RNAS Yeovilton remembers

In their annual Act of Remembrance on Monday 11th November, military personnel from the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton paraded at their base near Yeovil in Somerset.

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.  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 2012:  Following the Act of Remembrance, a Royal Marine bugler sounded the Last Post which was followed by the traditional 2 minute silence and ended with Reveille.  Commodore Jock Alexander OBE then laid a wreath.

During his address, Naval Chaplain Reverend Martin Evans said that, “silence can be the only response to the suffering and the sacrifice we acknowledge have been made for us today… indeed, the only thing we can do after such silence, is commit ourselves to living better lives, trying to make the world a place where such huge sacrifices are no longer required, as we try to live up the high principles of our Service and our faith”.