Former Army Medic Expresses Honor for Carrying Book of Remembrance

An ex-Army medic described carrying the Book of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall’s annual Festival of Remembrance as “a huge honour.” This book serves as a lasting memorial, documenting the names and dates of individuals who perished in war and other military engagements. Hayley Lawrence, a resident of Belper, Derbyshire, dedicated two decades to military service as a combat medical technician. She endured an explosion during a 2011 deployment to Afghanistan, an incident that tragically resulted in the death of her Lieutenant. Following her medical discharge, Mrs. Lawrence transitioned to a role as a clinical nurse educator at the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The occasion held special significance for Mrs. Lawrence, as it marked her reunion with veteran Alex Lowe, whom she had provided medical care for following the Afghanistan explosion. Mrs. Lawrence and Mr. Lowe, who served together in 1st Battalion, The Rifles, had not met for a decade. While she carried the book alongside Mr. Lowe, the song “Rise Up” was performed by singer Alexandra Burke. Mrs. Lawrence stated, “I don’t really know how to describe it – to be able to do it with him.” She added, “Obviously, I’ve got quite a few names in there that I know. So that was a real huge honour for their families to be able to carry that book and place it.” Recounting her experience during the event, Mrs. Lawrence shared: “So we’re behind the curtain at the top of the stairs. And then the curtains open, and we got a standing ovation, and the noise level is immense, and it really kind of takes your breath away.” She continued, “The shock of how many people are there and probably connected to a lot of those names in the book as well, which is really, really humbling. It was just very powerful, and I cried a lot that weekend.” King Charles, along with other members of the Royal Family, rose to applaud Mr. Lowe and Mrs. Lawrence as they presented the book on stage. The mother of two children remained in the Army, transitioning to mental health nursing after seeking assistance for her own post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She obtained her qualification as a mental health nurse last year, prior to her discharge, and additionally instructs student doctors during their psychiatric placements in Derby. She explained, “Because I’d gone through therapy, and I really took to it, and I thought ‘that’s kind of what I wanted to do and help other people’.”