The Royal Navy played a leading role in the Plymouth major acts of Remembrance this week.
The Senior Naval Officer attending was Rear Admiral Snow who heads the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation in HM Naval Base Devonport.
Admiral Snow is leading the Royal Navy’s attendance at the Plymouth Hoe Remembrance Service on Sunday 8 November as the senior Royal Naval officer in Plymouth where he will also be the Royal Navy wreath-layer.
Admiral Snow said: “The Royal Navy has been protecting the interests of the UK and Commonwealth for hundreds of years with many thousands of sailors having made the ultimate sacrifice. It is that very sacrifice which has given our nation its wealth, prosperity and freedom. We remember those from all nations and services who have fallen and will be giving particular thought to the many Naval Service personnel currently serving overseas in Afghanistan and elsewhere, praying for their safe return.”
Commander Malcolm Pollock, of HMS Drake, HM Naval Base, Devonport, explained; “The Barracks in HMS DRAKE provides accommodation for some 1661 service personnel from across our three Services. These soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors in the main use DRAKE as they either prepare to deploy on operations or as they return from operations.
“People are probably familiar with the support that we provide in Afghanistan , where over the last year we have seen Plymouth-based Royal Marines and Royal Naval medical staff very much in the front line, along with “South West based soldiers from the Rifles. However, the global deployments – including counter-piracy operations – that our Devonport-based ships and submarines have made over the last year also provide a glimpse into the high tempo of operations supported by our armed forces. Remembrance Sunday provides us with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the dedication of our armed forces and in particular to remember those who have paid the ultimate price, suffered life-changing injuries or who have demonstrated outstanding acts of courage. That we gather as a community and stand shoulder to shoulder remembering and reflecting on the service of our Armed Forces is a source of great national pride.”
Participants in this year Remembrance Parade are as follows, three x 12 Man Guards, made up from ratings (non-commissioned officers and junior sailors) from the Devonport Naval Base Commander’s organisation and the Devonport flotilla organisation of ships. Submarines and other units. Also taking part in the parade and service will be Royal Marines from 3 Commando Brigade in Stonehouse, Plymouth, and an Army guard from 29 Commando at the Plymouth Citadel. The Royal Marine Band will be from HMS Raleigh and four memorial guards will represent the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF. A Royal Naval platoon will comprise 80 senior and junior ratings.
A troop of 300 will attend from the Territorial Army unit based at Millbay, Plymouth , along with D-Company of the 6 Rifles – another TA Unit from Millbay. Finally, most area armed forces veteran associations and cadet units will attend. There are also 6 x Lord Lieutenant’s cadets who are wreath bearers; these are from various cadet units across Devon.
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