The weather was suitably fine and sunny for the memorial service held on 29th September 2024 by the Royal Anglian Regiment when members of the Regiment, his former colleagues and friends, gathered at the graveside of Major Andrew Foxcroft French MBE in the churchyard of St Andrews, Aldringham in Suffolk to remember his service.
Prior to the service, during the summer, local members of the Regiment had arranged to have Major French’s gravestone cleaned by Graham Hughes assisted at a later stage by Tim Beighton and Greg Lawrence.
Fergus, whose parents lived in Aldringham and are also buried in St Andrew’s churchyard, lost his life in the service of his country in Northern Ireland in 1982. Originally 3 R ANGLIAN, he was awarded an MBE for military services in Northern Ireland and was serving with 2 R ANGLIAN in Northern Ireland, Crossmaglen when he was tragically killed in action. He was laid to rest with full military honours in St Andrew’s churchyard, adjacent to the parish War Memorial.
Twenty-four of his former service colleagues and a serving officer of A Coy, 2 R ANGLIAN were greeted by Col Chris Burrell-Saward (St Andrew’s PCC) and Dorothy Walker, (St Andrew’s Churchwarden) who gave each attendee a sprig of rosemary, the flower of remembrance, upon arrival.
The memorial service, conducted by Major the Reverend Gavin Smith, the Brigade Senior Chaplain of 16 Air Assault Brigade based at Colchester, commenced in the church and then moved outside to Major French’s grave where it continued with prayers, reading of the Royal Anglian Collect and playing of the Last Post and two-minutes silence followed by Reveille.
At the end of the service, wreaths were laid on behalf of The Regiment, 2 R ANGLIAN and Felstead School where Andrew studied as a young man. Many of his former colleagues also placed memorial crosses at the head of Major French’s grave.
After the service, following coffee in the vestry, Andrew’s colleagues retired to the Parrot and Punchbowl for lunch and to no doubt recall old times spent with him during his years of service.
