The Union Flag
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The Union Flag
Barwicker No. 122
Winter 2016
I have been asked numerous times by both villagers and visitors to All
Saints' how we came to have the Union Flag which had flown from
the Thiepval Memorial in our church. So I thought it was about time I
did a bit of research. If you go to the right place its amazing how easy
it is to get the information you require. Below is the information I
received from Michael Greet, Archive Assistant at the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission.
In October 1978, the Commission received a request from the
Secretary of the Barwick and Scholes (West Yorkshire) Branch of the
Royal British Legion (RBL) for a redundant Union Flag from one of
the Commission's national memorials. No reasons are explicitly stated
as to why the RBL wanted a flag but it would appear to be for the
purpose of creating a display.
Our records also state that the RBL were already making use of a
Union Flag at Brookwood Cemetery for ceremonies but this was
deemed too worn to be flown/used for the purpose of the request by
the Barwick and Scholes Branch.
The flag flown at the Thiepval Memorial at the time was not
specifically requested by the RBL but the Commission deemed it to
be the flag in the most suitable condition for the purposes outlined b)
the Barwick and Scholes RBL Branch. Our correspondence also
reveals that had any later requests for flags been received from other
RBL branches, they were likely to have been refused, due to the short
supply of available flags.
There were issues in delivering the flag due to its enormous size (12 x
6 feet), but it was eventually received by the Revd. Norman Butcher.
Rector of All Saints' Church, Barwick-in-Elmet early in 1979. The
Commission was then asked to provide some wording about the
Thiepval Memorial and so the Union Flag was given and continues to
have a hallowed place in the church to this day.
I am most grateful to Michael Greet for his help and quick response to
my request for this information.
COLIN BOND
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