Impressive Remembrance Day turnout in Sheffield

Thousands of people gathered in the sun at National Day of Remembrance services across Sheffield on Sunday to remember those who have lost their lives in armed conflict.

The largest event was based around the war memorial at Barker’s Pool in the city centre, where current and ex-servicemen joined with the public for the traditional November 11 service.

The day included the usual Remembrance Day parade, but the parade had to be diverted due to a crime scene outside Lloyd’s Bar on Division Street. A 44-year-old man is critically ill in hospital after an altercation at the scene at 12.30am on Saturday night. The police are appealing for witnesses.

The day’s events included the laying of wreaths by local dignitaries and organisations, including Lord Mayor Cllr. John Campbell and the Master Cutler.

There was a two minute period of silence at 11am as the flag on the war memorial was lowered to half mast. There followed a short service of prayers and the hymn ‘O God Our Help In Ages Past’ and the National Anthem.

It was a beautiful autumnal day in the Steel City and this made for an impressive turnout – an estimated 3,000 people were at Barker’s Pool alone.

One group of attendees were the Dennell family from Sheffield: Steven and Ian, with father Graham.

Steven Dennell said of the Remembrance tradition: “My Grandad was in World War One, so it is especially important when there is a family connection.”

“Whether you believe in war or not, there are still lads and lasses laying their lives down.”

Ian added: “It is not just about the World Wars either.  The Falklands War was 30 years ago now and there have been plenty of other conflicts where people have lost their lives.”

Ian and Steven’s father, Graham echoed his sons words, but also offered some constructive criticism to the organisers of the event.

“It would have been good to have a commentary on what was going on and who was laying wreaths,” said Mr Dennell.

“At one point there was a long pause of silence [separate to the traditional two minutes’ silence at 11am].”

“Because there were so many people here, not everybody could get a good vantage point, meaning not everybody could see what was going on.  But it was good to see such a good turnout.”

by Stuart Hill

Sheffield honours war victims on Remembrance Sunday

A two minute silence was held at 11 o'clock at Barker's Pool to remember all those who have died at war.

Army members and civilians crowded at the Sheffield's War Memorial this Sunday November 11 for Remembrance Day.

A parade of serving soldiers and veterans departed from Holly Street just after 10:30 am. They usually start off at Division Street but access was partly closed because police were investigating a crime outside Lloyds Bar which happened in the early hours of Sunday.

The Salvation Army Bugles, a local military band, led the parade. Their music merged with clapping from the crowd as the veterans followed the new generation into Barker's Pool.

At 11 o'clock the cenotaph flag was lowered to half-mast. This moment marked the beginning of a two minute silence that happened at the same time throughout the country.

The Lord Mayor, John Campbell, army members and civic representatives laid their wreaths on the Memorial just past the eleventh hour when, in 1918, the Allies and Germany signed the armistice that ended World War I.

In the service that followed, the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, Canon Norman Woods mentioned the fallen heroes and all those affected by war: “Let us pray for those who suffer in mind and body as a result of war … for all refugees, for all who have lost wife or husband, children or parents, livelihood, security or home”.

After the National Anthem, the parade marched off applauded again by the crowds. Dignitaries walked to the City Hall to attend a civic reception while the War Memorial was covered by dozens of flowers, crosses and wreaths laid by the public.

Remembering the cost of democracy

Lord Mayor Campbell said that it was an opportunity to remember those who fought and died in the Great War and World War II because “without their efforts we wouldn't have the democracy or freedom of speech that we have today.”

Many veterans from the Second World War attended the service at Sheffield. One of them was Bert Cooper, an 87-year-old who fought in Normandy, Belgium and Holland, where some of the bloodiest battles of WWII occurred. His plea to younger generations was that they remember the fight for democracy: “I would advise most people never to forget because we could have been talking German.”

John Hellewell, a Sheffield veteran and pensioner from the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, comes to the city's Remembrance service every year. “This day means a great deal”, he says. “My father and my uncle were in the Second World War. Luckily they both came back but they're now dead so I remember them and what they did during the war”. To him, this is also a day to support peace, through dialogue instead of violence. “As Winston Churchill put it: Jaw Jaw not War War”, he says.

Cadet Ward, who is 14-years-old and has just joined the Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force, said of these soldiers: “They have given us our freedom. If it weren't for them we wouldn't be here now”.

by Carlota Calderon