern conflicts.
The first national Poppy Day was held 11th November 1921 and raised money for the Haig Fund which helped to finance the recovery of the wartime wounded. The poppy appeal continues to the present day by the British Legion organisation, although they were criticised in 2019 for accumulating a huge surplus of about £220 million in funds which they should have spent. Local fund-raising has also exceeded all expectations in recent times by various efforts and poppy fund collection boxes being available all year round in various local shops and cafes.
On Remembrance Sunday - The second Sunday of November
From 10.30am, Acts of Remembrance take place at all UK War memorials on this day, locally to include Penistone, Thurlstone, Thurgoland, Ingbirchworth and Hoylandswaine, commemorating those who gave their lives in the defence of our country.
In larger places it is organised by a Royal British Legion branch and led by clergy. In smaller places it will be organised by the clergy alone. A Roll of Honour of the names of the fallen will be read. A bugle call will often start and terminate the 11am two-minutes' silence to remember the fallen. The church's Westminster chimes will be silent, with only the 11am toll to be heard. A church service usually precedes or follows the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, as decided by the relevant church.
In our district, Remembrance is strongly supported. Remembrance Sunday is an officially-designated day in the UK for the Union Flag to be flown by law on every UK public building, Police station or other official establishment. See the Remembrance page and 'Lest We Forget' (Fb).
Medals
This moving poem was posted by Ashley Curson, a local ex-serviceman.
'Don't envy a man his medals, all those ribbons on his chest,
He did not try to get them, they're not there at his request.
'They were earned in stinking hell holes, where no man would like to go,
Or in cold and wintry places, where there's only ice and snow.
'He did not know he earned them, till they were awarded at parade.
They were bright when he first got them, but in time the colours fade.
'He was told he had to wear them, and to wear them all with pride,
But when the memories come to haunt him, those same medals make him hide.
'Cause those medals will not bring back, all those friends he left behind,
And he would trade them all forever, for a little peace of mind.
'So don't envy a man his medals, you don't want to take his place,
Thinking back to long gone battles, and meeting dead friends face to face.
'We will REMEMBER them'
Penistone Remembrance Sunday
Penistone's War Memorial was built and opened outside the church in 1924 and there have been Remembrance ceremonies held there from that time, usually with a church service. Even in modern times, we can be sure of a good parade led by the band and a large crowd outside the church.
Penistone Town Council now organises this event in outline, as a civic duty. PTC also controls the temporary road closures with BMBC's blessing. Penistone Royal British Legion and the local clergy are central to the detail and order of the event. Penistone's Remembrance event would almost certainly fail as without the support of Thurlstone Brass Band, which supports the event at its own expense.
The parade assembles around 10.30am by the Bowling Club on the top Back Lane, off Scholes avenue. Led by Thurlstone Brass Band with the British Legion standard proudly borne by the RBL Standard Bearer. The procession proceeds to Schole Avenue and Park Avenue, on to Market Street by the Co-op store. From there it continues towards the War Memorial in Market Place outside Penistone church, where a large crowd will be waiting.
Those in the procession has a particular order of priorities (see the RBL guidance below) and includes the band, RBL officials, old soldiers, current servicemen, army cadets, police and fire services, scouts, brownies, British Legion officials and local councillors. Some of these carry their own standards. The parade will experience a strong measure of public support with Market street lined by people.
A roll of wartime fallen is read and, at the stroke of eleven o'clock, two minutes silence is observed in thoughtful remembrance of their sacrifice. "At the going down of the sun .. (etc.) .... we shall remember them". The normal Westminster chimes of Penistone church clock are silenced and just the eleven chimes of the hour are heard. The 'last post' is then played on bugle. A church service used to follow on but does not happen now. After the service, the parade heads in procession around the block towards the British Legion around the corner. Then, a beer.
A Scottish piper played a moving lament on bagpipes in 2001 as a departure from the usual ceremony. My thanks to Joe Pinguey, official photographer for the RBL club at the time, for many of these pictures. The bottom row are mine from 2007. By the way, this website used the phrase 'Penistone Remembers' before others adopted it.
Penistone Grammar School Remembrance
In 1925, The Old Boys' memorial plaque was unveiled in the Library (Fulford building) by Dr AJC Wilson, Chairman of PGS governors in a well-attended ceremony. This was a carved wooden plaque to remember the 28 'old boys' who fell in the Great War and was placed in the school's then new library room. Following the Second World War, a new memorial plaque to PGS alumni who were lost in the war was unveiled in 1948 (no current details of the ceremony).
