ONE thousand people attended a special Remembrance Day service at Alton's war memorial on Crown Hill on Sunday. Starting from the town square, the parade made its way into the High Street and up Crown Hill for the service to remember victims of wars and conflicts from World War I, exactly 89 years ago to the day, to current action in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senior dignitaries, including Michael Mates MP and Pam Bradford, chairman of East Hampshire District Council, were joined at the service by invited members of Bordon-based 4th Battalion REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers), recently home from service in Afghanistan. Representatives from armed forces associations, The Royal British Legion, civilian and armed forces youth groups, Hampshire police, fire and rescue representatives, St John Ambulance, the Women's Institute and, relatives, also attended the service at the cairn outside the Assembly Rooms. The presence of 4th Battalion REME was a chance for the people of East Hampshire to recognise their contribution to military action in Afghanistan. The idea to invite the battalion came from Ferris Cowper, the leader of the council, and was enthusiastically endorsed by Pam Bradford. In her address in the Assembly Rooms after the service, she said: "I was delighted to agree especially as I had recently seen on telly an item where a group of soldiers had returned home, and marched down their High Street with only a couple of pedestrians wondering what was happening. I watched and felt so sad. "So today I am delighted to redress the balance and say how proud we are of you and for what you have done. We can never know how bad it really was, but we are especially glad that you are now home with your families. "It is difficult for me to express our gratitude for a job you were sent to do, but be assured we are very very pleased you are home." Earlier, in intermittent rain, an attentive congregation gathered on the road and the raised pavement on Crown Hill, to listen to Rev Julian Richards, chaplain to the Royal British Legion, led the service, which included a lesson read by Captain Barry Cox of Alton's Salvation Army, and a short address by the Rev Keith Underhill, of the Alton Methodist Church. A siren heralded the two-minute silence before 28 wreaths, the most ever laid in Alton, were placed at the foot of the Cairn war memorial, after which came the sounding of The Last Post, the Kohima Epitaph and the Legion Exhortation. Royal British Legion Standard bearer, Bill Baxter from Alton, carried out his duty for the 40th year. The 81-year old, ex-RAF Reserve and ex-soldier who served in Hong Kong in 1945-6, said he was proud to carry the flag on what was always an emotional day for him. He explained: "On the Cairn is the name of my brother, Denis Baxter, who was shot down in Germany in 1945. He was 20." Squadron Leader Bob Dalton, nine years a standard bearer for the RAF Association, and wearing his MBE award, medal of long service and good conduct, and medal for service in Singapore and Malaya, was struck by the increasing numbers of people wanting to be involved in Remembrance Sunday. He said: "It's one time in the year that we recognise those who fought and died for our country. There is more awareness with the current campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq and people are touched by it, many knowing people involved." Mr Mates also believes that current conflicts have highlighted the contribution our armed forces have made and continue to make. "What's happened is that Remembrance Day for the two world wars, the participants of which were getting older and older and older, has been revived largely by Iraq and Afghanistan. "Whatever people's views of these conflicts are, the civilian population realises that soldiers are in the front line and being killed and we owe a lot to them. "I was in the Royal Albert Hall last night and it was the most amazing thing and the emphasis was very much on the young, and I'm thrilled to see so many young people here today."
