THE lives of 280 men and women from Trowbridge who died while serving their country in armed conflicts have been remembered in the Festival of Remembrance at the town’s Civic Centre.
Around 135 people attended the service at The Civic on Friday evening to commemorate those who lost their lives in conflicts around the world.
The service also celebrated the 80th anniversary of 617 Squadron’s raid to destroy three German dams in the Ruhr Valley during the Second World War.
The Royal Air Force squadron was known afterwards as the Dambusters after the Barnes Wallis bouncing bomb used in their audacious raid.
Air Vice Mashall Martin Clarke opened the festival, which featured the Warminster Military Wives Choir, the Steeple Belles Choir, Nimrod, a Drumhead Service, and the Salisbury Royal British Legion Band.
Squadron Leader (Ret’d) Phil Kerrison gave a reading for the Dambusters 80th anniversary, and Revered Jake Eggertson, the Vicar of St James’ Church in Trowbridge, read the Act of Remembrance.
RBL Wiltshire County President General Sir Jack Deverell read the Kohima prayer, followed by a two-minute silence and the reveille.
Those who attended raised funds for the RBL and the armed forces charity SSAFA.
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