- Contributed by听
- 大象传媒 Cumbria Volunteer Story Gatherers
- People in story:听
- Patrick Kelly 鈥楶at鈥, Councillor Norman Clarkson (Mayor of Copeland), Councillor Yvonne Clarkson (Mayoress of Copeland), James Jolly 鈥楯im鈥, George Smith, Joseph Patrick Toner 鈥楯oe鈥, Ronald Chiesa 鈥楻on鈥, Reverend John Bannister, Joseph Pooley 鈥楯oe鈥.
- Location of story:听
- Whitehaven (Cumbria), Normandy (France).
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A6893968
- Contributed on:听
- 11 November 2005
鈥楲est we forget鈥: Normandy Veterans Association Memorial Service. Whitehaven, Cumbria, Friday 11 November 2005. Left to right: Pat Kelly, Councillor Norman Clarkson, Councillor Yvonne Clarkson, Jim Jolly, George Smith. [Photograph by Joseph Ritson]
Introduction
This article has been submitted by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer story-gatherer for the 大象传媒 "People's War" website on behalf of the Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk volunteers. The author has read and understood the terms of the "People's War" website.
On Friday 11 November 2005 the West Cumbria Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association (Branch No 51) held a short Memorial Service at St Nicholas's Church Gardens, Whitehaven Cumbria. As well as these veterans of World War Two, families, friends, supporters and Civic leaders attended the Service.
Lest we forget
The Service began at 10.58 am and incorporated two minutes silence at 11.00 am. It was conducted by the Reverend John Bannister, Team Rector for the Anglican Parish of Whitehaven. Reverend Bannister welcomed all those present and asked people to remember those who had given their lives in the cause of Peace. Mr Joe Pooley, Chairman of the local Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association, quoted lines from Binyon's poem 'For The Fallen'.
Many of those present at the service had been born many years after the end of the Second World War. The bugler who sounded 'The Last Post' and the Reveille was a member of Workington Navy Cadets. The rifle volleys announcing the beginning and end of the two minutes silence was provided by members from Whitehaven Army Cadets.
Representing the wider community were Councillor Norman Clarkson, the Mayor of Copeland and Councillor Yvonne Clarkson, the Mayoress. The Mayor laid a Memorial Poppy wreath at the Normandy Veterans Memorial Plaque in the Church Gardens. Mr Pat Kelly, Branch Treasurer of the Normandy Veterans laid a poppy wreath on behalf of the members. Other members who paid a tribute to fallen comrades by laying a poppy cross in a tray containing sand from the Normandy Beaches were Joe Toner and Ron Chiesa.
After the formal Remembrance Service, the St Nicholas Centre invited the Veterans inside the Church Centre for refreshments and a time to reflect and share memories, particularly about the Normandy campaign which so many of the wartime veterans had taken part in. This was also a chance for those with memories of the war years to pass on some of their memories to the younger generations, and how important it is to continue working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of all nations.
Conclusion
This service was just one of a many Remembrance Services throughout the country on the anniversary of the Armistice of the Great War. Many of those present who remember World War Two told me how important they believed it was that the younger generations should know and remember what happened in the World Wars, and how important they believed it was that there should be no more World Wars.
It was a great privilege to attend this service, and in particular to talk to the wartime veterans, their wives, families and friends. I would like to dedicate this article to the memory of all those who have lived and died in the service of humanity, in the hope that, indeed, there will never be another World War:
鈥淩emember those who gave their lives in the cause of Peace鈥.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo