10th November 2012
Beirut, Lebanon
Following Remembrance services in Saida and Tripoli on Thursday, we have just left the third, in the beautifully kept Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Beirut. The torrential rain cleared, and we honoured those who fell, driving Vichy from Lebanon in 1941. We share these poignant moments with former allies and former foes. The allied contingent […]
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25th April 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Up at 4.30am. And it’s my birthday. But I would not want to miss the privilege of attending ANZAC Day, Australia’s national day of commemoration for those who have sacrificed their lives serving Australia, in many conflicts over the years since the Gallipoli landings began 97 year ago today. The Australian War Memorial is one […]
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9th November 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Once again, as November begins and temperatures dip towards freezing in Kyiv, Ukrainian friends and contacts are asking why I am wearing a small, red flower on my jacket lapel. I can do no better than refer to the blog I published this time last year, “Why I wear a poppy“. As in previous years […]
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15th November 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
For the last couple of weeks I and colleagues from the British Embassy have been wearing artificial poppies in our lapels or pinned to our clothes. And lots of Hungarian friends and acquaintances have been asking me why we do this. So I have been pleased to have the chance to explain to them that […]
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12th November 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The British and Canadian embassies in Kyiv organised a short ceremony at the Park of Glory on 11 November to mark Remembrance Day. There was a good turnout. The ceremony, which included prayers, poems, the Act of Remembrance, the Last Post, a two minute silence and the laying of wreaths, took place under a clear […]
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11th November 2010
London, UK
It’s 11 November, Armistice Day. I recorded this video blog in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, standing right beside memorials to Diplomatic staff who have lost their lives to military conflict or to terrorism, whilst in the service of their country.
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