In 2012, after Penistone Grammar School had been rebuilt and old buildings demolished, a new War Memorial stone for the school's old boys lost in wartime was placed near the car park entrance and is now the focal point for the school's own Remembrance Ceremonies, which are always 11am on the Friday before Remembrance Sunday, which allows some pupils to attend during their normal school day. This is attended by the PGS Principal, Penistone Town Mayor, councillors, Penistone MP, ex-service personnel, pupils and public.
This item from the 2k Timeline page refers to alumni memorial, 2012 entry:
PGS Old Boys' War Memorial - Set up at Penistone Grammar School's car park entrance following its removal from the old school and restoration. In 1925, The Old Boys' memorial plaque was unveiled in the Library (Fulford building) by Dr AJC Wilson and placed in the school's then new library room. Following the Second World War, a new memorial plaque to remember PGS alumni who were lost in WWII was unveiled in 1948, again in the Fulford building. The plaque was removed when the building was to be demolished (c.2011) to make way for the new school to be built. The School Governors intended to re-site the memorial within Penistone Church but local residents thought the school was abandoning its history in the course of becoming re-branded as a new school. There had already been complaints about the school's new logo abandoning the historic Clarel coat-of-arms. This followed the unceremonious loss of our history with the demise of the livestock market, the demolition of the old Lock-up (jail) and demolition of Netherfield Workhouse.
The public outcry about the memorial reached a peak in August 2012, mostly through letters to Barnsley Chronicle. One respondent said: 'Modernity has its place but PGS should not be ashamed of its history. It can only enhance its current reputation to acknowledge its past.' (B Chronicle, 12th August 2012). The school authorities bowed to public pressure and reinstated the memorial in a grassy setting among the trees and close to its earlier location. The memorial is a large granite stone with a brass plate. A flagpole and bench seat came later. This is the focal point for the PGS Remembrance Ceremony on the Friday preceding Remembrance Sunday. This is a public ceremony attended by Penistone Mayor, the Penistone MP, local councillors, the PGS Principal, ex-armed forces personnel, school cadets and pupils and the public. Barnsley (Penistone) War Memorials. See also 1925 and 1948.
In 2019, a new carved seat by chainsaw sculptor Stephen Tarr was installed to commemorate the centenary of the RAF and a new flagpole was fitted next to the Old Boys' War Memorial. This and an opening ceremony was described in detail on the 2k Timeline for September 2019.
Order of Service
This is not cast in stone and can vary to some degree as long as it contains the essentials. In 2023, Penistone Town Council published this Order of Service for Remembrance Sunday, 12th November 2023. Also from the PTC website, the Penistone RBL Order of Service had the words for hymns and prayers. Additional notes here from JB:
Penistone Town Council organises this event as a civic duty and now controls the necessary temporary road closures (with BMBC permission). Penistone Royal British Legion and the local clergy are central to the detail of the event and it would almost certainly fail as an event without the support of Thurlstone Brass Band. Many thanks to all concerned from JB and the local community. This Order of Service is slightly different from the national RBL Order of Service Guidance but it does the job.
The Exhortation
This is read out at all Remembrance ceremonies in the UK.
From 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon, 1914:
'They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,
'Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
'At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
'We will Remember Them.'
In response to this, all say: "We will remember them"
Hymns for Remembrance
O Valiant Hearts
O Valiant Hearts, who to Your glory came
through dust of conflict and through battle-flame;
Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.
Proudly you gathered rank on rank, to war
as who had heard God's message from afar;
All you had hoped for, all You had, you gave
To save mankind - yourselves you scorned to save.
Splendid you passed, the great surrender made
Into the light that nevermore shall fade;
Deep your contentment in that blest abode,
Who wait the last clear trumpet-call of God.
O risen Lord, O Shepherd of our Dead
whose Cross has brought them and whose Staff has led,
In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land
commits her Children to Thy gracious hand.
(Some verses omitted in Penistone RBL hymn)
O God our Help in Ages Past
O God our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Beneath the shadow of Thy throne,
Thy saints have dwelt secure,
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
For everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
O God our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our Guard whilst troubles last,
And our eternal home.
(Some verses omitted in Penistone RBL's hymn)
Guide me O thy Great Redeemer ('Bread of Heaven')
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land,
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me ti11 I want no more,
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow,
Let the fire and cloudy pillar,
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
Be thou still my strength and shield,
Be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and Hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.
The Kohima Epitaph
The Kohima Epitaph is carved on the 2nd British Division Memorial in Kohima cemetery, a War Memorial site in North-East India. This line is used in all UK Remembrance Ceremonies:
When you go home, tell them of us and say:
'For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today.'
National Anthem - 'God Save the King.'
God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King!
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice
God save the king.
Parade Precedence
The (national) Royal British Legion has Remembrance Parade guidance on the precedence of participants, which is likely to apply locally:
Links
Bumper Sticker: 'God, please save me from your followers!'