Sorrowful turn-out to honour the fallen

11:17am Thursday 13th November 2008

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Remembrance Day took on an even more sorrowful appearance at Evesham 40 years ago when only a few braved the bad weather to commemorate the dead of two world wars.

“At the short service at the war memorial in Abbey Park, only a few supplemented the uniformed representatives of the town’s public bodies. In the afternoon, when the British legion paraded to the war memorial and parish church, the non-servicemen were even less evident,” the Journal reported.

“The short service was conducted at the memorial in the morning by the Vicar of Evesham, the Rev A Webb. This was followed by a service at Evesham Methodist Church conducted by the Rev R T Hill.

“The British Legion’s parade in the afternoon contained less than 100 ex-servicemen this year, and five standards only – the lowest number in memory – were carried.

“One former soldier said afterwards that at one time between 18 and 20 standards would have been seen.

“Commanded by Major T A Cox, the parade went to the war memorial, where wreaths were placed. Later in the afternoon, the parade marched past the mayor and mayoress of Evesham (Coun and Mrs Tom Smith) for the salute.

“The sermon at the afternoon service was preached by the Rev R H Lloyd, Vicar of Elmley Castle. He said: ‘We live in an age when young people are determined for one reason or another to tear down the great landmarks of the past.

‘They reject authority and the monarchy and one of the things which has been under attack in recent years in recent years is our commemoration of the dead. It is perhaps because we have failed to get across to them the reason why we have this ceremony each year.

‘We are not keeping fresh the memory of war or seeking to keep old wounds open and there is no bitterness in our hearts. We are here to assure those who will carry the scars of war on their bodies or in their minds that we have not forgotten them, that we still care and sympathise. It will be a sad day when we tear down this landmark’.”