A service at St James’s Church in Bratton marked a significant moment in the history of the village’s Royal British Legion branch, as members gathered to retire the old branch standard — a ceremonial flag — and officially dedicate its replacement.
The Bratton branch was formed on 19th March 1943. The original branch standard was a gift from Mr Pearce, donated in recognition of the Legion’s support for his family. It was dedicated in St James’s Church in 1952 and laid up in 1971. The retiring standard, which has served the branch with pride at Remembrance parades, civic occasions and county events for over fifty years, will now be preserved and displayed alongside the original.
At the service this month, the old standard was carried into the church by Westbury resident Tony Pollitt, a former Warrant Officer First Class in the Grenadier Guards and branch standard bearer from 2004 to 2019. “It was an honour to carry the standard one last time,” he said.
The standard was formally entrusted to the care of St James’s Church in perpetuity by Lieutenant General Louis Lillywhite, president of the Bratton branch. Next, the new standard was dedicated and presented to Caitlin Butt, standing in for her mother, Tracey Butt, the branch’s official standard bearer.
Caitlin, who also carries the women’s section standard and serves as deputy standard bearer for the Wiltshire County women’s section, symbolised the close and valued association between the branch and its women’s section.
The service was well supported by branch members and the congregation, and attended by a number of invited guests, including Andy Clarke, Wiltshire county chairman of the Royal British Legion; Mrs Debbie Clarke, county secretary; Cllr Dr Keith Rayward, chairman of Bratton Parish Council; Suzanne Wickham and Christina Bosley, chairman of the Warminster branch of the RBL.
The service, conducted by the Right Reverend Humphrey Southern, held deep local resonance. Also officiating was the Reverend Malcolm Wieck, acting vicar of St James’s, who has long supported the Bratton branch and its services.
As part of the service, Bishop Southern, whose mother and sister live in Bratton, shared heartfelt recollections of his childhood in the village and reflected on the enduring value of the Legion’s work and its relevance in today’s world.
