Thousands turn out to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice (From Banbury Cake)

Thousands turn out to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice

3:06pm Monday 9th November 2009

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AS church clocks struck 11 on Sunday, thousands stood in silence to remember the war fallen.

Wreaths were laid and parades held in towns and villages across the Herald’s circulation area.

In Abingdon, soldiers from Dalton Barracks joined dignatories and members of the public at St Helen’s Church to remember heroes who sacrificed their lives for their country. Following the service, a parade marched to the war memorial in Ock Street, accompanied by Abingdon Town Band.

Two gliders from Abingdon airfield flew overhead following the two minutes’ silence.

Town mayor Patricia Hobby said: “It was a very moving service and when the Last Post played I had tears in my eyes. It’s not a huge town but when you consider there was more than £20,000 raised for the Legion last year and hopefully more this year, it makes you realise the value local people give it.”

In Didcot, comrades of Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid, of 11 EOD Regiment, paid their respects during the Remembrance Sunday service at the garrison church of All Saints Church in Lydalls Road. Bomb disposal expert Staff Sgt Schmid, who was based at Vauxhall Barracks, died on October 31 in an explosion in the Sangin region of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Eighty soldiers from the regiment later joined a parade of 300 to the wreath-laying ceremony at the town war memorial in Britwell Road, organised by the Royal British Legion on behalf of the town council.

Didcot and District RBL president Paddy Venn said: “There was excellent public turnout. I think it was the biggest parade I have seen, and I have done it for the last 18 years. The Scouts, Guides and Brownies all looked absolutely superb. They are our members of the future.”

Among those laying wreaths in Wallingford was RAF Benson station commander Group Captain Jonathan Burr, many of whose airmen will soon be departing to fight in Afghanistan. The base will also hold a short service today to mark the 91st anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The Mayor of Wallingford Dee Cripps laid the first wreath on behalf of the town in front of 1,000 members of the public. An extended service held in the Market Place due to the ongoing refurbishment of St Mary’s Church was also attended by MP Ed Vaizey, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Peter Bridges, and a representative of The Rifles, 2nd Lieutenant Julian Taylor. A bugler from Cholsey Silver Band sounded Last Post and Reveille. Wallingford and District RBL secretary Linda Shoebridge said: “The war in Afghanistan seems to have brought Remembrance Day to the notice of people a lot.”

In Wantage, the salute was taken by Air Marshal Sir Roger Austin, former national RBL president.

Deputy mayor Major Jim Sibbald said: “To see the outstanding presence of both young and old at the parade, and other events in Wantage, was fantastic.”

During the service at Grove, Birmingham University professor Gary Sheffield told villagers about local soldiers who had died in both world wars Parish council chairman Frank Parnell laid wreaths at the church’s war memorial and the memorial to US Air Force personnel stationed at the airfield.

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