Ely Royal British Legion honours young soldier at ceremony

On February 25, a new standard for the branch was dedicated and named in honour of Private John Unwin, who was 21, during a solemn ceremony at Ely Cathedral. 

He served with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and died on September 28, 1944 in Italy where he is buried in Faenze War Cemetery. 

The City of Ely Royal British Legion honoured young solider Private John Unwin during a ceremony at Ely Cathedral. (Image: City of Ely Royal British Legion)

The congregation, including the Mayor of Ely Cllr Richard Morgan, Cambridgeshire County RBL President Col (Ret’d) R. Herrior, and Chairman Alan Scott, watched the laying up of the old standard and the dedication of the Unwin Standard. 

A spokesperson said: “A donation towards the purchase of the new standard has been made by the late councillor Mike Rouse, a cousin of Pte Unwin, who was especially supportive of the Legion’s City of Ely branch and chose the RBL as his charity during one of his terms as Ely’s Mayor.” 

Mike’s daughter Cassie, and son Lee, flanked the branch’s chairman, David Martin, as he handed the Unwin Standard to the branch Standard Bearer, Tom Brown, for the act of dedication by the Dean, the Very Rev Mark Bonney. 

The City of Ely Royal British Legion honoured young solider Private John Unwin during a ceremony at Ely Cathedral. (Image: City of Ely Royal British Legion)