Repatriation tributes in Headington

Poppy wreaths: The double-headed eagle of The Queen’s Dragoon Guards; the dragon of the Princess
of Wales’s Royal Regiment; the horn of the Rifles; and the Headington Final Turn

It is nearly dark as the cortège approaches

Four hearses, each with a coffin draped with the Union flag

Before the tribute

Fire fighters prepare to pay their respects

Waiting outside St Anthony of Padua Church

The standard-bearers wait for the signal to cross to the middle of the road

John Pragnell (former Queen’s Dragoon Guards) and John Walker (former Royal Dragoon Guards)

Oxford Mail report on this Headley Way tribute

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Report from the Final Turn by John Walker, former RDG

We here at The Final Turn stood True and Firm to honour the above Soldiers.

There were Eleven Royal British Legion Standards:

• Royal British Legion (Bicester and Launton)
• Royal British Legion (Bloxham)
• Royal British Legion (Bodicote)
• Royal British Legion (Chalgrove)
• Royal British Legion (Headington)
• Royal British Legion (Henley)
• Royal British Legion (Islip)
• Royal British Legion (Kidlington)
• Royal British Legion (Kidlington – Women’s)
• Royal British Legion (Wheatley)
• Royal British Legion (Wolvercote)

There were Eight Association Standards:

• Coldstream Guards Association
• Canal Zoners (Oxon) Association
• Parachute Regiment (Oxon) Association
• RAF Police Association
• Royal Fleet Auxiliary (London & District) Association
• Royal Marines/Navy Association (Oxon Branch)
• Royal Tank Regiment (Oxon)
• The Banner of The Royal Dragoon Guards

Also on Parade were: Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford City Cllr A. Armitage, The Very Rev Robert Wilkes, Colonel (Retd) B. Duncan MBE., Royal Tank Regt, Colonel (Retd) T. Hall 11th Hussars (PAO), Lt/Colonel (Retd) D. Mead TD.

There were fifty-five Veterans in Berets and forty others from all three services. Thames Valley Police doing their normal duties and also stood along side of us on Parade all under the command of Chief Inspector C. Agger, G. Choldcroft (Chaplain) Thames Valley Police, Mary and John from the Church, John having half-masted The Union Flag earlier in the morning. A full crew and Tender from Oxford Fire & Rescue Services again with their huge Union Flag. Vehicle and crew from the Red Cross and another from the St John’s Ambulance Brigade.

There were 340 members of the Oxford Public with us here at The Final Turn and many more leading off the Oxford ring road into the Marston area all the way up Headley Hill to us. So many Union Flags being held and as always the Flag of Ulster.

The Parade Marshall was Graham Whelan.(former Para). 2i/c was J. Lewendon (former R.A.)

The Cortege passed us by at 1635 hrs.