Plymouth service will commemorate WW1
A commemoration service will take place on Plymouth Hoe on Monday 4 August to mark 100 years since the start of the First World War.
Organised by Plymouth City Council the service will bring together communities and visitors from across the city to commemorate the lives of those who fought and died in the First World War.
Service personnel and key dignitaries will join Plymouth’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Michael Fox, and the Leader at St. Andrew’s Church where Reverend Dent will take a 45 minute commemoration service.
The Lord Mayor will lead ‘The Commitment to Peace’ which will see those attending the service pledge to live as good neighbours, to honour the past, to care for all who are in need and to live at peace with all people.
A candlelit procession will walk from the church to The Hoe at 10.15pm where a public service will take place at the Royal Naval War Memorial.
The procession will leave the church and walk up Armada Way crossing Princess Street and Notte Street before reaching The Hoe. Residents are able to join the procession and will be responsible for bringing their own candle at their own risk. It is recommended that electronic candles or a candle mobile phone app is used.
Standards and Service personnel will surround the space in front of the war memorial at 10.45pm followed by a Piper playing ‘Song for Mary’ on the bagpipes.
The Lord Mayor will welcome guests before Plymouth’s Poet Laureate, Mike Sullivan, reads ‘For the Fallen’, a poem by Robert Laurence Binyon.
The observation made by the Foreign Secretary at the time, Sir Edward Grey, on the eve of the War - “The lamps are going out all over Europe we shall not see them lit again in our time” – will be read by Dr Todd Gray MBE, an historian and author of ‘Devon Remembers’.
A single Gun Salute will fire from the Belvedere at 11pm which will signal ‘light’s out’, where all candles except one in a lantern in front of the war memorial will need to go out marking the exact moment of the declaration of war.
This will also mark the start of a two minute national silence to commemorate the lives of those who fought and died in the First World War, providing a time for reflection and thought for everyone who attends.
Plymouth Lord Mayor, Councillor Michael Fox, said: “Monday 4 August marks 100 years since the start of the First World War and it’s important that Plymouth remembers all those that fought for our country. Without the bravery, commitment and sacrifice those soldiers made Plymouth would not be the city we know today. It makes it even more moving being the home to many service personnel, now and in the past.
“Plymouth is proud to be able to support the national ‘Light’s Out’ campaign.”
This event is part of Plymouth Remembers where 100 events will be run this year. For more information about these events visit www.visitplymouth.gov.uk.
