Many of you will have noticed the Soldier Silhouette at Ashington & Washington Church. The position they are standing in is called “Rest on your arms reversed”. It is a military parade stance that is assumed by members of the Armed Forces when formally guarding War Memorials and coffins of senior states persons and/or royalty. For example, Winston Churchill’s coffin was guarded by four soldiers standing in this position, as was the Queen Mother’s coffin when lying in state at Westminster Hall. It is a position of formally mourning and honouring those who have been killed in battle or who have died in the service of their country. This position was chosen because it is one of both mourning and honouring.
