24th October 2024 • The HERALD • Page 37 Remembrance Day Commemorations in Romsey On Sunday 10th November, Romsey will once again come together to remember the fallen. e procession will commence at 9am from the Alma Road Car Park. Veterans wishing to participate are requested to arrive at 8.45am. e parade will consist of the 22 Engineer Regiment, other Military and Service Personnel, the Military Cadet Forces, Scouts, Guides and Rainbow Groups and other local organisations. Leading the Civic Party to the Romsey Abbey will be e Caledonian Pipe Band. Following the service, all participants will make their way to the Romsey War Memorial Park for a Service conducted by the Reverend omas Wharton. Michelmersh Silver Band, Romsey Old Cadet Buglers and the Romsey Abbey Choirs will be in attendance. Peter Hurst, Chairman of the Royal British Legion will read the Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph. In the moments leading up to the twominute silence, there will be a y-past from Middle Wallop. Following the silence, the Civic Party will lay wreaths, followed by organisations in attendance and the public. e procession will then parade back to Romsey Town Centre for the o cial salute to the Civic Party. If you are veteran and require a wheelchair or mobility scooter, or for further information, please contact Rebecca Holloway at info@romseytc. org.uk or call Romsey Town Hall on 01794 512837. Forget You Not by Marlene Parmenter© Thank you brave soldiers, Who fought to save us all, Not knowing what horror That on you might fall. Leaving your loved ones, You valiantly tread. Filled with terror and fear, Foreboding and dread. Surrounded by others, Your brothers in arms. With photos and letters And “lucky” charms. These may give you solace, As bullets fly by your head. Whilst gun fire explodes And many comrades are dead. They are bleeding and dying, Blown up all around. With parts of their bodies All over the ground. Such horrors surround you In and out of your trench. The blood and the gore Leaving a stench. You endangered your life With a war to end wars. But as long as man lives There will be wars evermore. We can’t thank you enough. Maybe you had some regret, You fought for us all, And we must never forget NOVEMBER MIST by David K Wilson© The church service ends A walk to the cenotaph Many are waiting On this November day He stands with the veterans A small band of brothers Each proud to be there With poppies displayed All round the cenotaph Young people in uniform The three different services Smart and on view The veterans take prominence Some now in wheelchairs Their helpers beside them Proud are the few He appears somewhat older Than his comrades around him Uniform less stylish Than those of today A short service begins Prayers for the fallen For the lives cut short Amidst the affray The last post is played Poignant notes of the bugle Heads are lowered The silence is loud He stands there alone Surrounded by others Remembering brothers Not beside him today Reveille then rings out A Chinook pays a curtsy Red Arrows fly over One last amen Wreaths of red poppies Surrounding the cenotaph Reminding us all It must never happen again The old soldier falls out Along with the others Walking unaided Upright and strong A November mist Rolls down the hillside To disperse almost instantly And the old soldier’s gone! Eleven Eleven by David K Wilson© Eleven eleven At eleven a.m. A nation remembers Things that happened back then The soldiers the aircrews The sailors at sea Some returned home triumphant For some new destinies In heaven We each buy a poppy To show that we care For our brothers and sisters Forever out there In the sun in the cold In the rain and the snow As still as they were With nowhere to go Simply resting Old Harry remembers Those long awful days The landing craft journey When the Sargent he prayed Each dreading the moment The bows opened wide And the beaches they beckoned And lots more besides Like the gunfire Some fell on their landing craft Some in the sea Harry survived he remembers The memories always will be He was one of the lucky ones With stories to tell As he waits for the Father To call time with his bell Slowly tolling But until that time comes He’ll answer the call And he’ll pay his respects Where his mates took their fall He’ll place a red poppy On a cross on each grave And say sorry old friend You died but you saved A whole nation Yes Harry remembers He’ll never forget He’s lived a long life Despite some regrets And he wears a red poppy Wears it with pride For all of the boys The brave lads that died For their country They died for their nation For their families and friends In a war to end wars Sadly wars never end We all owe it all to the fallen To find better ways To bring peace to this world Where wars still rage today Every day
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