Association Members March in the Remembrance Sunday Parade Whitehall

Nov 14, 2021
2 min read

Four members of The Rifles, Light Infantry, and KOYLI Association travelled from Yorkshire and East Sussex to represent our Association in the march past of veterans and lay a KOYLI wreath at the Cenotaph on Sunday 14 Nov 21, they were Colin Cranswick LI and Rifles, Rob Smith LI, Stephen Gawthorpe KOYLI and LI, and 2Lt (Retd) Peter Wright LI. For Rob Smith, and Colin Cranswick, it was their first time marching in the parade and something that has been on their bucket list to do. It was an incredible and moving day with great camaraderie between the various Forming and Antecedent Regiments of The Rifles.

The Rifles Light Infantry and KOYLI Association cohort in the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Whitehall was represented by Colin Cranswick LI and Rifles, Rob Smith LI, Stephen Gawthorpe KOYLI and LI, and Peter Wright LI.

Following the march past of the Cenotaph as the cohorts of 1LI and The Rifles Light Infantry and KOYLI Association entered Horse Guards Road they opened the sedately pace to the Regimental pace of 140 for the Royal Salute taken by HRH Prince William on Horse Guards Parade; proving they are still Swift and Bold.

Back on Horse Guards Parade and still smiling after marching past HRH Prince William at Regimental pace. Stephen Gawthorpe, Peter Wright, Rob Smith, and Colin Cranswick

Rob Smith a member of our Pontefract Branch had the following to say about the experience after marching back at on to Horse Guards Parade at the end of the parade.

“It was an amazing honour to receive an invite to take part in the Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph in London. I was so proud marching down Whitehall with the other veterans wearing with pride my poppy and Light Infantry blazer remembering the fallen. It was a special and moving day that I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Following fall out from Horse Guards Parade the 1LI Association members along with our 4 members held a brief Remembrance Service at The Light Infantry plot in the Field of Remembrance in the grounds of Westminster Abbey for Light Infantrymen killed on Active Service.