Remembrance Sunday: Sombre Gosport residents pay respects to the fallen as large crowds pack parade
The fog made the occasion more sombre as residents reflected on fallen personnel
Emotional spectators in Gosport stood shoulder to shoulder to remember those who lost their lives in war.
Personnel, veterans and residents packed Bury Road for the Remembrance Sunday service at Gosport War Memorial hospital this morning. Thick rolling fog embodied the sombre mood of the crowd.
Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage told The News: “Gosport has just got such a proud history of serving our armed forces. We’ve got the highest proportion of veterans of any constituency in the country.
“So many people who still serve live here and we have so many forces families. I don’t think there can be a community in the country with such a proud history and association with the armed forces, particularly the Royal Navy. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together and show our respect for the fallen and those who served our country”
The parade stepped off at 10.30am and formed up outside the hospital. The Last Post was sounded and silence descended on the crowd at 10.59am, as they reflected on those who lost their lives serving our country, and those who still protect the freedoms we hold today.
The Reverend Dr Paul Chamberlain and Colin Sharp, chairman of the Gosport and Alverstoke branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL), jointly led the service. Mr Sharp recited to the Kohima Epitaph and the wreaths were laid.
Loud applause could be heard as sailors from HMS Sultan, Sea Cadets, Air Cadets, Girl Guides and Scouts marched past Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB DL to close the service.
Councillor Lesley Meenaghan, deputy leader of Gosport Borough Council, previously served in the RAF for ten years. She said: “I was only in the Navy for a year, but in the Air Force I was a lowly corporal and I worked on DC-10s, an aircraft that flew in and out of the Gulf.”
When asked for her perspective on remembrance as a veteran in local government, she added: “I think it’s when our town comes together and we reflect, 13 per cent of our population is made up of military veterans.
“Remembrance Sunday is a time for us to all reflect and never forget those people who gave their lives so we can have our tomorrow.”
Cllr Meenaghan said the world is currently very divided and holds lots of worries that history may repeat itself. She added: “This is a time to be united with the common cause of humanity for all.”