Towns and villages across the country fell silent on Sunday (10th November) to remember those that fell in the two world wars and subsequent conflicts.

Clubs, societies, cadets, associations and branches of the emergency services joined with former and current members of the armed forces to pay tribute to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom enjoyed today.Armistice services were held on the closest Sunday to Armistice day, the 11th day of the 11th month.The service at the war memorial in St James’ Square was led by Rev Catherine Haynes and supported by Baptist minister Jonathan Greaves. For the first time, the Royal British Legion and Kohima exhortations were read out by the head boy and girl from Monmouth Comprehensive School, Ryan Trigg and Josie Harrison.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 to lay wreaths on the war memorial.Girl guides, scouts, beavers 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 Ben Skailes, a Year 13 pupil.The annual parade was followed by a moving church service at St Mary’s Church.Skenfrith was just one 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 Gaynor Burrett who read out the names of the men remembered on the memorial and wreaths were laid by Community Councillor Graham Edmunds, County Councillor Ruth Edwards and Charles Blacklock, who read the two exhortations.In Tintern, the poppies created the previous year paid a central part in the service in Tintern Abbey.Each poppy was etched with the name of a fallen serviceman and the date they fell as a symbolic piece of art. The poppies began their journey at Raglan Castle last year and after being in circulation at significant venues throughout the country, made it to Tintern Abbey in time for this year’s Remembrance service.  As the conclusion of this year long project comes to an end, the ceramic poppies will be going on sale for £15. The public are invited to ‘pick their own’ poppies directly from Tintern Abbey, where there is an honesty box in the Abbey Shop.Armistice day, Monday 11th of November, saw services held at Monmouth Castle and Monmouth School for Boys (MSB).A special Armistice Day service to rededicate the war memorial at MSB saw a plaque unveiled to a former pupil of the school.Distinguished guests, including Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Gwent; The Royal Welsh and Major-General Lennox Napier CB OBE MC DL, gathered for the re-dedication of the school’s war memorial and a new plaque unveiled in honour of Angus Buchanan MC VC.The war memorial, conceived in 1919 by the Old Monmothians to remember the 76 old boys who fell in World War One, was originally opened by Captain Buchanan.And the whole school, including musicians from the Chapel Choir, were present on Monday (11th November) as Brigadier Aitken and Major-General Napier re-dedicated the War Memorial and the plaque, respectively.Major-General Napier, aged 91, said: “May this plaque inspire generations of boys to lead lives of honour and service.”Headmaster, Dr Andrew Daniel, hosted the Royal Welsh (the successor to the South Wales Borderers, Buchanan’s regiment) and its Regimental Goat, Shenkin IV, with Sgt Mark Jackson.The bugler, Sgt Johnathon Bowden, played The Last Post and Jack Guerin the Rouse.Angus Buchanan was educated at Monmouth School for Boys, where he was head boy. The school has a boarding house named in his honour.He went on to study Classics at Jesus College, Oxford, and joined the army, where he served in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1916.At just 21 and a temporary captain in the 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, Captain Buchanan displayed conspicuous bravery in the face of enemy fire to save the lives of comrades during the First World War for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.In a later incident, however, Captain Buchanan was shot in the head in 1917 by a sniper and blinded.Despite his blindness, Captain Buchanan returned to Jesus College after the war and read Law, rowing for the college in 1919. After graduating in 1921, he worked in a solicitor’s office in Oxford before returning to his family home in Coleford in the Forest of Dean to work until his death in 1944.The pupils of the Montessori School held a service at the memorial in Llangattock-Vibon-Avel Churchyard. This is particularly in memory of the sixteen local men who lost their lives in the First World War. They included the 2nd Lord Llangattock and also Capt MacLaverty son of the then parish vicar.They have held this service for ten years. The Rev. Simon Guest, who has written a detailed research on all those named, will conduct the short service supported yet again by Bugler Tim Baldwin who works at Rolls Royce Filton. Their youth and empathy made this a very moving and sombre experience for all present.Local Assembly Member for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay, attended the Remembrance Parade held in Monmouth yesterday morning, joining large crowds who turned out to show their respect to all those service personnel who have sacrificed their lives for us all. Nick said: “I was pleased to be able to join members of our armed forces and the crowds in Monmouth on Sunday morning. This year marked 100 years since the first two minute silence ordered by George V to remember the fallen of the First World War, but this symbolic gesture remains as poignant and moving now as it must have done all those years ago. It is important that we never forget to honour all those men and women over the years who made the ultimate sacrifice.”