WEST Mercia police chiefs travelled to Ypres, Belgium to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Chief Supt Mark Travis, Supt Alison Davies, Supt Peter Davies, Cons Simon Lisseter and Cons Steven Yapp recently visited the Menin Gate Memorial which is dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient and whose graves are unknown.
The famous memorial in Flanders was the scene for the Last Post ceremony last Saturday which remembers those who died in the First World War.
Every day since 1928 delegates from across the world have attended the Menin Gate, in particular from the families of those who served, from the military and from the emergency services; representatives from a wide variety of organisations pay tribute and pay their respects to more than 50,000 soldiers that sacrificed their lives and that are buried there, and for all of those who served and died in the First World War.
The West Mercia Police representatives, wearing police ceremonial and dress uniforms, laid four wreaths for the force, on behalf of: Chief Anthony Bangham; PCC John Campion; officers and civilian staff and the police cadets and volunteers.
Each of the police representatives were selected for the ceremony for their positive contributions to the force; each representative funded the trip independently and used their own time to represent the force.
Chief Supt Mark Travis said: “We owe so much to those who have and still make sacrifices in military services. The staff who have visited this event wanted to use their own time to represent their force and pay tribute. Those who fought were brave and selfless, we should keep their memories and the reasons that they fought alive.”
“I am proud of the positive contribution that these officers made in Belgium on behalf of all of those who work for West Mercia Police.”
Constable Lisseter said: “On the 100th anniversary of the ending of the First World War, I thought it was important to recognise the many soldiers who fought and died. Menin Gate at Ypres is a poignant monument to over 50,000 soldiers who died but have no known grave.”
“On a personal level, I wanted to make a visit to the grave of Charles Lisseter, who died aged only 19 and is buried just outside Ypres.”
Constable Yapp said: “I was very proud and humbled to be asked to take part in this visit to Menin Gate, Belgium, and to also lay a wreath for the Force, in commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the First World War.
“Both as a Constable and as a serving RAF reservist I’m able to appreciate this incredible opportunity to honour all those of that generation and to pay my own personal respects to my Grandfather and Great Uncle who both served.”
