THE county regiment of Oxfordshire, The Rifles, were commemorated this week at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.
The regiment, which incorporated Oxfordshire’s historic regiments the Royal Green Jackets and the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and has a history dating back to 1782, was commemorated on Wednesday.
The service started with the Waterloo Band of the Rifles performing in Leiden Square in the Westgate. The band comprises wholly of army reservist Musicians drawn from across the county.
The service started with the Waterloo Band of The Rifles performing in Leiden Square. The band comprises wholly of Army Reservist Musicians drawn from across the county.
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It was led by the Band Sergeant Major Bob Ghigi and they played a medley of well-known military classics as well as more familiar tunes including “Sweet Caroline”.
The whole day centred around the service of dedication for the regiment’s memorial book that takes pride of place inside the cathedral in St Aldate’s.
The book is a sombre roll of honour that names the 45 who gave their lives on operations with the Royal Green Jackets and the further 62 who served with the present-day regiment.
Twice a month, Christ Church Cathedral holds an intimate service during which the page of the book is ceremonially turned to reveal the next set of names who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
On this occasion though, the book received its blessing from the Assistant Bishop, John Meyrick, in an extended version of the service.
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The book was then marched down the nave with 16 year-old army cadet, Yabis Mahadere, from the Headington Detachment. During the service veterans read out some of the names that sit on those pages.
After received its blessing, the new memorial book was slow-marched into the Cathedral’s Memorial Chapel where it will held for safekeeping alongside the rolls of honour that contain the names of 6,921 soldiers of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry who were killed in the two world wars.
The service concluded with the silver bugles playing the last post and wreaths being laid at the altar of the regimental chapel within the cathedral.
The Waterloo Band then performed again in the grounds of Christ Church and a military bugle call was sounded to mark the end of the day.
Major Tim Brown, the officer commanding A Company, 7 Rifles based at Edward Brooks Barracks in Abingdon, said: “This was a memorable day for The Rifles to have this wonderful opportunity to be able to engage with the local community was very rewarding.
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“Watching the crowds in the shopping centre singing along and being entertained was enjoyable. but it was the service in the cathedral that provided that very special moment of reflection and remembrance.”
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This story was written by Gee Harland, she joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.
Gee covers Wallingford and Didcot.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland
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