It was with great pride on Sunday 30th November on the last public open day of the 2008 season, the annual Remembrance Day ceremony was held at Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury in the presence of Lord Petrel, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Angela Smith MP and the Deputy Mayor of Thurrock.
Also in attendance was representatives of the British Legion, The Ghurkhas, Territorial Army and a number of local ATC cadets.
Tributes were laid and the service conducted by the local Methodist minister.
The Memorial Garden has as its centrepiece a third scale replica of the original obelisk that was erected by the soldiers and stood outside the fort was blown up
on War Dept. orders for not having pennission to have it erected. Two of the original stones stand beside the garden.
As well as the obelisk is a statue dedicated to the WW2 Arnhem operation,together with panels to both the RAF and Royal and Merchant Navy.
This year was more poignant in that it is the 90th Anniversary of the end of World War 1 and the fonnation of the Royal Air Force out of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. It is also the 100th Anniversary of the fonnation of Territorial Army. This year also marked the 25th Anniversary of the Coalhouse Fort Project taking over the preservation and restoration of this very important Victorian Fort that has been at the forefront of defences for the eastern Thames and the gateway to London.
Ken Levy
Vice Chair

Download an article on the Memorial Garden, originally printed in The Western Front Association Bulletin March 2007 (adobe pdf format)