The Ross Gazette is almost 150 years old. An account of the first ever ‘Poppy Day’ was documented in the newspaper.

On November 10th, 1921 the Gazette included a Letter to the Editor, from Mrs G.A. Price, from ‘Beaumont,’ Ross-on-Wye, raising awareness for the day.

Mrs Price wrote that Earl Haig suggested that every year on November 11th, the poppy should be worn in remembrance of the men, “some of whom rest beneath the blooms in the fields of France and Flanders,”

Mrs Price went on to write that the monies raised through the sale of the poppies would be used to provide financial assistance for “ex servicemen of all ranks; for the dependants of ex-servicemen in distress; and the widows and children and dependants of the fallen.”

A Ross Gazette reporter attended the first ever remembrance ceremony, and published an account of it on Thuarsday, November 17th, 1921.

The Unforgotten Dead

The third anniversary of the Armistice Day was duly observed in?Ross. At eleven o’ clock on Friday morning the two minutes’ silence was faithfully observed, work being everywhere suspended.

All traffic in the town was stopped and Mr W.J. Brown sounded the ‘Last?Post’ from the Town Hall, over which the Union Jack flew at half mast.

There was no attempt at an organised celebration of the day, but some business house closed their doors for half an hour, thus giving their employees the opportunity of attending the short service in the Parish Church.

At the various schools in the town also, the significance of the day was not overlooked.

The tolling of the tenor bell in the church tower reminded the vicinity of the church of the solemn occasion, and the area was well filled by those who came spontaneously to keep the two minutes in church.

After the silence, the Rector offered thanksgiving for victory and prayers for the nation, and for the departed.

The hymn ‘O God our Help’ was sung and the short and simple service concluded with a verse of the National Anthem.

After the service many of the congregation adjourned to the Prospect. There, grouped around the memorial cross, to pay another silent tribute to the memory of the dead.

Many wreaths were deposited on the base of the memorial. These included a magnificent wreath of yellow chrysanthemums and ‘Flanders Poppies’ from the British Legion (Ross Branch); and laurel wreaths “In remembrance of the men of the village of Tudorville,” and “To the unfading memory of our fallen Comrades,” from officers NCO and men of B company, Hereford Regiment.