Reflections on Remembrance Day: Justin Farley, SHEQ Advisor North, M Group Energy

I remember being in High School, sat daydreaming, watching the Jaguar aircraft fly over the school to a nearby RAF base in Norfolk, running home for lunch to watch the first Gulf War unfold on TV in 1991. Fast forward to 1996 and I was walking into a hangar to commence work in the Royal Air Force on those very Tornado GR bombers I watched every lunchtime whipping over the desert at not much higher than 200 feet.

As an Airman, I was attached to the Station Ceremonial Flight or “Guard of Honour” as it was known and have had the privilege of being on parade throughout many Remembrance Days in a few locations, the quiet respect it attracted was nothing compared to the respect I have for our fallen.

Coming from a family with a solid military background, one Grandfather being an RAF Servicing Commando, my other being in the Army Medical Corp, with a distant relative being a part of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) or as we’d know it, a “Spy”. With an interest in the history of warfare and visiting France and Belgium to sites of significance during World War 1 and World War 2, I found it compelling and yet so very moving and sad to reflect on the scale of sacrifice made for our country; by men and women who knew only courage.

I have served in Kuwait on Operations with a Tornado Squadron, completed 4 months in the Falkland Islands and whilst posted to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for 2 years, involved in the second Gulf War that broke out in 2003. I witnessed a lot of sadness and pain during that tour and had the privilege of playing my part in the repatriation of our fallen from Iraq. Something that will never leave me.

I lost acquaintances during that conflict and on Remembrance Day I bow my head for the two-minute silence and reflect on the memories of them and all of those who fought for us.

My time in the RAF has shaped me to know discipline, etiquette and professionalism. I left the service some 22 years later as a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer, as a Groundcrew Instructor on Tornado. During my career I learned to work independently and as part of a close-knit team, with others and for others, very similar to the SHEQ team I am proud to be a part of today within M Group.

Having a supportive employer, that recognises veteran status is so important because not all veterans are without injury, some struggle internally with past service and then adjusting to civilian life and that is where an understanding and supportive employer is key.

On Remembrance Day I will stand and bow my head for the two-minute silence as I always do, traditionally every year and pay my respects to those who gave their lives for our freedom.

At The Going Down Of The Sun, We Will Remember Them.