100 years of memories
SOUTHPORT gathered on Sunday to commemorate 100 years since the end of WWI, and to honour all those killed in conflict then and since.
Veterans marched along Lord Street as hundreds lined the streets to show their respect, and wreaths were laid at the monument.
A short service included a two-minute silence which was impeccably observed.
The turnout was appreciated by veterans, who spoke of the importance of remembering on November 11.
Captain Retired Royston SmithStraney MBE, said: “I think historically everyone knows the poppy came out of the First World War, but it seems to have carried over into the Second World War, but the wearing of the poppy and the act of remembrance is not exclusive to the Great War. It encompasses every war and conflict that we’ve been involved in.
“It’s very significant, Ssafa and the Royal British Legion work very closely together in modern day charitable work that we do, there’s no friction between us.
“There are other military charities, we work closely with a lot of them and we all have the same aim which is to help veterans and their families as much as we can.
“I think it’s an incredibly important opportunity for those to remember the sacrifice that servicemen and women have made.
“Whether it’s the ultimate sacrifice or whether it’s just their service, the contribution that they’ve made to the country and allowing us to have the freedom and safety that we enjoy today is poignant and also very relevant.”
Royston laid a wreath on behalf of Ssafa, the oldest armed forces charity in the country, formerly known as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.
He said: “It’s about everything, we’re the oldest of the Armed Forces charities - 1885 we were formed - so we were there in the First World War.
“Of course the Royal British Legion weren’t formed until 1921 which was three years after the First World War had ended.
“So we’ve been around since then, First World War, Second World War, and all the conflicts that we’ve been involved in since then.”
He earned his MBE for services to humanity during the Bosnian conflict, but also toured Northern Ireland and Iraq.
He said: “I was out in Bosnia with the Cheshire Battle Group. We were the first to go in, in 1982 and the MBE was for the work that we did out there.
“By the time Afghanistan came around I was too old, so I didn’t deploy but I had the great pleasure of mobilising my wife to Afghanistan twice.
“She’s a reservist, a medic, so I was an admin officer in a field hospital and I sent her there twice.
“It was terrible, but then I had the remote for six months of the year!”
Major Retired Tom McKenzie the fundraising and awareness manager for Ssafa, talked of the importance of Remembrance Sunday, saying: “It’s to remember the people who’ve taken part in wars and not forgetting those who are currently serving and putting their lives at risk.
“It’s a way of showing appreciation to those that have served, those serving and those who are thinking of serving in the future.
“From a personal perspective my grandfather served in the Royal Navy in the First World War, but I also had a grandfather who was an artillery officer in the German Army at the same time.
“i have sort of a head in two camps, I can appreciate having heard tales from my grandfather in Germany as a young boy of the problems and the horrors about the trenches on both sides I can appreciate both sides of the equation.”
Warrant Officer RAF Retired Lesley Meadows