AROUND 500 people fell silent in Trowbridge Park this morning to pay respect to servicemen who have given their lives to their country.

A parade muster led the way for the Act of Remembrance by marching along Church Street and Silver Street where a salute was given by civic and military dignitaries.

At the war memorial in Trowbridge Park, Revd Dr Rob Thomas proceeded with a prayer before a number of wreaths were laid by mayor Cllr Roger Andrews, MP Andrew Murrison and representatives from the Normandy Veterans Association and the 32 Regiment Royal Artillery (The Wessex Gunners).

During his speech, Major William Naesmyth of Posso announced his retirement as president of the Trowbridge branch of the Royal British Legion and thanked the town for their support in the Poppy Appeal.

Mr Naesmyth of Posso added: “Since we met here last year, three more of our servicemen have died. There was Lance Corporal Campbell who died more than three years after he had been shot in the stomach in Afghanistan in July. In October, two of our RAF officers were also killed in Afghanistan in what appears to be an aircraft accident but there are still 600 servicemen who are injured.

“The Poppy Appeal last year raised £33,500 here in Trowbridge and the villages around it. That is the second highest total that we have had and we are very grateful to all of you who donated.

“There is also something else that I would like to mention particularly when you look at the war memorial. None of the men whose names are there know that we won two world wars. They do not know that their loss and sacrifice would mean so much to us today. They do not know that their victory would mean a rise in living standards for people and that is why we should remember and thank them. We should also pay thanks to the survivors.”

Mr Naesmyth of Posso said after more than 20 years, he will pass over the reins of the Trowbridge branch to Air Vice-Marshal Martin Clark who he hopes will continue the town’s remembrance tradition.

“We want these parades to continue for the remembrance of these men on the war memorial. It is a time to pay thanks and to remember their sacrifice while raising money for the Poppy Appeal which will help veterans in need,” he added.

“These parades and veterans parades are the highlight of our year at the Royal British Legion and of course the Poppy Appeal is very important part of our fundraising because we want to raise as much money as we can to help these veterans in need.”