SSAFA Durham take part in Service of Commemoration to mark Falklands 40

07 April 2022

All ages, ranks, and branches of the Armed Forces took part in a service at St Paul’s Church, Spennymoor, Co. Durham on April 2 to mark the fortieth anniversary of the onset of the Falklands Conflict. Ruth Wright, Divisional Treasurer of SSAFA South West Durham and an accomplished piper, was invited to play The Flowers of the Forest at the Service of Commemoration.

Flowers of the Forest, a Scots air and an early example of war poetry, is often referred to as “The Piper’s Lament”. As tradition dictates, it is played on Remembrance Sunday, funerals of military men and women, and other occasions of reflection.

It includes the poignant words “… The Flowers of the Forest are all withered away… The pride of our land lie cold in the clay,” and is both haunting and moving in equal measure.

Ruth began the lament in a static position before slowly moving through the church and out into sleet, allowing the tune to fade into the distance while those present remained silent in thought.

As the congregation left St Paul’s, Ruth played The Crags of Tumbledown Mountain.

After the battle on Mount Tumbledown (June 13-14, 1982), James Riddell, Pipe Major for the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards climbed to the top of the mountain. At the summit, he played a tune that he had written* to commemorate the battle.

The tune was The Crags of Tumbledown Mountain, and commemorates one of the final battles of the Falklands Conflict, one that the Scots Guards were involved in.

Also in attendance representing the SSAFA Durham Branch were: Peter Williams, a SSAFA Helper who carried the Branch Standard; Caseworker Bob Pearson MBE and his wife Christine, a SSAFA Helper; Branch President Mike Donne; and Cully, the Black Labrador often seen at SSAFA Durham events wearing her SSAFA harness.

*The story goes that he wrote it on the back of a cigarette packet, but it was more likely written on the back of a ration box.