The March Past the Queen and the Cenotaph 11/11/01

The veterans of the Canal Zone "Emergency" 1951-1954 were given permission to march past the Queen and the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Day 11th November, 2002.

Over 100 SCZ Veterans, took part in this march, under the very capable leadership of Parade Marshal RSM Bill Taylor (Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders) resplendent  in Highland Dress.   Looking at these photographs of the march, one can see men most in their late 60's,  50 years after the completion of their service to Crown and Country,  march in step, backs straight, heads held high, showing a pride that those in Government who oppose their medal campaign do not, and will never understand.
 

Pictured right is the wreath as it sits on the Cenotaph, from the Suez Canal Zone Veterans Association, it carries the wording  "Suez Canal Zone Emergency 1951-1954"    "The Forgotten Army" Hopefully the wording on this wreath will be seen by many of those who attended to watch the march-past. Highly noticeable was the absence of medals on the majority of the marchers, and from reports of some of the relatives of the marchers, who attended to watch,   this was pointed out by a great many in the cheering crowds lining the pavement on both sides of the parade.   Most of the crowd had watched many previous parades where the participants who were veterans of WWll wore a number of medals.

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This photograph  shows some of the SCZ Veterans Association members involved in organizing our group, in front of Horse Guards Parade.  In this photograph  from left to right, are SCZ Veterans Pat Kelly (Forage cap), Dave Powis, Jeff  Malone (bare headed), Harold Heath, and on the right wearing his father's medals, John Mitchell.

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Instructions being given by RSM Taylor before the march.  The smaller person standing sideways in the front rank is SCZ  Veteran Roy Wilson (RA) who was instrumental  last year in getting a Royal Artillery Memorial Plaque for the "Suez Canal Zone" placed in the Artillerymans Church at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire.  he also appeared on the recent  TV Programme "Suez the Forgotten Campaign"

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SCZ Veterans on the march,  a sight to warm and gladden the heart of any Serving and Ex-serviceman, here we see old "sweats" showing how it should be done.  Well done lads, you did us proud, yes indeed. The BBC  had promised that  the SCZ Veteran marchers, would definitely be on  film,  but reneged on that promise.  When the film was shown on TV the SCZ   Veterans part of the film was missing.  Letters from the BBC in answer to  letters of protest  from the SCZ Vets, denied  that this omission was deliberate,  and  claimed that it was  accidental , possible maybe, believable not likely.   The SCZ Veterans have their own theories about this omission.

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These photographs were forwarded to this website by Suez Canal Zone Veterans, Richard Woolley, John Mitchell and David Powis.