Royal Army Medical Corps Association’s Annual Service 26 June 2022
RAMC Corps Sunday takes place each year on the anniversary of the formation of the Royal Army Medical Corps which occurred in 1898.
It is marked by serving and retired medical personnel at church services when they remember their fallen comrades and those for whom they cared, and they re-dedicate themselves to serve faithfully in adversity and to live up to the Corps motto, In Ardius Fidelis – Faithful in Adversity.
One hundred years ago in 1922, four identical memorials were placed in Westminister Abbey, St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, St David’s Cathedral in Wales and in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. The names of the 6,783 personnel of the Royal Army Medical Corps fell in the Great War are enrolled in the Golden Book in the Chapter House, Westminister Abbey. Ireland provided more than its fair share, as graduates from all the medical schools on the island served with the Royal Army Medical Corps.
This year, in Dublin, the Royal Army Medical Corps Association’s annual event was marked on Sunday 26 June, by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter, in the National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Patrick. The Commemoration Service was coordinated by Brigadier John Graham (Retd) Royal Army Medical Corps and an active member of the Military Heritage of Ireland Trust.
The Choral Evensong was led by the Dean, Very Revd William W. Morton, B.Th., M.A., M.Mus., Ph.D., and sung by the Cathedral Choir (Lay Vicars Choral). The First Lesson was read by Dr Maura Briscoe President of the Association of Medical and Dental Graduates, RCSI. Professor Tom Trinick O.B.E., Chairman RAMC Association (Ulster Branch) read the Second Lesson. The Sermon was preached by The Reverend C. Mullen, BTh, Deans’ Vicar and Resident Preacher.
Following the Choral Evensong, a Commemorative Service was conducted at the RAMC Memorial in the North Transept. Brigadier John Graham recited The Exhoration and The Kohima Dedication.
Those who laid wreaths included Professor Tom Trinick RAMC, Dr Maura Briscoe RCSI, Wendy Geary Burma Star Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, Lieutenant-Colonel Ken Martin Royal British Legion, and Dermot Higgins Organisation of Ex Servicemen and Women.
RAMC Memorial St Patrick’s Cathedral DublinN
The Irish RAMC Memorial is located in the North Transept of St Patrick’s Cathedral and is identical to the one in St George’s Chapel, in Westminster Abbey. Personnel of the RAMC who fell in the First World War are recorded in the Golden book in Westminster Abbey. The inscription reads:
ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
In memory of 743 Officers and 6130 Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men who fell in the Great War, and whose names are enrolled in a Golden Book placed in the Chapter House.
“They loved not their lives unto the death”
RAMC’s Regimental Collect
O God, whose blessed Son was made perfect through suffering, give thy grace, we beseech thee, to thy servants of the Royal Army Medical Corps, that by loyalty in hard service after the example of Saint Luke the beloved physician, we may be found faithful in ministering to those who need, for his sake who went about doing good, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
RAMC Association
The Royal Army Medical Corps Association was established in 1925 to further the camaraderie of the First World War veterans, with Sir William Leishman being the first President.
