Veterans mark 101 years of Remembrance at Cenotaph

An estimated 3,000 people joined Jewish veterans at Sunday’s AJEX annual remembrance ceremony at the Cenotaph.

The historic event for The Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women welcomed veterans and families of veterans who marched from Horse Guards Parade down Whitehall to The Cenotaph. It marked 101 years on from the laying of the first Star of David wreath in 1921 by a group of Jewish ex-soldiers from the Judeans – the 38th, 39th, and 40th battalions of the Royal Fusiliers.

Amongst those in attendance were a representative unit from the Royal Fusilier Regiment, Alex Chalk KC MP, minister of state in the Ministry of Defence who laid a wreath alongside veteran Mervyn Kersh, the reviewing officer, Major General Jon Swift OBE, Ron Shelley MBE, Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for Harrow East and Councillor Alison Moore, Mayor of Barnet.

The parade was the first to be held under the reign of HM King Charles III. It also marked the 80th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid and the Second Battle of El Alamein, and the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. JLGB members and a contingent of cadets from JFS attended, together with other Jewish schools, scout groups and members of the Jewish community.

The service at The Cenotaph was conducted by the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis who said: “Thank you for being an enormous inspiration to me and many others” during an address to AJEX members before the march. Also in attendance were AJEX Chaplain Rabbi (Major) Reuben Livingstone and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg who said prayers in honour of those that served as well as in support of today’s Armed Forces.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conveyed words of support in a statement, declaring that ‘The Jewish community’s proud history and service to our Armed Forces will never be forgotten and I am honoured to share in your special day of Remembrance.”

Commemorative wreaths were laid by senior members of AJEX, The Board of Deputies of British Jews, religious representatives, fellow veterans organisations and military leaders. Students from Jewish schools laid poppy posies.

AJEX national chairman, Dan Fox said he was “overwhelmed” to see so many marchers and supporters at “one of the most significant AJEX parades in the event’s long-standing history”.

AJEX chief executive, Fiona Palmer, said that the mission of AJEX is to “uphold remembrance, care for veterans and their families and educate those around us about our participation and contribution in keeping our nation safe. When I looked around and see our schools, cadets, JLGB, families and hundreds of individuals walking alongside our veterans I felt the connection so strongly with past and current generations.”

Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely was in attendance for the first time and Mark Gardner, chief executive of CST tweeted: “Moved and privileged to represent @CST_UK along with our volunteers and our marchers.”

The ceremony concluded with the Band of the Irish Guards playing Adon Olam and the national anthem.