Remembrance services honour the fallen across Plymouth

Plymouth’s proud military history was marked yesterday by remembrance services throughout the city, as Rebecca Ricks reports.

ARMISTICE day services honouring the fallen took place across Plymouth yesterday, marking the city's proud military heritage.

On the Hoe a number of ceremonies were conducted including at the Falkland's memorial and at the Royal Naval war memorial – of which it was estimated 10,000 people attended.

Senior military officers and city dignitaries marked the poignant occasion with the laying of wreaths.

Veterans proudly wore their medals while standard bearers stood solemnly around the memorial.

A 20-minute ceremony was led by the Lord Mayor's Chaplain, Father Sam Philpott, after a two-minute silence was observed by the crowds.

School children, the Deputy Lieutenant of Devon, Vice Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson, the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Cllr Michael Wright, and Rear Admiral Clive Johnstone, from Flag Officer Sea Training, were among those laying wreaths.

Prayers were said for the fallen, the Armed Forces who are in danger and for the civilians whose lives were "disfigured" by war.

The Lord Mayor paid tribute to the Services, and concluded: "Thank you to everyone for attending and especially the Armed Forces and Cadets."

After the main service, the procession of dignitaries and officers attended a short ceremony at the Civilian Memorial on Lockyer Street.

At the memorial garden by the Belvedere Terraces, members of the Type 21 Association and HMS Ardent Association paid their respects to their fallen comrades – especially poignant as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Falkland's war.

Steve Parker, who served on HMS Alacrity during the 1982 conflict, said: "It was a small service dedicated to the men we have lost. It's always poignant to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict especially with events now in Afghanistan and recently in Iraq."

Treasurer of the Type 21 Association David Woollard added: "All remembrance services are solemn occasions but we do always welcome public witness as without the public these services will just fade."

Tony Ray, a member of the HMS Ardent Association, said he was particularly remembering Leading Marine Engineering Mechanic Steve White.

He said: "I miss him dearly. He was on the Ardent and was one of the men we lost, one of 22 who died."

Royal Navy Reserve unit HMS Vivid marched an armed platoon for the Remembrance service at Devonport Park – believed to be the first time in its history that it has done so on such an occasion.

Commanding officer Commander Ian Pethick said: "This is the first time, certainly since I've been in Vivid, that we've ever paraded an armed platoon at a remembrance parade.

"I'm really proud that after watching the events on Plymouth Hoe for so many years we can now take part properly in a local service. It was a great yet poignant day for us."

The services extended beyond the city as tribute was paid to the hundreds of Plymouth soldiers, marines and sailors deployed in Afghanistan, the Mediterranean and stationed overseas.

Pupils hold ceremony

PUPILS at Eggbuckland Community College marked Remembrance Day with their annual ceremony on Friday.

Students, staff and governors at the school assembled to pay tribute to all those who have fought and died for the country and to remember those currently serving.

The ceremony is all the more poignant as 101 students at Eggbuckland have family currently serving in the Armed Forces.

Students from cadet forces and HMS Heroes, the organisation supporting services children and young people, paraded through the student body before laying a wreath on behalf of the college below the flags of the Army and Navy. Last Post was sounded by Year 13 student Yasmin Agnew, before the observance of a two-minute silence. Assistant principal Rachel Towers said: “As always, it was a moving event with over 1,000 young people united in respect.”

Young join the old for ceremony

YOUNG and old wore their poppies with pride as they gathered at a war memorial in Plymstock.

Schoolchildren, war veterans, MPs and local residents stood shoulder to shoulder at the moving remembrance service at Burrow Hill on Friday.

Gill Whillock, chair of the Plym Valley Heritage Association, who organised the event, said: “It went very, very well.

“The wonderful Goosewell Primary School choir sang We Will Remember Them. I don’t think there was a dry eye.”

Among those remembered were former Plymstock school pupils Marine Travis Mackin, of 539 Commando, and Trooper Joshua Hammond, of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, who both lost their lives serving in Afghanistan in 2009.

Attending the service were representatives from the Armed Forces including marines, navy, Air Force as well as military wives. Also paying their respect were police officers, coastguards, sixth-formers from Coombe Dean and Plymstock schools and South Devon MP Gary Streeter.

Joanne Weston and daughter Rose, 21 months, lay a wreath and posy at Plymstock Remembrance Service.

Victims of war are remembered

SAILORS from HMS Raleigh took part in a Remembrance Service at the graves of 44 sailors and 21 Royal Engineers who were killed during World War Two.

Around 500 members of HMS Raleigh’s Ship’s Company and trainees marched to Horson cemetery in Torpoint where those who lost their lives are buried in official war graves. They were killed when a German bomb hit an air-raid shelter within the base on April 28, 1941.

Wreaths were laid during the graveside service by the Commander of HMS Raleigh, Cdr Steve Layland; the Deputy Mayor of Torpoint, Councillor Mike Pearn; Mr John Stamp representing the Royal British Legion and Warrant Officer Paul Carter of the Torpoint and Rame Royal Naval Association. Trainee Submariner Leon Armstrong, who is one of the youngest sailors under training at HMS Raleigh, also laid a wreath.