Britain’s Prince Harry will unveil a memorial arch in honour of the First World War today (04.08.14).
The 29-year-old prince will take the salute of a military and civilian parade and lay a wreath in Folkestone, Kent, South East England at an event organised by charity Step Short to mark the centenary of the Great War.
Harry will first walk down the Road of Remembrance to meet those taking part of the parade, which will be led by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas and include members of the three uniformed services.
A second group, led by Folkestone Pipes and Drums and made up of 800 veterans and civilians will follow the military parade, and both groups will pause by the arch for Harry’s unveiling.
A spokesperson for Step Short said: "At the top of the Road of Remembrance, members of the parade will be given the ‘Step Short’ order, just as the servicemen were given during the First World War.
"The order was given to allow them to shorten their stride as they descended the steep slope of Folkestone’s Road of Remembrance (then known as Slope Road) on their way to the harbour and a boat to the Western Front.
"Shortening their stride allowed those marching to negotiate the slope safely.
"For many it was their last time on British soil before heading to the battlefields of France and Belgium."
Educational charity Step Short have been working to ensure all those who passed through Folkestone during WW1 are remembered in an appropriate way.
The spokesperson added: "Folkestone played an integral part in the Great War as the port of embarkation and return, to and from, the Western Front for millions of men and women."
Prince Harry to unveil war memorial
