Guildford and Its Villages Fall Silent to Remember Those Killed in Conflict

Published on: 10 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 11 Nov, 2024

Having laid his wreath, a sea cadet salutes Guildford’s War Memorial

By Martin Giles

Eighty years after the Second World War had entered its final 12 months, the traditional Remembrance Sunday Services took place in Guildford and its surrounding villages today (November 10), as they were across the country.

People gather at St Lawrences in Effingham for their Remembrance Service. Photo Chris Dick

Following a service at Holy Trinity, dignitaries and contingents of cadets and other youth organisations processed or marched to the castle grounds and Guildford War Memorial built in the wake of the First World war.

Video below from Ben Darnton shows cadet detachments marching through Tunsgate towards the Castle Grounds…

As usual, hundreds of members of the public had gathered to remember the sacrifice paid for our freedom.

And as usual, the exhortation to remember was read:

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

age shall not weary them nor the years condemn;

at the going down of the sun and in the morning;

we will remember them.

Then at 11am Last Post was sounded followed by a two minute silence and Reveille.

Led by Lt Col Patrick Crowley MBE, the Mayor of Guildford Sallie Barker MBE and Guildford’s MP Zoe Franklin, participants laid wreaths at the two memorials and the conducting minister read an Act of Commitment “…that we may help, encourage, and comfort other, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations”.

Ringed by spectators those taking part in the ceremony formed up on the protected bowling green in the Castle Grounds. (Click on image to enlarge).

The hymn Jerusalem and the National Anthem were sung and a blessing given.

Please listen to the following interview with Danny Skillman a former Royal Artillery officer selling poppies at the Remembrance Service…

Tomorrow, November 11, Armistice Day, at 11am a short ceremony will take place on the balcony of the Guildhall in the High Street.

On Saturday afternoon, November 9, residents, and others from further afield, gathered at the Charlotteville war memorial in Addison Road, Guildford, for the annual Saturday Act of Remembrance and laying of poppy wreaths.

The service of remembrance at the war memorial, Addison Road, Charlotteville, Guildford.

The service was conducted by the Revd Rod Pierce of Holy Trinity Church, with the Last Post and Reveille played by bugler Brian Cohen.

Anthony Jacques recited the Ode of Remembrance and The Kohima Epitaph.

Julie Howarth and Ian Nicholls reflected on two local men, William Cobbett and Alfred Charles Kemp, both of the Queen’s Royal (West Surrey) Regiment, who were killed in action in France 110 years ago in the first year of the First World War.

Wreath laying in Charlotteville.

And 80 years ago, in June 1944, George Malgwyn Hayes was in the Special Air Service Regiment which played a key role in the Normandy landings by disrupting the enemy supply lines and gathering vital intelligence.

George lost his life in operation code name Houndsworth when a Stirling bomber containing six crew and 15 SAS men crashed.

All three have no known grave and are commemorated on memorials in France.

Val Crompton, and her husband Nigel, commemorated Val’s Newman relatives.

At the end of the service, the gathering was welcomed into the Addison Court lounge for refreshments.

A poster display by Ian Nicholls presented the stories of those who served and some history of the community of St Luke’s.

Further details of “The Men” can be found on the Charlotteville War Memorial website.

If you have photos (with captions please) of your local Remembrance Service you would like to be added to this article, with up to 100 words of text (not mandatory), please send them to: guildford.dragon@gmail.com