HELENSBURGH REMEMBERS

Royal Navy joins people of Helensburgh at events to commemorate Armistice centenary

Time to reflect – the Royal Navy Guard at Helensburgh’s Remembrance Sunday event in Hermitage Park. Pictures by the Royal Navy

By Gavin Carr

Personnel from HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane were in attendance at Remembrance events around the town and peninsula to honour those who gave their lives to protect their country in conflicts around the world.

Events began at the Naval Base on Thursday, November 8, when submariners, sailors, marines and MOD civilians gathered at The Church of St John the Evangelist, part of the base chaplaincy.

Led by the Rev Tommy Goodwin, the Rev Mark Dalton and Dumbarton parish priest Father Michael Maloney, the military and civilian personnel conducted a Remembrance Service and enacted a moment of silence which was followed by the Bosun’s Call signalling participants to “carry on”.

There were also readings from the Naval Prayer and the Kohima Epitaph read by Writer Armitage from HMS Neptune.

A few days later, on Saturday, November 10, naval personnel and their families were at Helensburgh’s Colquhoun Square.  There they were joined by local Sea Cadets, school children, and Helensburgh residents, to pay their respects.   

Wreaths were laid and, as a bugler sounded the last post. Silence descended on Colquhoun Square as participants contemplated the sacrifice of those who had perished in both World Wars and other conflicts.

The town’s main Remembrance event however, was on Sunday, November 11, and a Royal Navy Guard and HMS Neptune Volunteer Band joined Burgh residents at the town’s Garden of Remembrance.

Beginning at Hermitage Primary School, the Guard led the march past Victoria Halls where the salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant Mike Gregory’s representative, before parading onwards to Hermitage Park for the service.

Here the Rev David Young officiated and there was the reading of psalms followed by an Act of Remembrance and lament by a piper.  Laying the wreath on behalf of the Royal Navy this year was Commodore Donald Doull, Naval Base Commander Clyde.

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of Armistice.  During the conflict there were 34,642 naval casualties, with a further 50,758 sailors giving their lives during the Second World War.

Images; LPhot Porridge Oates Helensburgh Remembrance 2018 The service was attended by Sailors and staff from HMNB Clyde. Representing the Naval Base was Naval Base Commander Commadore Donald Doull. The parade marched through the streets of the town watched by members of the public. After there was a sevice held at the cenotaph which included a wreath laying ceremony.

Images; LPhot Porridge Oates Helensburgh Remembrance 2018 The service was attended by Sailors and staff from HMNB Clyde. Representing the Naval Base was Naval Base Commander Commadore Donald Doull. The parade marched through the streets of the town watched by members of the public. After there was a sevice held at the cenotaph which included a wreath laying ceremony.

Images; LPhot Porridge Oates Helensburgh Remembrance 2018 The service was attended by Sailors and staff from HMNB Clyde. Representing the Naval Base was Naval Base Commander Commadore Donald Doull. The parade marched through the streets of the town watched by members of the public. After there was a sevice held at the cenotaph which included a wreath laying ceremony.

School pupils and Sea Cadets with their poppy wreaths in Colquhoun Square.  The Guard of Honour on Remembrance Sunday; HMS Neptune Volunteer Band lead the parade to the Garden of Remembrance. and Commodore Donald Doull, Naval Base Commander Clyde, looks on at the event.