I’ve been aware for a long time of the repatriations which occur regularly in Wootton Bassett, but until recently had never actually seen for myself exactly what happens, as the cortege usually passes through the town during school times.
I was recently granted permission to leave school and watch one of the repatriations. After this, I became more interested in how the ceremony started, and how it is organised, so I approached Anne Bevis, the repatriation liaison officer for the Royal British Legion, to find out more.
Anne told me that the repatriations began back in 2007, when the soldiers began to come through RAF Lyneham instead of Brize Norton. At that first repatriation, just a few people who happened to be doing their shopping at the time stopped in the High Street to show their respects as the hearse passed through the town.
Since then, more and more people stopped to show their respects, and others from outside the town started coming especially for the repatriations. These include people who just come to pay their respects, as well as the deceased soldiers’ family and friends.
Nowadays the repatriations happen fairly regularly – usually once a week; and Wootton Bassett has become famous for paying tribute to our heroes.
When the cortege is about to leave Lyneham the police in Wootton Bassett are alerted.
The standard bearers will form an orderly line, spreading themselves at equal distances along the road.
The police stop the traffic, and when the cortege reaches the edge of the town, the church bell will start to ring. The police escort motorbike riders then ride through the town ahead of the cortege, and when the leading car reaches the Town Hall, it will stop to let the funeral director get out and walk towards the war memorial.
At the same time, the word ‘up’ is given – the signal to salute.
The standard bearers will then carry standards, and as the funeral director reaches them they will dip in time – one following the other.
When the funeral director reaches the war memorial, he will stop and face the hearse and there is a short silence during which families will have the opportunity to place flowers on the car. After the silence the funeral director will turn and continue to walk down through the town.
The word ‘down’ will be given, signalling the end of the salute, and standards will then be brought back up to the ‘carry’ position.
The order to ‘dismiss’ will then be given to end the ceremony.
Anne Bevis described the ceremony as “a simple silent tribute when time stands still for a few moments, giving us all the chance to pay our respects hoping that their families, relatives, friends and comrades find comfort in knowing that there are people who care”.
The repatriations will continue to go through Wootton Bassett until 2011 as RAF Lyneham is set for closure in 2012. What will happen then hasn’t been decided, but until that time comes, the people of Wootton Bassett will continue to honour the fallen and show support.
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