Veteran’s pride as city remembers the fallen
ARMED SERVICES AND VETERANS PARADE PAST THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS AS WEARSIDE PAYS ITS RESPECTS AT HUGE REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AT MONUMENT
A veteran who helped lead Sunderland’s Remembrance Service has spoken of how it has made him proud to be British – but prouder still to be from the city.
Len Gibson, 97, from West Herrington, was a member of the Territorial Army before the Second World War broke out, and signed up alongside six others from Bishopwearmouth Choir.
He went on to join the 125 Anti-Tank Regiment as a bombardier and was off the coast of Singapore in 1942 when the boat he was on took a hit.
When he and his fellow servicemen managed to reach the shore, they were taken prisoner by the Japanese and he remained so until VJ day, August 15, 1945. He has read the Far East Prisoner of War Prayer at the service for many years.
Len, who went on to become a teacher, said: “Every year I’m amazed at the turnout from the people of Sunderland and it makes me feel marvellous.
“I’m proud to be British but I’m prouder to be from Sunderland.”
Deputy leader of Sunderland City Council, Harry Trueman, said: “The people of Sunderland absolutely love the Armed Forces and admire what they do, and it shows in the number of people who come out today.
“They have come in their hundreds, probably thousands, to remember those people that gave their lives.”
Veteran George Waller, who served in the RAF in the Second World War, recited verse part of the war poem For the Fallen before the two minute silence. The ceremony featured field guns from the city’s adopted regiment, 4 Regiment Royal Artillery, to mark the start and end of the silence, with the event co-ordinated by Regimental Sergeant Major WOI Stephen Fraser.
The parade was led by The Royals Signals (Northern Band) and the Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band.
Other units to take part include 21 Engineer Regiment, The Light Dragoons, 5 Armoured Medical Regiment, 3 Rifles, Gurkha Company, RAF Boulmer, and HMS Calliope. The Mayor of Sunderland Doris MacKnight gave the Commemorative Address.
The end of the ceremony saw the service men and women parade by Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden for a march past dignitaries.
Seaham’s Royal British Legion was joined by the Armed Forces, cadets and dignitaries for a parade from Tempest Road to Terrace Green for a ceremony around its war memorial and in the shadow of the Tommy soldier statue.