RNAS YEOVILTON’S ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
TODAY Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton held their annual Act of Remembrance in the Naval Cemetery of the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church St Bartholomew’s inYeovilton village.
The ceremony holds an extra significance for the Royal Navy; in addition to Armistice Day, the 11th November marks the Anniversary of the Battle of Taranto, the famous World War II decimation of the Italian Fleet inflicted by the Royal Navy and specifically the Fleet Air Arm’s Swordfish aircraft
Over 200 people were present to pay their respects including serving members of the Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), the Army Air Corps and Royal Electrical and MechanicalEngineers from the Air Station along with civilians, contractors, veterans and families who all congregated to remember our armed forces who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
Children and teachers from local schools: Hazelgrove and Ilchester Primary joined the Service men and women to honour the fallen members of our Armed Forces.
The service was led by The Reverend Peter Dixon and RNAS Yeoviltons Chaplain, The Reverend Andrew Hillier. Following prayers and the reading of The Roll of Honour, the two minutes silence was initiated by a Royal Marine bugler sounding the Last Post from the top of the church tower. The ceremony concluded with a flypast of the Royal Navy Historic Flight’s Swordfish who was flanked by a Wildcat and Lynx helicopters.
The service came to an end when the bugler sounded Reveille and Commanding Officer, Commodore Jon Pentreath, OBE laid a wreath on behalf of all at RNAS Yeovilton. The Fairey Swordfish, the only Mk1 flying in the world, then scattered poppies over surrounding fields as a poignant reminder.