Category Archives: war

Monday Peace Vigil

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Every Monday morning since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Abingdon Peace Group has stood vigil at Abingdon War Memorial. They stand there between 8:15 am and 8:45am. They stood there this morning in the cold after a light snow.

Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and supported separatists in the East of Ukraine.

On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion followed a build-up of the Russian army in 2021 and demands from Russia to stop Ukraine from joining NATO. The west’s dependence on Russian oil, gas, and Ukrainian products has led to inflation and shortages and affected people in the UK more directly than other wars in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen.

Upcoming Remembrance events

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Armistice Day is remembered with a gathering of Royal British Legion, civic leaders and members of the public at the war memorial on the 11th of November at 11 am.

Remembrance Sunday involves a church service at St Helen’s, then a more extensive gathering of Royal British Legion, civic leaders, armed forces, uniformed groups, and members of the public at the war memorial on the 13th of November from 10:50. That is followed by a march to the County Hall to salute the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Cllr Andy Foulsham, the Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire and the Commanding Officer of Dalton Barracks.

There is also a tree in the Abbey Meadows, planted by the Abingdon Peace Group, in memory of all victims of war. The Ukraine war has had many victims, some of whom have come to Abingdon. There are also people from Syria.

Remembrance Day parade and service in Abingdon

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There was camaraderie as uniformed groups gathered at the Market Place and along Bury Street. Normally they gather in St Helen’s Church, but because of Covid it was thought better to meet outside.

Soldiers marched to the War Memorial, leading the parade.

The Mayor of Ock Street can be seen here representing Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers. Many of the Morris Dancers joined up in WWI and some were injured and one is known to have died. (See http://atmd.org.uk/ww1/ )

There was a large crowd gathered at the War Memorial. This is the moment when the flags are lowered before the two minute silence where people join in remembering those who fell in the wars.

We have seen pictures of WWI and WWII and footage of Afghanistan and Iraq. There are people in Abingdon who still live with the memory of wars where they served, or had to escape as refugees.

2021 is the centenary of the Royal British Legion and their flag was prominent as groups marched back from the War Memorial to salute dignitaries in front of the County Hall.

2021 is also the centenary of the Abingdon War Memorial.

Clare, who organises the poppy appeal in Abingdon, returned to look at the tributes before going on to the Royal British Legion club.

She sent me this picture of a tribute done by pupils of Our Lady Abingdon.

The cutouts feature names from the Abingdon War Memorial. Clare said ‘It has real wow emotive factor and it’s great to pupils get involved.’