DAVID RAILTON

Reverend David Railton M.C. (1884-1955) was a Church of England clergyman, a military chaplain and he ispired the concept of the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.

David was the son of George, a Commissioner in the Salvation Army, and his wife Marianne (Parkyn) and was educated at Oxford and Liverpool.

His wife was Ruby (Wilson) and they had a son Andrew and four daughters, one of whom, Ruth, was made a Dame for her work with the National Youth Orchestra.

In 1910 he moved to Ashford, Kent, and in the following year became temporary chaplain to the Forces. He was curate of Folkestone in 1914–20, but had leave of absence to serve in France.

He joined Artillery Company on the Western Front during the 1914-18 war. In 1916, in a back garden at Erkingham near Armentières in France, he noticed a grave with a rough cross on which were pencilled the words 'An Unknown British Soldier'.

On 11 November 1920 David Railton saw his dream become reality and the idea of the Unknown British Soldier became reality.

Now the grave is into Westminster Abbey, in London.

A year later, the Union flag which he had used during the war to drape over his makeshift altars was donated to the Abbey.

The Padre's Flag, as it is known, now hangs in St George's Chapel close to the Warrior's grave.

On his way home to Scotland in 1955 he accidentally fell from a moving train and died of his injuries.

THE DEAN OF WESTMINSTER

The Dean of Westminster is the head of the chapter at Westminster Abbey. The Dean answers directly to the Queen or King, now the current Dean is John Hall.

Herbert Edward Ryle, was the Dean form 1911 to 1925. During that period David Railton conceived, in 1916, the idea of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

In particular Ryle composed the inscription on the grave.

He also was the Dean at Wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

He died on the 20^th of August 1925, and on the 25^th he was buried in a spot close to the tomb of The Unknown Warrior.

After having visited London and the significant places of our project, I can see how important was the sacrifice of the soldiers during the War.

In particular, people, remembers that they joined the war to serve and defend their country.

Into Westminster Abbey, a place where I’ve never been there before, I could better understand the importance of that place because I studied the history of the Abbey and also the history of the Unknown Warrior.

The grave of the Warrior is so important that also the Queen, when She come inside the Abbey doesn’t walk over the tomb in sign of respect.

I founded the city itself amazing, frenetic and very big.