Armistice Day - HTA - France
Updated: Dec 9, 2021
Hythe Twinning Association have been making an annual trip to France on Armistice Day (11 November) for as long as anyone can remember. BUT, last year was the exception to the rule, as we all know. So, this year Kevin Howell decided to plan the trip and chance that the rules would allow it. Due to some members concerns on travel, there was not enough take up to hire a coach but Kevin did book a Minibus.
The normal itinerary is an early morning start from Hythe to arrive at Étaples Military Cemetery, near Boulogne for a morning service. The cemetery holds over 11,500 dead from both World War I and World War II. We departed Red Lion Square at 5am to get us onto the 6.20 shuttle but unfortunatly our leader Kevin was confined at home, after a positive covid test. His second in command Gavin ensured that we all had the neccesary documents and we headed for France.
The early morning service at Etaples was as always very moving, with prayers from Dudley Shipton, the last post played by Chris McNeilly and the Royal British Legion Standard Bearer Gavin Bull in attendance. We layed wreathes on behalf of the RAF Association, Hythe Twinning and Hythe & Cheriton Royal British Legion and paid our respects to those who gave their lives in all conflicts.
After our service we travelled on to our Twin Town of Berck sur Mer, where we joined the Town Rembrance Services.