Between 7–11 November 2026, a remembrance wreath will travel from northern France across the English Channel and onwards to Westminster Abbey, retracing the journey of the Unknown Warrior whose homecoming provided grieving families a place to remember those who never returned. 110 years ago, Army chaplain the Reverend David Railton saw a battlefield grave marked with a simple wooden cross. The grave belonged to an unknown British soldier. That encounter inspired the idea which, four years later, led to the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey on 11 November 1920. Selected from unidentified servicemen recovered from four battle areas, the Warrior was brought through Boulogne, across the Channel aboard HMS Verdun and by train from Dover to London Victoria, before his final journey to the Abbey. More than a century later, The Veterans Charity will join with the Royal Navy and Royal Logistic Corps to host a tribute that will follow those historic connections by road, sea and rail, culminating in a wreath-laying service at Westminster Abbey at 13:30 on Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November. Four wreaths will begin the journey together. At Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise in France on 8th November, one will be selected to continue to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, echoing the selection made there on the same date in 1920.
The three wreaths which are not selected are to travel to Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, extending the tribute across the four nations of the United Kingdom. They will be laid at each nation’s National War Memorial on Armistice Day. A wreath heading to Scotland will make a further journey, visiting Fort William Station and the spot where Reverend Railton was tragically killed in 1955 when he fell from a train. The wreath will then make a final journey to Reverend Railton’s grave at North Ballachulish. The wreath destined for London will be placed in the library room at Boulogne Castle where the Unknown Warrior rested overnight before leaving France, creating a poignant visual connection between his final night on French soil and today’s act of remembrance. The charity is also planning to take the wreath to Thiepval Memorial in honour of the 72,000 fallen who are listed on the memorial. The return to the UK will include a Royal Navy crossing on board HMS Ranger with HMS Puncher escorting. The vessels plan to follow the precise coordinates taken by HMS Verdun, all those years ago. The Unknown Warrior wreath will make a Southeastern rail journey to London Victoria on Tuesday 10th November.
The Royal Logistic Corps’ Horse Drawn Heritage Team will depart from Victoria Station on the morning of 11th November and travel via Hyde Park Corner, Constitution Hill, The Mall, and eventually on to Whitehall. The wagon will briefly stop at The Cenotaph to pay
respects as The Unknown Warrior had done for the unveiling of the world-famous monument on 11th November 1920. The wagon will then make its way to Westminster Abbey, who are supporting the initiative by hosting a wreath laying service close to the Tomb of The Unknown Warrior.
Danny Greeno, Chief Executive of The Veterans Charity, said:
“This year marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, and the incredible idea by David Railton to bring a fallen and unknown hero home to Britain. The Unknown Warrior is one of the most inspiring and powerful acts of Remembrance, and he has served as a beacon for millions of people around the world who may have lost someone in war.
“We are so proud to have the support of Westminster Abbey, Southeastern Railway, HMS Ranger and HMS Puncher, and to also have assistance from the Royal Logistic Corps’ Horse Drawn Heritage Team who are bringing their General Service Wagon to London to follow the same route taken by The Unknown Warrior in 1920.
“By following this remarkable journey, we hope to share the remarkable story of how David Railton’s passion to honour the fallen led to the events in 1920. We also hope to inspire people with the story behind one of our most important national memorials.”
