HUNDREDS of people turned out on Sunday morning for a service to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of their country.

Under a bright autumn sky, it was the service medals worn with pride by veterans and serving military personnel that brought gravitas to the occasion, but the children, so full of life and innocence, who brought poignancy.

They were there to remember all those who had given their lives during the Great War, the Second World War, and the many conflicts thereafter, in the name of peace, justice and freedom.

Sporting vibrant red poppies as a mark of remembrance and respect, the emphasis at this year’s service was on the young and the fear that they too may be forced to live through distressing times – a reason to remember and to reflect on lessons learned in previous conflicts, in the continuing search for peace.

With youngsters to the fore in the march through the town, in the bearing of standards and the laying of wreaths, it was a poem, written by Hannah Rogerson, the 10-year-old cousin of a Northern Ireland veteran, that really hit home.

Read by fellow veteran Bob Graham, accompanied by grandaughter Abigail, the poem, entitled ‘I Love to Wear My Poppy’ … “as red as red can be” ended by capturing the spirit of Armistice “to remember those who fought and died, and risked their lives for me”.

Organised by the Alton branch of Royal British Legion and Alton Town Council, this year’s Act of Remembrance service was led by the Reverend Andrew Micklefield from the Parish of the Resurrection.

It began with an impressive parade, summonsed by the wail of the siren and overseen by parade master Sergeant Tom Bagley of 613 Alton Squadron of the Air Training Corps.

Led by a Royal British Legion outrider on his poppy-bedecked motorcycle, the parade gathered in the Market Square before marching down Market Street and up the High Street, to the rallying beat of the drums and bugles of the Alton Boy’s Brigade Band. They were followed by the Union flag, and the standards of the Royal British Legion and the RAF Association, the Army and Air Force cadets, members of the emergency services and hundreds of children, attached to the uniformed youth groups of the town.

They were welcomed at the Cairn by an ever-swelling crowd of servicegoers, by the music of the Salvation Army Band, by the voices of the St Lawrence Church Choir, and by the Reverend Andrew Micklefield who, in setting the scene, asked his congregation to remember not just the fallen but those who were injured and traumatised, whether they be military or civilians caught up in the conflicts.

He was supported by the Reverend Chris Bradish, curate who led the prayers, Liz George, lay worker from the Methodist Church, who delivered the lesson, and the Reverend Clive Anderson of Butts Church, who gave the address.

The haunting sound of The Last Post heralded the two-minute silence, with Alton Salvation Army’s lone bugler, Julian Poore, going on to deliver a bracing Reveille before the laying of the wreaths.

Announced by Gill Thorne, they were led by Alton mayor Dean-Paul Phillips, who laid a wreath on behalf of Alton Town Council. He was followed on behalf of East Hampshire District Council by Graham Hill, on behalf of Hampshire County Council by Andrew Joy, the family of Ernest George Horlock VC, by family and friends, by serving officers of the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy, and the Royal Air Force, by members of the Royal Marines Association, the Royal Hampshire Regiment, the Burma Star Association, and the RAF Association, and by ex-servicemen representing the Alton branch of the Royal British Legion, the RBL Club and the RBL Riders.

There were wreaths laid by Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, South Central Ambulance Service, Alton Salvation Army, the Quakers, St John Ambulance, Alton Masonic Centre, Alton Rotary, Alton Community Association, Alton Lions, Alton Chamber of Commerce, the Mid Hants Railway, Alton WI, and Alton Townswomen’s Guild. Followed by the young members of the Army Cadets, the Air Training Corps, the Boy’s Brigade, the Girl’s Brigade, the Scout Association, the Guide’s Association, Eggar’s, Amery Hill, Alton College, Alton School, St Mary’s Church, Alton Football Club, Manor Colts Football Club, Alton Rugby Club and Alton Conservative Club.

Local schoolchildren then laid poppy crosses for each of the 56 men named on the war memorial who lost their lives during the Great War in 1917.

The standards were lowered and RBL member Paul Morgan stood before the Cairn to deliver the Kohima Epitaph followed by the Legion Exhortation. Voices were then raised for the rallying hymn ‘I Vow to Thee My Country’, followed by the blessing, given by Rev Micklefield, and a rousing rendition of the National Anthem.

The parade then departed, back down the hill to the Market Square, led by the Band of the Boys Brigade and the Royal British Legion standard bearers, and accompanied by the sound of spontaneous applause.