Region honours the fallen on Remembrance Sunday

1 hour ago

Alex McIntyre,West Midlands,

Phillip Stoneman,BBC Hereford and Worcester,

Kayleigh Hall,in Alrewasand

Giles Latcham,in Cosford

A service was held at the National Remembrance Gardens in Staffordshire

Press Association People watch on as a band plays at the top of the stairs in front of the monument at the National Remembrance Gardens — A service was held at the National Remembrance Gardens in Staffordshire

People across the West Midlands turned out in their thousands to honour our fallen war heroes during Remembrance Sunday.

Events were held across the region, with military personnel and onlookers marking the two-minute silence at 11:00 GMT.

A service took place at the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens in Alrewas, Staffordshire – formerly the National Memorial Arboretum.

Former British army chaplain, the Rev Clare Callanan, said she was feeling nervous ahead of the event because of all the work that had gone into organising it.

Asked what Remembrance meant, she said: "It's that stop moment, it's that pause moment, and I don't think we do enough of that generally on a day-to-day basis.

"It's a collective national pause but also, it's a personal pause and stop."

Rev Clare Callanan said Remembrance Sunday was a time for a "national pause"

A woman with short grey hair, a yellow scarf and a black coat, with a medal attached to it, stands on a large tiled pathway at the National Remembrance Gardens. — Rev Clare Callanan said Remembrance Sunday was a time for a "national pause"

A ceremony was also held at the RAF Museum Midlands in Cosford, Shropshire, beneath the site's Avro Vulcan bomber.

Retired air vice-marshal Warren James, deputy lieutenant for Shropshire, said it was very important to remember the sacrifices made in a world that had become "very busy".

Air recruit Alexandra Maticiuc, RAF trainee, said: "It was definitely a very emotional ceremony.

"It's so important to remember the fallen ones and host these events. I'm very proud of myself for taking part."

A Remembrance Sunday service took place at the RAF Museum Midlands in Cosford

Two lines of RAF members dressed in uniform stand at attention in two lines underneath a suspended bomber in a hanger, which has been converted into a museum. — A Remembrance Sunday service took place at the RAF Museum Midlands in Cosford

Veteran Dennis Johnson, a volunteer at the museum, said he was thinking about the fellow servicemen who died while serving in West Africa.

"We were ambushed a couple of times, one or two were shot and killed out there," he added.

"One guy had only been married three weeks and he went out there, just in his late-20s. It was like it was only yesterday. It brings it back, very poignant."

People turned out to pay their respects at the parade in Birmingham

Birmingham City Council A crowd of people gathered outside a church as a band plays during a Remembrance Sunday service. A memorial on the left has three flags leaning against it and several wreaths placed on the ground in front of it. — People turned out to pay their respects at the parade in Birmingham

A Remembrance Sunday service was also held at Berkswell in Solihull

A crowd of people lined up around a patch of grass as people dressed in religious attire hold a service during Remembrance Sunday. A large, brick memorial is behind them. — A Remembrance Sunday service was also held at Berkswell in Solihull

Meanwhile, a former army officer from Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, played an important role in the march past the cenotaph in London.

Gemma Morgan, who joined the army at 22 years old and served in Kosovo in 1998, led the 50-strong group from charity, Help the Heroes.

"It's a huge honour to be invited to be part of such an important day," she said. "Being part of the veterans' march past is very special."

Former army officer Gemma Morgan took part in the march past the cenotaph in London

Help for Heroes Gemma Morgan - a woman with short blonde hair and wearing a blue sleeveless dress - is speaking into two microphones. — Former army officer Gemma Morgan took part in the march past the cenotaph in London

Gemma Morgan was sent to Kosovo in 1998 after joining the army at 22 years old

Gemma Morgan A woman wearing a black army beret and full camouflage gear stands in front of ruins. — Gemma Morgan was sent to Kosovo in 1998 after joining the army at 22 years old

She added: "I'm feeling absolutely exhausted to be honest, it's a very emotional day. I'm feeling very proud and very humble.

"It's a day you keep the lid on a lot of emotions and today was really about getting the march past right and being there on behalf of the other veterans."

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