Salute the Red Army heroes

by New Worker correspondent

NCP leader Andy Brooks and NCP London organiser Theo Russell joined Italian comrades over the remembrance weekend to pay tribute to the Soviet people who fought and died to defeat the Nazis in the Second World War. Called by the supporters of the Communist Front of Italy in Britain, comrades laid flowers during the small ceremony at the Soviet War Memorial in the shadow of the Imperial War Museum in Southwark on Saturday.
    In the past Russian diplomats and those from other former Soviet republics would have joined local dignitaries, members of the Russian community in London and representatives of the Armed Forces and veterans’ associations in honouring the fallen at an annual Remembrance Day ceremony organised by the Soviet War Memorial Trust. This has now all ended because of the Ukraine war.
    Soon after the fighting began Sir Simon Hughes, the former constituency Liberal-Democrat MP who was once a frequent attender at these events, said that the Victory Day event at the Soviet War Memorial should not include Russia and Belarus unless Russian troops withdrew from Ukraine by 1st May. To avoid the memorial becoming a focus for protests and possible vandalism, the Trust has now sadly suspended all commemorations at the monument. But individuals and small groups continue to pay their respects at the Soviet war memorial.
    Fresh red carnations were already lying the foot of the sombre bronze statue when the London and Italian comrades arrived. They weren’t the first. They certainly won’t be the last…

Remember their sacrifice

Theo Russell laying flowers at the monument

by New Worker correspondent

Comrades and friends joined diplomats and local dignitaries in honouring the fallen at Sunday’s Remembrance Day at the Soviet War Memorial in the park that surrounds the Imperial War Museum – the first public ceremony at the monument since the beginning of the Covid   lockdowns last year.
    They were there to remember the 27 million Soviet citizens during the Second World War who, along with the millions of others who perished in the world wars of the last century, were honoured at the annual remembrance ceremony in the London borough of Southwark last weekend.
    NCP London organiser Theo Russell took part in the ceremony, along with Russian Minister-Counsellor Ivan Volodin and other diplomats from the former Soviet republics, representatives of other political parties including Michael Chant from the RCPB (ML), police and services associations, representatives from the Russian community in London and other community groups.
    The Act of Remembrance ended, as usual, with the Last Post, followed by the traditional exhortation, the two-minute silence and the Reveille.

For the Fallen

by New Worker correspondent

Andy Brooks and Peter Hendy

The sacrifice of some 27 million Soviet citizens during the Second World War, along with the millions of others who perished in the world wars of the last century, was honoured at the annual remembrance ceremony in the London borough of Southwark last weekend. There, comrades and friends joined diplomats and local dignitaries in honouring the fallen at Sunday’s Remembrance Day ceremony at the Soviet War Memorial in the park that surrounds the Imperial War Museum.

The ceremony was conducted by Philip Matthews, the veteran chair of the Soviet War Memorial Trust, and opened by Sandra Rhule, the Mayor of Southwark. Wreaths were laid by the ruling Southwark Labour group on the council and their Liberal Democrat opposition, as well as diplomats from the Russian and Belarus embassies. NCP leader Andy Brooks, along with Peter Hendy and Robert Laurie from the Central Committee, took part in the ceremony along with police and services associations, representatives from the Russian community in London, other community groups and the Red Army re-enactors.

The Act of Remembrance ended, as usual, with the Last Post, followed by the traditional exhortation, the two minutes silence and the reveille.

We will remember them

by New Worker correspondent

Andy Brooks and Peter Hendy honour the fallen

A New Communist Party (NCP) delegation paid tribute to the sacrifice of millions of working people in the First World War on the 100^th anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1918. The guns fell silent on the Western Front on 11^th November 1918, and last Sunday comrades joined diplomats and local dignitaries at the Soviet War Memorial in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park to honour the millions who died in that senseless struggle.

NCP leader Andy Brooks, along with national chair Alex Kempshall and Peter Hendy from the Central Committee, took part in the ceremony opened by Philip Matthews, the veteran chair of the Soviet Memorial Trust Fund, and Southwark mayor Catherine Rose in the park by the Imperial War Museum.

Wreaths were laid by the ruling Southwark Labour group on the council, as well as the Southwark Liberal Democrat opposition, along with diplomats from the Russian embassy and services associations. Other floral tributes were laid by representatives of the NCP, the Marx Memorial Library, the Stalin Society, the Soviet Front Red Army re-enactors group and representatives from the Russian community in London.

The ceremony ended, as usual, with the exhortation spoken by Ernie Davies of the Russian Convoy Club, followed by two minutes silence and the reveille.

They will never be forgotten

NCP delegation honours the fallen

by New Worker correspondent

A New Communist Party delegation paid tribute to the sacrifice of millions of working people to defeat fascism during the Second World War at the annual remembrance day ceremony at the Soviet War Memorial in Southwark on Sunday.

NCP leader Andy Brooks along with national chair Alex Kempshall and Dermot Hudson from the Metropolitan Cell joined diplomats, trade unionists and local dignitaries at the Soviet War Memorial in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park to honour the 27 million Soviet citizens who died in the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany.

There were brief speeches from Philip Matthews, the chair of the Soviet Memorial Trust Fund and Southwark mayor Charlie Smith before the wreath laying at the monument in the shadow of the Imperial War Museum began. Wreaths were laid by Neil Coyle the local Labour MP as well as Simon Hughes, the former MP who now leads the Southwark Liberal Democrats, along with diplomats from the Russian and Belarus embassies. Other floral tributes were laid by representatives of the NCP, the Marx Memorial Library, the Soviet Front Red Army re-enactors group and representatives from the Russian community in London.

The ceremony ended, as usual, with the exhortation spoken by Russian Convoy Club veteran Stanley Ballard, followed by two minutes silence and the reveille.