The Royal British Legion
Henley-on-Thames Branch
GREAT PILGRIMAGE 90
August 2018 saw the biggest membership event in its history when The Royal British Legion recreated its
1928 pilgrimage to World War One battlefields in Ypres, Belgium, to commemorate the last 100 days of the Great War
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A decade after the end of WW1, veterans and war widows visited the battlefields of the Somme and Ypres before marching to the Menin Gate in Ypres on 8 August 1928. Exactly 90 years later, thousands of Legion members recreated 'The 1928 Great Pilgrimage' to visit the same battlefields and then, on 8 August 2018, they carried their standards along the same route to the Menin Gate, to commemorate the last 100 days of WW1 and represented an entire generation that served while defending their country. Members of the public were welcome to watch the parade to the Menin Gate where a Remembrance service was held. Following the service, spectators headed to the Great Square for an afternoon of exhibitions and musical performances.
​Additionally, an organised tour commemorating the last 100 days of WW1 included the GP90 event. The five day tour visited battlefield sites in France and Belgium such as Ypres, Mons and Loos.
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Our branch was represented by Branch Chairman, John Green carried the Branch standard.
His grandson Edward , wearing his great-grandfather's wwi medals, laid a wreath from the Town of Henley-on-Thames
