Hackney residents pay respects on Remembrance Sunday
Hackney residents joined ex-service men and women to remember the fallen at the borough’s Remembrance Sunday parade and church service on Sunday 12 November.The Speaker of Hackney, Cllr Soraya Adejare, and the Queen’s representative to Hackney, Lt Col Morriss, were part of a procession of 680 from the Town Hall to St-John-at-Hackney Church to honour those who gave their lives in the line of duty in the 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.
The parade was led by the Jewish Lads and Girls’ Brigade band and people of all faiths and backgrounds gathered to take part, including representatives from Normandy Veterans, Royal British Legion, Reservists, Sea, Army and Air Cadets, Scouts, police, the fire brigade and the Red Cross.
On arrival at the church, the Speaker laid a wreath at the Cenotaph to commemorate those who lost their lives during military service and faith leaders from across the borough gave readings, before all paid their respects during the two minutes' silence.
Reverend Al Gordon led a moving church service attended by hundreds of people including the Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville and Hackney MP Meg Hillier. The parade then made its way back to Hackney Town Hall for traditional march-past and salute.
Sunday’s service was very moving and it was an honour to stand alongside the hundreds of residents to pay tribute to our fallen service men and women from across Britain, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Anzacs and all other Commonwealth countries who fought under the British flag. There are many local families who have been affected by war and the bravery and sacrifice of those who served during the World Wars and all conflicts that have taken place since must not be forgotten.
Lt Col Morriss said: “Thank you to all those who attended and joined us in honouring the multitude who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the many conflicts in which this country has been engaged over the last one hundred years.
“Although there is no one alive now who lived and fought in the First World War, there are few amongst us who have not been touched by the effects of war and conflict since.
“The purpose of the day is not just to remember but to impress on our minds the horrors of war in the hope that we might avoid the mistakes of the past.”
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the Second World War Hackney-sponsored warship. HMS Ibis sunk off the coast of Algeria after taking a hit from enemy aircraft on 10 November 1942. The ship was adopted by the former borough of Stoke Newington, now the London Borough of Hackney, during the Warship Week campaign, where the British government lobbied local community groups to purchase ships to help quickly replace those lost to enemy action. As well as paying for the building of the ship, residents would provide crews with often hand knitted gloves, scarfs and hats.
More photos are available on Flickr.