Armed forces celebratory and commemorative events
There are a variety of events throughout the year and across the county celebrating Kent’s military heritage and commemorating the service of men and women in our armed forces throughout history.
To mark 100 years since the start of World War 1, a timeline of Kent's residents' first-hand experiences in the First World War was created by volunteers using the archives at the Kent History and Archive Centre.
The Step Short Memorial, a memorial arch in Folkestone, was opened by Prince Harry in 2014 to remember the millions of men who passed through the Harbour on their way to battle.
Events calendar 2018
If you know a significant event that is missing, contact armedforces@kent.gov.uk.
See the First World War Centenary website for more celebratory and commemorative events.
| When | Event | Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 October, 11am | Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of Corporal David Elias Tidy, C Corps Signals, Royal Engineers | West Kingsdown War Memorial, Adj to St. Edmund’s Church, Fawkham Road, West Kingsdown, Kent TN15 6AY | Martin Stoneham 01474 85 30 14 Contact organiser to confirm timing |
| 26 October, 10am | Kent and Medway Civilian Military Partnership Board | Oakwood House, Oakwood Park, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8AE | Alice McClean |
| 27 October, 7pm to 1am | Dinner dance and auction in support of the Royal British Legion (ticketed event) | Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel, Ashford Road, Hollingbourne, Maidstone ME17 1RE | Victoria 07885 74 95 24 |
| 28 October (church service times) | Rusthall - Great War Remembered (photographic display of 90 Rusthall servicemen) | St Paul’s Church, Langton Road, Rusthall | Mike Bassett 01892 543544 |
| When | Event | Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1- 12 November, 9am - 4pm | Field of Remembrance | Grounds of Canterbury Cathedral | Eric Hearn (Canterbury Branch RBL) 01227 768436 |
| 1 November, 6:30pm - 7:45pm | Marking the First World War Centenary – Prisoners of War 1914-1918 A talk and live music | Kent History and Library Centre ME14 1LQ | 03000 420 673 archives@kent.gov.uk |
| 4 November, 2pm | Dedication of Garden of Remembrance | Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road, Folkestone | Toni Brenchley toni.brenchley@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 5 November | Display (exterior giant poppy display) | St Paul’s Church Centre, Rusthall Road, Rusthall TN4 8RE | Wendy Anderson 01892 532922 |
| 5 November | Display (giant cross made with thumbprints of pupils from St Paul’s Primary school) | United Reform Church, High Street, Rusthall TN4 8RJ | Jess Collins 01892 520582 |
| 5 November | Display (servicemen silhouettes and details placed in eight high street shops) | High Street, Rusthall TN4 8RJ | John Oram jon@oram.me |
| 8 November, 6pm | Field of Remembrance Dedication | Longmarket, Canterbury | Eric Hearn (Canterbury Branch RBL) 01227 768436 |
| 9 November, 2018 | ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’ (film) | Rusthall Community Cinema, Sunnyside Hall, Rusthall Road, Rusthall TN4 8RA | Rosemary Romano 01892 539005 |
| 10 November, 11am | Machine Gun Corps | Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone | Trevor Mays truckintrev@live.co.uk |
| 10 November, 12:30pm | Commemorative Tree Planting by Greg Clark MP | Crossroad – Coach Road/Rusthall Road | Jenny Blackburn jennyblackburn@rusthallparishcouncil.org.uk |
| 10 November, 3pm | Great War poems read and songs of the day sung by children from Rusthall, St Paul’s Primary School | United Reform Church, High Street, Rusthall TN4 8RJ | Jess Collins 01892 520582 |
| 10 - 11 November, 10:30am till 5pm | Rusthall Great War Village Life (Rusthall local history group) | Rusthall Club, St Paul’s Street, Rusthall TN4 8RJ | Dennis Penfold 01892 537939 |
| 10 November, 7pm | Old time music and music of the day with the Carradines and Rusties music groups | Rusthall Club, St Paul’s Street, Rusthall TN4 8RJ | Tine Francis 01892 545877 |
| 11 November, 6am | Piper playing ‘The Battle’s O’er’. Remembrance Service at 10:00. | St Paul’s Church, Langton Road, Rusthall TN4 8XD | Tim Cripps tituslayreader@gmail.com |
| 11 November, 9am | Remembrance Sunday | Southborough War Memorial, Church Road junction with London Road (A26), Southborough TN4 0RT | Brenda Wickens direct: 01892 52 07 70 |
| 11 November, 10:22am | Remembrance Sunday | Canterbury Cathedral. Starts with wreath laying in the Buttermarket, followed by Cathedral service at 11.00 and a march past in the High Street at around 12.15. Civic party is by invitation only. Cathedral and adjoining services are open to the public. | Marsha Whiteway 01227 86 20 80 |
| 11 November, 10:30am | Wingham Remembrance parade | Wingham High Street, then St Mary’s Church, Canterbury Road, Wingham CT3 1BB | Kerry Coltham 01227 72 21 89 |
| 11 November, 10:30am | Remembrance Sunday | The War Memorial, The Leas, Folkestone | Toni Brenchley toni.brenchley@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 11 November, 10:30am | Remembrance Sunday Service and parade | Parade leaves from County Hall, Maidstone arriving at the Memorial at the Broadway, Maidstone for the Service | Mayor's Office 01622 60 21 83 |
| 11 November, 10:45am | Service of Remembrance | War Memorial, Pierremont Park, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1JX | Marian Cleverley 01843 86 87 18 |
| 11 November, 10:45am | Remembrance Sunday service | All Saints Church, High Street, Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9DU | Angela Alexander 01797 32 09 99 |
| 11 November, 11am | Remembrance Sunday service | The Vine, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3UH | Ann White dtc@sevenoakstown.gov.uk |
| 11 November, 2:45pm | Stone Parish Remembrance parade and service | Stone Parish Council, Stone Pavilion, Hayes Road, Stone, Kent DA9 9DS | 01322 384440 |
| 11 November, 3pm | Remembrance Day service | War Memorial, Castle Hill, Hartley followed by refreshments in the Fawkham and Hartley Church Centre | Hartley Parish Council 01474 709441 mail@hartleyparishcouncil.org.uk |
| 11 November, 6pm | Torchlit Procession. Last Post at 18:55 Beacon Lighting at 19:00 | The Common, Rusthall Road, Rusthall TN4 8RJ | Mike Bassett 01892 543544 |
| 11 November, 6pm | ‘The Local Vocals’ and Beacon Lighting, followed by firework display | Manor Field Recreation Ground, Church Road, Hartley | Hartley Parish Council 01474 709441 mail@hartleyparishcouncil.org.uk |
| 11 November, 6pm to 7:05pm | 'Battle’s Over, A Nation’s Tribute’ - events including lighting of Beacon and ending with Ringing out for Peace at All Saints Church | Grounds of The Pilot Inn, Dungeness, Battery Road, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9NJ and All Saints Church, High Street, Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9DU | Angela Alexander 01797 32 09 99 |
| 11 November, 6:45pm to 7:45pm | 'Battle’s Over – A Nation’s Tribute' | John Moore Memorial, Esplanade, Sandgate | Gaye Thomas 01303 24 85 63 clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk |
| 11 November, 6:55pm to 7:05pm | 'Battle’s Over, A Nation’s Tribute’ events including lighting of Beacon and ending with Ringing out for Peace at St Paul’s Church, Appledore | Appledore Recreation Ground (the Last Post) Mill Hill, Appledore (Beacon lighting) St Paul’s Church (Pealing of bells) | Tracy Morgan tracylynmorgan@hotmail.co.uk |
| 11 November, 7pm | ‘Battle’s Over, a Nation’s Tribute’ - WW1 Beacon Lighting | The Vine, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3UH | Ann White dtc@sevenoakstown.gov.uk |
| 11 November, time tbc | WWI Beacons of Light | The Beacon on The Leas (opposite Bandstand), Folkestone | Toni Brenchley toni.brenchley@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 11 November, time tbc | TBC | Bowhalls, Tumblers Hill, Sutton Valence ME17 3LR | Eve Poulter (Sutton Valence Parish Council), 01622 84 41 35 |