United Kingdom Engineers Observe Remembrance Day in South Sudan

United Kingdom Engineers Observe Remembrance Day in South Sudan

United Kingdom Engineers Observe Remembrance Day in South Sudan

14 Nov 2017

United Kingdom Engineers Observe Remembrance Day in South Sudan

Francesca Mold

United Kingdom engineers have held a special service in South Sudan to mark Remembrance Day, honouring and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in conflicts past and present.

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations countries since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

United Kingdom personnel providing engineering services and medical assistance for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan held Remembrance services in both Malakal and Bentiu in the north of the conflict-affected country where they are deployed.

The Malakal service was led by the UK task force Padre and included readings, hymns and the laying of poppy wreaths as a symbol of honour and respect for all who have given their lives in the service of their country. All those who attended were invited to wear a paper poppy alongside the UK troops who wear these in the weeks prior to Remembrance day. The poppy was adopted as symbol of Remembrance as the flowers grew in their thousands in the war torn fields of Belgium despite the chaos and destruction of the conflict.

The service was attended by members of other Troop Contributing Countries to the Mission in South Sudan and UN staff officers who stood shoulder to shoulder on parade together.  A two-minute silence was also observed at 11am, reflecting the signing of the Armistice marking the cessation of hostilities between the Allies and Germany after the First World War at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.