Armed Forces flag raised in Purbeck

An Armed Forces flag was raised at the offices of Purbeck District Council on 19 June to herald the start of Armed Forces Week.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Wilkinson KRH, Commanding Officer of the RAC Training Regiment, Bovington; the Royal Navy and soldiers based at Bovington and Lulworth took part in the ceremony to raise the Armed Forces flag at Purbeck District Council’s offices on 19 June. It marked the start of Armed Forces Week.

Other dignitaries included the Chairman of Purbeck District Council, Cllr Bill Trite and Wareham Town Mayor Cllr Malcolm Russell.

Councillor Trite said:  “On behalf of the people of Purbeck, I express our appreciation and gratitude for all the Armed Forces do in our interests and in the course of their duty to the Nation.

“The involvement in military operations, when circumstances require, is the ultimate expression of the role of the Armed Forces – a task which demands constant preparedness, the highest standards of training and, indeed, the willingness if necessary to make the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of this country, its people and its way of life.

“Yet the role of the men and women of our Armed Forces goes much further than that. They play a full part in responding to and planning for all kinds of civil emergencies across the country. This has recently involved their taking over armed security at potential terrorist targets. Here in Purbeck we are fortunate to have the military reassuringly close at hand, so we may anticipate a rapid response if the need were ever to arise here – though we’d rather it didn’t.”

Cllr Trite concluded:  “The Armed Forces play a full, active and welcome part in our community, especially in those villages close to the military camps. They also make a major contribution to the prosperity of local businesses and visitor attractions. I thank our Armed Forces and long may their links with Purbeck continue.”

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Wilkinson KRH, Commanding Officer of the RAC Training Regiment, Bovington, said, “Armed Forces Week is about the local communities in which we serve and that is why it is so important we are here today.

“It is a key part of reaffirming each year the military covenant that is the link between the serving community and their families and the local communities in which they live. When we are away from our families on operations, it is the support of these communities which gives us strength.

Lieutenant Colonel Wilkinson continued, “This might only be a flag but the message behind is so important to all of us in the military community. We have always been very fortunate in Dorset and have an incredibly strong relationship with the local communities. We are very grateful for all your support.”

The specially-commissioned Armed Forces Day flag will fly at the council’s Westport House offices until Monday 26 June 2017.

Armed Forces Day takes place on Saturday 24 June and is an opportunity for the nations to show its support to service men and women past and present.