Weymouth: Armistice Day service remembers the fallen

An Armistice Day service was held in front of the Weymouth war memorial on the Esplanade to commemorate fallen soldiers.

Armistice Day marks the signing of the First World War-ending Armistice on November 11, 1918. Events on this day remember all those who have given their lives in service to their country since 1914.

The Weymouth service was led by the Rev Dennis Mould who gave a moving speech and invited the crowd to pray, before a two minute silence was held.

Mr Mould said afterwards: “It gives me a chance to stand at the memorial and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and to share memories with other comrades.”

Reverend Dennis Mould (Image: Hollie Carr)

After the silence, Weymouth Mayor Jon Orrell gave a brief speech, telling the handful of people who had gathered: “Weymouth may have its faults, but there is one thing that it does well. We do remember our veterans. Thank you all for coming and assuring once again that we remember them.”

There were a number of veterans at the service, joined by people who had friends and family members that served.

Ian Brooke, a volunteer at the Nothe Fort explained that his father had served in the war, whilst he had been in the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service.

Ian Brooke (Image: Hollie Carr)

He proudly wore his father’s medals at the service and said: “Today is the eleventh day of the eleventh month and we are here at the eleventh hour. This is when the guns fell silent. To me this is the day when everything should be commemorated.”

He added: “My father came home fit and well physically, I am proud of him. He came home alive, that is worth rejoicing over.”

He said over the years he noticed that his father may have been suffering from PTSD.

Mr Brooke was the parade commander at the Nothe Fort memorial service which took place on Saturday and explained how ‘incredibly proud he was to be asked to undertake such a role.’

Weymouth Remembrance Day (Image: Hollie Carr)

Veteran John Hamilton, was also at the service and comes from a long line of former servicemen with his father, grandfather and great grandfather having all served.

He was at the service to remember his family members and friends.

Naomi Turner, chairman of the Weymouth branch of the Royal British Legion, is responsible for a touching tribute of crosses displayed in a flower bed near to the memorial.

Naomi Turner (Image: Hollie Carr)

Mrs Turner pointed out one particular cross which was in memory of a twelve-year-old Napoleonic Drummer Boy.

She has been volunteering with the RBL for 35 years and her granddaughters started helping her around 20 ago when they were aged just three and four. 

Weymouth Remembrance Day (Image: Hollie Carr)

She added: “Every year, I make sure that the poppies are bright red.”