Soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the First and Second World Wars, along with all those who died in recent battles, will be honoured by many on Remembrance Sunday, 12 November. 

In memory of all service personnel who have lost their lives in active duty, the Revd Kevin Jones, United Reformed Church army chaplain to 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, remembers summer 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as chaplain to 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards. 

‘Sadly,’ he says. ‘Four Welsh Guards were killed on that deployment as were three other soldiers who were from units serving with us. What made it hard for many of their friends was that they were scattered all over Helmand in small teams, as one of our key roles was mentoring the Afghan Police. Typically, there would be a dozen soldiers based alongside a police station. When the deaths occurred, each of these teams needed to find their own way, individually and as a group, of remembering their fallen comrades and grieving for them.’

Although official parades were organised at larger bases whenever a death occurred, Kevin’s soldiers, who were based at police stations, could rarely get to them.  

‘One team I remember especially was based at a police station in a town called Gereshk,’ he continued. ‘They had created a small memorial area where they had made crosses and added objects which were connected to each of the soldiers. For example, they had placed a toy racing car on one of the fallen soldiers’ memorials as he was a big fan of motor sports. On each of my visits there the soldiers would show me what they had added to the memorials.’

Army chaplains, including women, are generally known as ‘Padre’, and Kevin’s ministry to the soldiers was to help them find ways to add meaning to the steps they had taken to honour their fallen colleagues, and to acknowledge those acts and give them a stamp of approval. 

‘A short act of worship with remembrance at its centre was what they wanted from their Padre,’ added Kevin. ‘A recognition by those with faith and those with no-faith that this was important. I hope I found the right ways of doing this as the language we use isn't always easily accessible to those whose experience of church is often limited. When it comes to this year's Remembrance I will be picturing in my mind once again those soldiers I have had the privilege to serve, including those who have died. As I lead worship once more I pray that God will help me find the words and ways to help others with their thoughts and memories as together we pray for peace.

Pictures: 1) The Revd Kevin Jones, 2) Cpl John Rafoss, British Royal Marines, 3) David Dixon