Fallen heroes from the past and present remembered

AFTER a week of urgent and angered debate surrounding Britain's role in Afghanistan, the nation momentarily fell silent yesterday to honour those who have died in conflicts both past and present.

Thousands of people around the country gathered to commemorate Remembrance Sunday, while servicemen and women in Helmand Province paid tribute to those colleagues who had laid down their lives.

On a day set aside for reflection, originally introduced to remember those who died for peace and freedom in the Great War, the focus of the 91st annual Remembrance Sunday inexorably fell upon ongoing conflicts.

Shortly before 8am yesterday, the Ministry of Defence confirmed a grim milestone with the death of a soldier serving with 2nd Battalion, The Rifles. Killed in an explosion near Sangin in central Helmand on Saturday, the serviceman, who has not been named, became the 200th British soldier to be killed in action during the Afghan conflict.

Late yesterday afternoon, the MoD announced the death of another soldier, from 4th Battalion, The Rifles. Families of both soldiers have been informed.

The two latest deaths bring to 232 the number of British troops who have died in Afghanistan since the mission began in October 2001, including those killed by accidents or illnesses.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, paid tribute to both soldiers last night, saying they would "not be forgotten".

At services around the country yesterday, turnout was high. On a crisp, cloudless Sunday morning in Glasgow the crowds were a dozen deep, with relatives of serving personnel and young families standing shoulder to shoulder with veterans.

Elsewhere, familiar faces from commemorations past were absent with Bill Stone, Henry Allingham, and Harry Patch – the three last known British veterans of the First World War who still resided in the UK – all having died in the past 12 months.

In London, the Queen laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, while Alex Salmond led Scotland's memorial services, laying a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh.

The first service of the day, however, took place on a dusty patch of open ground at Camp Bastion, where about 2,000 men and women from the Army, Navy, and Royal Air Force stood in the wind to hear their padre, the Reverend Richard Downes, lead them in prayer for fallen comrades.

"For a lot of young people Remembrance Sunday used to be about what happened to granddad," he said afterwards. "But now it's about what's happening to us."

A single cannon shot marked the start of a minute's silence for fallen soldiers and two buglers played the traditional Last Post.

At the British base in Lashkar Gah, hundreds more soldiers gathered to hear Padre Mark Christian, the senior chaplain of 11 Light Brigade, say that those in attendance were committed to "the cause of peace and justice throughout the world".

As is traditional, at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, the Queen, clad in a black coat against the autumn chill, placed the first wreath.

Despite leaden skies, the rain held off as the monarch was followed in placing wreaths by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Harry – on behalf of the Prince of Wales who is on an official visit to Canada – and Prince William. More wreaths were also placed by the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Kent.

They were followed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, high commissioners from Commonwealth countries and defence chiefs.

"We will never forget the sacrifices you made," wrote Mr Cameron. "We owe you a debt that can never be repaid," read Mr Brown's tribute.

Approximately 7,500 ex-servicemen and women and 1,600 civilians then took part in a march before a crowd ten-deep on the pavements nearby.

In Edinburgh, Mr Salmond gave a reading at a service in St Giles' Cathedral.

"Remembrance Sunday is a time for us all to reflect and remember the enormity of sacrifice made by Scottish servicemen and women, past and present," he said.

"It allows people across generations to recognise and pay tribute to the duty and commitment of our service personnel and veterans, and express our gratitude."

George Ross, acting general secretary of the Royal British Legion Scotland, said: "We are proud to play our part in helping the nation pay their respects."

In Glasgow, several hundred people paid their respects to the fallen in the city's George Square.

The service was led by Lord Provost Bob Winter, with numerous politicians also in attendance.

In Aberdeen, a parade of former soldiers and members of the armed forces was held, ending at the war memorial at School Hill where wreaths were placed. The parade was led by the Grampian Police Pipe Band. Iain Gray, the Scottish Labour leader, laid a wreath in his East Lothian constituency.

Speaking at the Royal British Legion ceremony in Prestonpans, he said: "It is so important that we always remember those servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in past and present day conflicts."

His Liberal Democrat counterpart, Tavish Scott, attended the Remembrance Service at the Shetland War Memorial at Hillhead in Lerwick.

Members of The Black Watch, meanwhile, held a private service at Fort George near Inverness to remember those comrades who have died in Afghanistan.

At Catterick Garrison, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, the Archbishop of Canterbury joined senior officers and ordinary soldiers for a remembrance service at Britain's largest Army base.