On 20th September, Emma will sing during the Airborne Remembrance ceremony in Arnhem, the Netherlands, marking seventy-five years since Operation Market Garden, in the presence of veterans and HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Prof. Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven.

Operation Market Garden was one of the largest allied operation of the Second World War. The goal was to take the crucial bridges over the rivers in the east of the Netherlands in order to be able to move troops towards Germany.Over 35,000 troops were dropped in and around Arnhem. However, they were not enough to take the bridges and the operation failed.

The Dutch still show their tremendous gratitude to the veterans who tried so bravely to liberate them in 1944. As the Arnhem City Council write on their website “On 20 September we will commemorate them: both in order never to forget, and to keep the connection between past and the present alive. Because, even in 2019, peace, security, and freedom cannot be taken for granted.”

18:15 Ceremony in the Eusebius Church (by invitation only)
18:45 Silent parade to the Airborne Memorial
19:15 Remembrance ceremony and laying of wreaths at the Airborne Memorial

Emma is delighted to betravelingto Ireland to sing in a fundraising concert for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation in the presence of Christina Noble herself. She will take part in a concert in Westport together with tenor Alan McGinty, pianist Michael Quinn, and the Westport Children’s Choir on 17th September.

Christina Noble grew up in extreme poverty in Dublin. After dreaming vividly about children in Vietnam, she visited the country and set up a centre for street children. Her foundation now works in Vietnam and Mongolia: it has helped thousands of children. This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the foundation.

The concert on Tuesday, 17th September will involve music and stories about Christina’s life and work.

17th September, 20:00, Westport Town Hall Theatre, Westport, Ireland

Tickets are available here.

On 7th and 8th September, Emma will return to Portsmouth to sing for the Spirit of Normandy Trust‘s D-Day Reunion weekend. British D-Day veterans will gather in Portsmouth. Emma will appear on the main stage with the orchestra of HMS Nelson, and during the commemoration service at St. Ann’s Church, the chapel within Her Majesty’s Naval Base.

For more information, please see this link.

On 13th May, 1940, a group of British Guardsmen were sent to assist the Dutch following the German occupation of the Netherlands. 651 troops, known as the Harpoon Force, were sent to Hook of Holland. That morning, as Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Haydon (Irish Guards) and his adjutant Captain Henry Phillpots walked along the quay at Hook of Holland, they suddenly they saw a cortege of cars, led by motor cycles, arriving. The cars stopped. From each one a man stepped out. Fearing they were German, Captain Phillpots reached for his hand gun. 

One of the men approached the two officers and announced: “Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands has arrived.” To their surprise, and one imagines their relief, it was indeed Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. HM was hoping travel by sea to Breskens, Zeeland, near the Belgium border, to continue governing the country. Arrangements were made with the commanders of HMS Hereward to carry HM there. It seems clear that neither officer had expected to co-ordinate such an important mission.

Later that day, Guardsmen helped members of the Dutch government and captains of industry (including the Philips family) escape. Unfortunately, the Germans had become aware of the activities in Hook of Holland and they carried out an air raid. Seven Guardsmen lost their lives in this raid, and twenty-three were wounded. One of the casualties was Captain Phillpots. He hid his wounds, aware that the medics had more severe casualties to which to attend. Captain Phillpots was awarded the Military Cross for his unselfish behaviour.

In the end, Queen Wilhelmina did not go to Breskens. Word reached the ship that the Germans were planning to bomb Zeeland, so HM was taken to England. She remained in exile until 2nd May, 1945, a period of almost five years.

This year, an organisation was established in the Netherlands to commemorate the guardsmen. Together with the Rotterdam City Council and the 4th May Committee of Hook of Holland, the Guards Remembrance Association of the Netherlands has organised a remembrance ceremony at CWGC Hook of Holland, where some of the guardsmen are buried. Representatives from the Welsh- and Irish Guards will be present, travelingas the Welsh Guards Pilgrims. Emma will sing with the band of the Dutch Grenadier Guards “Regimentsfanfare ‘Garde Grenadiers en Jagers’.”

If you are interested in the Guards Remembrance Association of the Netherlands, we invite you to follow them on Facebook.

Saturday, 31st August, 12:00 noon, CWGC Hook of Holland, the Netherlands

Emma is delighted to have been invited to sing for the Spirit of Normandy Trust‘s black tie dinner on HMS Victory. The Spirit of Normandy Trust provides welfare for Normandy veterans and their dependents, holds remembrance ceremonies in Normandy and the United Kingdom, andorganizeseducational initiatives such as an annual essay-writing competition in schools.

On 20th July, there will be a fundraising dinner on the Lower Gun Deck of Lord Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory. Emma will sing with the HMS Nelson Volunteer Band under conductor Gregory Morgan.

For more information, please follow this link and scroll down.

After a moving time in the Somme commemorating the British and Irish sacrifices in the First World War, Emma will visit Northern Ireland to sing for the 12th events in Tandragee and for the centenary of the Scarva ceremony on 13th July. As well as leading the hymns, Emma will sing for remembrance ceremonies, and a small Prom-style concert. She is delighted to be returning to Northern Ireland after receiving such a wonderful, warm welcome last year!