Veteran Honored to Carry Book of Remembrance at Royal British Legion Event

Alex Lowe, a 33-year-old Army veteran from Cornwall, described the experience of carrying a book of remembrance onto the stage during a Royal British Legion event at the Royal Albert Hall in London as “unbelievable.” He further stated it was an “honour and a privilege” to place the book atop military drums at the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening, an occasion attended by the Royal Family. Mr. Lowe performed this duty alongside medic Hayley Lawrence, who had provided him with medical assistance in Afghanistan. Their appearance coincided with singer Alexandra Burke’s rendition of “Rise Up.” The veteran’s service included a tour in Iraq and another in Afghanistan as part of the 1st Battalion, The Rifles. Both he and Ms. Lawrence sustained injuries during their time in Afghanistan. Reflecting on the event, Mr. Lowe commented: “It was unbelievable to see the standing ovation from the whole crowd as soon as the curtain came open.” He added, “Carrying that book with so many names in it that mean a lot to different people out there was indescribable.” Mr. Lowe expressed his desire to “deliver it as best as I could for the whole audience, for who it means the most to.” Regarding his military service, Mr. Lowe shared: “I was in the Army in The Rifles 1st Battalion and did two operational tours, one in Iraq and one of Afghanistan, where I was sadly injured.” He also noted, “We lost our lieutenant, whose name was in the book that I carried tonight.” Mr. Lowe, who received a medical discharge from the Army, characterized carrying the book onto the stage before the royal family and fellow veterans as a “complete honour.” King Charles, along with other members of the Royal Family, rose to applaud Mr. Lowe and Ms. Lawrence as they presented the book on stage. The King was observed seated beside the Princess Royal, while the Prince and Princess of Wales were positioned further down the aisle within the royal box. During the Royal British Legion event, the Royal Family observed a moment of silence as “The Last Post” was played and poppy petals descended from the ceiling.