AROUND the county, services were held on Armistice Day, Saturday 11th November and Remembrance Day, 12th November to commemorate those who lost their lives in battle and the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two world wars and later conflicts.

In Monmouth, the parade included members of the Royal British Legion (RBL), the Royal Naval Association, the Royal Engineers Association, the Royal Welsh, HMS Monmouth and 1 RIFLES. Crews from the town’s fire brigade and police force joined in with representatives from Monmouthshire County Council, Monmouth Rotary, Probus, Monmouth Lions and the Freemasons amongst others to lay wreaths on the war memorial.

Girl guides, scouts, beavers, cubs and brownies as well as St John Ambulance and the Ross and Monmouth Sea Cadets joined in the tribute at the war memorial in St James Square.

A choir from Monmouth School for Boys (MSB) led the singing and the Last Post was sounded by MSB pupil Owen Saunders.

Father David McGladdery led the prayers with assistance from Baptist Minister Rev Jonathan Greaves. The Royal British Legion Exhortation was given by Cmdr (retired) Jeff Belcher.

It will be the last Remembrance Parade for Macebearer John Blake (left) who will be standing down from official duties after over half a century of service as mace bearer for Monmouth Town Council.

All thoughts will now be on the big commemoration for next year’s Remembrance Service which not only falls on the same day as the Armistice but will be 100 years to the date when the guns fell silent in the First World War.

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay was among those taking part in Remembrance Sunday parades in Chepstow and Usk.

Both events attracted a large turn out, including representatives from many local organisations.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Ramsay said: “It was good to see so much support for the fallen of our armed forces who did so much to protect our freedom.

“It is important that we take time to reflect on the sacrifices of so many in war”.

Skenfrith was janother of the many villages across the county that sent men off to fight in The First World War and a service was held to commemorate those that gave their lives in the two world wars, and to give thanks for those that returned.

The service was led by Rev Michael Smith and wreaths were laid by Community Councillor Graham Edmunds, County Councillor Ruth Edwards and Robin McCleary MBE, a former Warrant Officer in the Royal Logistic Corps. The Act of Remembrance Ode was spoken by Desmond Pugh and the Kohima Epitaph by Oliver Pugh.