RNAS Yeovilton Remembers at St Barts
IN THEIR ANNUAL Act of Remembrance on Friday 9 November, military personnel from the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton paraded at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church, Saint Bartholomew’s in Yeovilton Village.
This year, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines contingent in the Parade were augmented by Army personnel of the Wildcat Attack Helicopter fielding team who are also based at the Air Station. Serving and veteran Service personnel were joined by civilian employees from the Air Station, Yeovilton villagers, and children from Hazlegrove, Chilton Cantelo and Ilchester Schools. The HMS Heron Volunteer Band played during the Service and the Yeovilton Military Wives Choir sang in their first public performance. The manager of the choir, Julie-Ann Soul, said, "we were hugely honoured to be invited to sing at the Service of Remembrance."
During the Service, the Roll of Honour was read by Warrant Officer First Class Gary Smart. It included the names of all personnel in the Naval Service and other Service personnel based at RNAS Yeovilton who had lost their lives since the same Service in 2011: it comprised 10 from the Royal Navy, 10 from the Royal Marines and one from the Army Air Corps. Following the Act of Remembrance, a bugler standing at the top of the church tower sounded the Last Post which was followed by the traditional 2 minute silence and ended with Reveille. Commodore Paul Chivers then laid a wreath.
During his address, Naval Chaplain Nigel (Ned) Kelly said that, “When I was a child, about the same age as the guests from our local schools, I remember thinking that Remembrance was simply an opportunity to give the ‘old boys’ a day in the limelight; however, with the focus of attention on more recent conflicts most people now understand that it is actually a reminder of the sacrifices made by their colleagues when younger men. Although often associated with the two World Wars it commemorates those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom from the First World War until today. The danger of forgetting Remembrance is that we cheapen the sacrifice and forget the lessons associated with war.”
First five images courtesy Mr Steve Roberts, Western Daily Press and remaining images, Crown Copyright.