Holding the Torch High: Remembering the Commonwealth’s First World War Legacy

Professor Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS recently joined more than 100 participants on the Op REFLECT Global Chapter commemorative tour across France and Belgium, retracing key First World War battlefields and memorials alongside Brigadier Karl Harris, the British Army and other stakeholders.

The tour included visits to the Menin Gate, Neuve-Chapelle Memorial, Canada Farm Cemetery, St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres and the SS Mendi Memorial in Calais, honouring the service and sacrifice of Commonwealth servicemen and women.

A highlight of the tour was Professor Sir Patrick’s reading of In Flanders Fields, whose closing words, “The torch; be yours to hold it high,” served as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to preserve these stories for future generations.

Reflecting on the experience, Professor Sir Patrick emphasised the need to recognise the often-overlooked contributions of soldiers, labourers and support personnel from Africa, the Caribbean, the Indian subcontinent and across the Commonwealth. He also paid tribute to the more than 600 Black South African men who lost their lives in the sinking of the SS Mendi in 1917, describing their story as an essential part of our shared history.

Professor Sir Patrick thanked Brigadier Karl Harris, the British Army and the organisers of Op REFLECT for ensuring the legacy of all who served continues to be remembered and honoured.

See the full LinkedIn post here