British Olympic Association (BOA) Chairman Colin Moynihan will lead a delegation of British Olympic medallists and officials to Yprés, Belgium to attend the Armistice Remembrance Day Ceremonies, held annually at the Menin Gate at 11:00 am on the 11th of November, to honour Olympic athletes who gave their lives in the line of duty during World War I.
The delegates will take part in a series of events including the official parade to the Menin Gate, where they will be joined by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, and representatives from the Belgian, French and German National Olympic Committees.
This is the first time representatives from the four National Olympic Committees have participated in the Remembrance Day Ceremonies in Yprés in this special tribute to Olympians who have died in conflicts around the world.
According to records maintained by the Last Post Association, there are three British Olympians who gave their lives in the line of duty during World War I who lie in eternal rest in the Yprés Salient:
Captain (Doctor) Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC and Bar, MC
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Died 4 August 1917 aged 32
One of only three people to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice for bravery and devotion to duty
Competitor at the 1908 London Olympic Games in the 400m
2nd Lt G.R.L. ‘Twiggy’ Anderson
The Cheshire Regiment
Died 9 November 1914 aged 25
Hurdles finalist at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912
Set a world record for the 400 hurdles in 1910
Gunner George Albert (GA) Hawkins
Royal Garrison Artillery
Died 22 September 1917 aged 34
200m finalist at the 1908 London Olympic Games
Each year, Yprés welcomes thousands of visitors and veterans from around the world to commemorate the end of World War I. This year is unique in that it is a once in a century ceremony held at 11:00 am on 11/11/11 with a special Last Post Ceremony marking 93 years since the Armistice that brought World War I to an end.
The British Olympic Association delegation will include:
Lord Colin Moynihan
1980 Olympic silver medallist in rowing
Chairman, British Olympic Association Board of Directors
David Hemery CBE
1968 Olympic gold medallist in athletics
1972 Olympic silver and bronze medallist in athletics
Vice Chairman, British Olympic Association Board of Directors
Adam Pengilly
2006 and 2010 Olympian in skeleton
IOC Member
Sarah Winckless
2004 Olympic bronze medallist in rowing
Chair, British Olympic Association Athletes Commission
Richard Leman
1984 Olympic bronze medallist in hockey
1988 Olympic gold medallist in hockey
Member, British Olympic Association Board of Directors
Chris Balillieu
1976 Olympic silver medallist in rowing
Chair, The Olympians
John Peake CBE
1948 Olympic silver medallist in hockey
World War II veteran
Michael Lapage
1948 Olympic silver medallist in rowing
World War II veteran
Di Ellis CBE
Chair, British Rowing
Member, British Olympic Association Board of Directors
John James
Former President of Tennis Europe
Longest serving member of British Olympic Association Board of Directors
Jan Paterson.
Director of Olympic Relations, British Olympic Association and Deputy Chef de Mission, Team GB
Also attending as guests of the BOA will be Catharine Madgin, family member of Mr. Peake; Gillian Venables, family member of Mr. Lapage; and the highly respected Olympic journalist John Goodbody.
The BOA delegation will arrive in Yprés on Thursday, 10th November and visit the Flanders Fields Museum that evening before attending the Last Post at 8:00 p.m. at the Menin Gate. The Last Post has been played every evening at 8:00pm since 1928 in tribute to the fallen soldiers.
BOA Chairman Lord Colin Moynihan: