Bexhill remembers The Fallen in greater numbers than ever

A large crowd gathered to take part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the seafront war memorial.

Members of the town's uniformed youth organizations marched with ex-service veterans behind the Newhaven Youth Marching Band from Devonshire Square to Marina.

There, the president of Bexhill branch of the Royal British Legion, Len Lawrence welcomed them as they gathered under a threatening sky with a cold wind shrieking through the rigging of nearby Sailing Club Craft.

Army Cadet Force members flanked the war memorial, ready to receive the wreaths. Corporal Sayers of the ACF read this year's poem, written for the occasion by Hilary Malpass.

The Rev Daniel Smith, of St Peter's Church, standing in for legion branch chaplain the Rev Robert Coates, led prayers for peace, for world leaders to have the wisdom and courage to reconcile people of all race, colour and creed, for the fallen, for those still suffering from the effects of war, for families who mourned love ones lost in war and for the forces of the Crown.

In an address he said: "This morning we recall the terror and the despair brought about by two world wars and the violent decades that followed.

"We remember in particular those men and women, brothers and sisters, husbands, wives and friends who held back the dark forces which ravaged the world.

"We remember today the dead of the past century's wars and in this week which marks the 90th anniversary of the 'war to end all wars' we give thanks for the courage and strength of character possessed by those who put themselves between the enemy and their homes and families,

"They exemplify the values of courage and sacrifice which are central to the Christian faith. Jesus came into the world to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

"The issues surrounding today's conflicts may not be as clearly defined as they were in the past. But the qualities of those young men and women who have placed themselves in harm's way on our behalf in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq are, in fact, the same as the past.

"And so we cherish the memory of those whose service and sacrifice have bought for us the lives we live today,

"Let us commit ourselves to living lives worthy of that sacrifice. We remember those same values which came from same God whose sacrificial love came to us in the person of Jesus Christ."

More than two dozen standards were dipped as the ceremony reached its central point.

A bugler sounded The Last Post. The Sailing Club starter cannon boomed out its reminder that the carnage of the Great War ended at 11am nearly 90 years before.

The Two Minutes' Silence and Reveille were followed by that most haunting of all bagpipe laments, The Flowers Of The Forest.

Rother chairman Cllr Joanne Gadd laid the first of the town's 90th anniversary tributes. She was followed by Town Mayor Cllr Patrick Douart.

The threatening rain squall started as the rest of the town's tributes were laid under the angel of peace's unblinking gaze: the Royal British Legion Bexhill branch; the Royal British Legion Bexhill Women's Section; the Royal British Legion Bexhill Central Women's Section; the Royal Naval Association; the WRNS Association; the Maritime Volunteer Service; the Royal Artillery Association; the Burma Star Association; the ATS/WRAC Association; the Royal Air Forces Association; the Aircrew Association; the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Association; Allied Intelligence; the Coastguard; Army Cadet Force; United Nations Association; Sussex Police; St John Ambulance; British Red Cross; Bexhill Rotary Club; Bexhill Lions Club; Senlac Scout Association; 9th Bexhill Scouts; 1st Ninfield Scouts; the Guides; the Brownies and Newhaven Youth Marching Band.

The Rother chairman and the Town Mayor took the salute from the De La Warr Pavilion steps as the procession marched back to Devonshire Square.