Biggest ever attendance at Yarmouth Remembrance Day service

WW2 veteran Sam Bouch of Gorleston at the Remembrance Day service in St George's Park, Great Yarmouth (Image: Archant)

Around 100 people gathered by the First World War cenotaph to pay tribute to the fallen in wars and conflicts since.

Just before the two-minute silence, Joel Sanders-Hays of Great Yarmouth Brass played the Last Post; then afterwards Reveille.

Deputy Mayoress Cllr Shirley Weymouth laid a poppy wreath on behalf of the people of the borough and the service was taken by the Rev Jemma Saunders-Hays of St Nicholas Minster.

Among those attending were many veterans of the Second World War, among them Sam Bouch, 91, of Gorleston whose chest with adorned with many medals, including the Légion d’honneur. Aged just 18, Mr Bouch joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman and during the conflict was involved in the Normandy landings in 1944, which claimed the lives of over 4,000 Allied servicemen.

At Gorleston Cemetery, Rev Linda Ricketts presided over her final Armistice Day service, which was well attended.

Great Yarmouth mayor Malcolm Bird was also in attendance as the town paid its tributes to the fallen heroes.

Irene Williams, membership secretary of the Great Yarmouth branch of the Royal British Legion read two poems - ‘The Inquisitive Mind of the Child’ and ‘Please Buy a Poppy the Lady Said’.

Paul Williams, branch chairman, said: “It was wonderful to see so many children in attendance. They all knew why they were there, which is very pleasing as it’s so important the younger generations understand the sacrifices people made.

“The poems were also a particular highlight, listening to them brings a lump to the throat of even the hardest of men.”

On Remembrance Sunday, a longer service will be held at the cenotaph starting at 10.55am followed by a similar service at the Far East Prisoners of War memorial on Marine Parade at 12.30pm.