A Remembrance Day Ceremony was held at Delhi War Cemetery on the 10th November 2013.
Adil Rana Chhina – who is part of a Centenary project highlighting India’s contribution to the First World War – told Centenary News that the service was well attended by members of the diplomatic community, serving members of the armed forces, as well as veterans.
Sqn Ldr Chhina meeting with Brigadier and Mrs McCall, the British Defence Attache
Guard of Honour from the Rajputana Rifles
Major General and Mrs Ian Cardozo
Veterans attending the service included Major General L.S. Lehl and Lieutenant General Jack Jacob, both gunners who served in Burma during the Second World War.
Major General L.S. Lehl and Lieutenant General J.F.R. Jacob
Mr. Chhina told Centenary News that for many years the service at Delhi War Cemetery had been conducted by Father Ian Weathrall who was “one of the last surviving links to the British Raj”.
Father Weathrall had himself been an officer of the 16th Punjab Regiment and his father had also served in the Indian Army before him.
Father Weatherall passed away earlier in the year, and he was described as “sorely missed” by those at the service.
This year, a Chaplain of the British Army, Padre Nick Cook, delivered a “very moving sermon” to mark Remembrance Sunday.
Padre Nick Cook, Chaplain of Her Majesty’s Land Forces
Delhi War Cemetery
The pipers of the Madras Regiment played the ‘Highland Lament’ as wreaths were laid by High Commissioners, Defence Attaches and serving and retired officers of the Indian Armed Forces.
Following the Last Post, a two minute silence was observed and the ceremony was concluded by Brigadier Brian McCall, British Defence Attache in India, ending with the words from the Kohima epitaph ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today’.
Gurkha’s collecting for the Royal British Legion
Soldiers of the Punjab Regiment attending the ceremony
Wreath-laying ceremony
Images courtesy of the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News