Ventnor townspeople turned out in their hundreds to see the march on Sunday to commemorate the start of the First World War, otherwise known as the ‘Great War’ which, it was hoped at the time, would be the War To End All Wars.
The reality of course turned out to be very different, as Rev Hugh Wright said in his moving account of the ‘Horrors of War’ at the War Memorial in Ventnor Park.
Led through town by marching band
The parade was ably led by the Wight Diamonds Marching Band in the march from Dudley Road through the town via Pier Street, Belgrave Road and Park Avenue before arriving to join those ex-service men and women, town and county council representatives, the Island’s MP and hundreds of townspeople and visitors who wished to be part of the very moving commemoration at the War Memorial.
Also represented were members of the Ventnor Branch of the Royal British Legion and members from Newport and Seaview branches as well as representatives from military associations, including the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, the Army Cadet Force. The Ryde Sea Cadets also marched as did a Boys’ Brigade member who proudly wore his great-grandfather’s medals.
Joined by veterans
They were joined at the War Memorial by several veterans including Malcolm Channing, Peter Osborne and ‘Lochie’ Parsons.
Parade Leader, Major Danny McMeechan ‘fell-out’ the standard bearers, who had marched behind the Wight Diamonds, and they reformed in front of the spruced-up War Memorial.
Revr’d Hugh Wright led the service and welcomed all those who had turned out, before reciting Lionel Thompson’s moving poem ‘The Universe’. Hugh then went on to briefly mention some of the names of the 160 (from both Word Wars) fallen inscribed on the War Memorial and gave an account of their families and where they had lived in Ventnor before Lionel Thompson himself recited his wonderful war poem ‘Whoosh’.
Moving poetry recitals
Barbara Wells, resplendent in a Poppy dress, gave a stirring recital of the war poem ‘Courage’, which was followed by Hugh Wright’s thoughts on ‘Where was God in all this?’
Nine year old Chloe McMeechan then stepped up to the microphone and recited, from memory, the WWI poem ‘The Soldier’ very movingly.
Lt Col David Langford DL then gave The Exhortation:
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember Them”
The Exhortation was followed by a two minute silence and the National Anthem before Major McMeechan reformed the Parade and marched past the Memorial with ‘Eyes Left!’.
Dignitaries were invited to the Ventnor British Legion where refreshments had been kindly laid on by the Women’s Section.
Our thanks
On behalf of the Ventnor Royal British Legion I would like to thank all of those who attended the Memorial and helped to make this a very special occasion.
Thanks also to the organising committee led by Major Danny McMeechan, to Ventnor Town Council and to Jackie and Richard Tiller and their staff at the putting green for providing an excellent afternoon tea prior to the commemoration.
If you pop over to South Wight TV you can watch the footage of the parade and some of the readings.
Click on images to see larger version
Image: © With kind permission of John Whatley of South WightTV
