Culdrose represented at Cenotaph on Armistice Day

An Officer from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has laid the wreath on behalf of the Royal Navy at The Cenotaph inLondonat the Western Front Association’s Annual Service of Remembrance. 

During a service attending by The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Justin Welby and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Houghton as well as the heads of the Navy, Army and Air Force, Lieutenant Commander Mark Tetley represented the Royal Navy at the 95th anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War. 

The moving ceremony began with the “Last Post” sounded by a bugler from Scots Guards, his final note marking exactly 95 years since the guns fell silent inFranceandFlanderson 11 November 1918. The Cenotaph, a symbolic empty tomb was unveiled by King George V ninety three years ago on 11 November 1920, replacing a wooden structure that was erected after the War.

Even though the National commemorations are now held on 'Remembrance Sunday', The Western Front Association (WFA) continues to hold on 11 November a special ceremony at the Cenotaph inWhitehall. In this, it’s twentieth year the ceremony was attended by WTA member’s, residents of the Royal Star and Garter Homes, the Association's President and Chairman and schoolchildren representing the Youth of the Nation.

“It was a great honour to lay the wreath on behalf of the Royal Navy,” said Lt Cdr Mark Tetley. “I am a member of the WFA and have a keen interest in the First World War and the trench warfare that claims so many lives. As the large crowd proved, people have a lot of respect for the sacrifice of so many, we will remember them.”

Members of the public and service personnel from the near-by Ministry of Defence Main Building also observed the two minute silence at 1100 on the 11 day of the 11 month on a traffic free and silent Whitehall.