I would like to open this article with a thank you to all who have contributed to the 2019 Poppy Appeal. So far the branch has raised £9630; thank you Littleport. Our thanks also go to the parish council for all the extra support they gave us this year; in particular the council looked after traffic management after the police support was removed. The branch would also like to thank 363 MCC for carrying the Union Standard at the front of the parade which itself was led by the Standard of the Royal British Legion. The Royal British Legion hope that 363 MCC will join us again next year to carry the Union Standard but we will have to find a bigger ‘boom box’ to help with the march music. If you have a suggestion please feel free to contact myself or any Royal British Legion committee member. All serious suggestions will be considered.
AN IMPORTANT DATE FOR YOUR DIARY! APRIL 29!
We have two events coming up soon and we would like to invite the people of Littleport to attend both of them. To simplify things both events will take place on the afternoon of 29 April 2020, starting at 2pm in Littleport Cemetery. This first event will be the dedication of a headstone on the grave of Corporal Charles Pettit at the Wisbech Road end of the cemetery. Corporal Pettit died of epilepsy caused by a head wound received at the Battle of Mons in 1914. In 1916 he was repatriated by the German authorities as no longer fit for military service. He died in 1918 but was buried in a common grave paid for by the parish and, as such, he was not entitled to a headstone.
A group of local ex-service personnel responded to my request for help and we were able to purchase the grave. As a result of this the Commonwealth War Graves Commission agreed to install a headstone. We will dedicate the headstone with a short service.
The second event will follow immediately after this when we have a second dedication at the Remembrance Garden at the Parsons Lane end of the cemetery. The branch is particularly indebted to Mr ‘Jimmy’ Johnstone of Adams Forge for all his work and help with the garden. The branch hopes that the events will be well attended.
In light of the current situation, what is the plan regarding the dedication of of Corporal Charles Pettit’s headstone on April 29th?