With commemorations to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, this year's Remembrance Day ceremonies, held across Bexley, took on extra significance ...

THE annual Festival of Remembrance organised by the East Wickham and Welling War Memorial Trust at St Michael's Church, Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, attracted its largest crowd since the event began.

More than 500 people, including MP David Evennett and Bexley mayor Councillor John Shepheard, attended the event to remember those killed during the war.

Thoughts were also for the 105 men who died in the First World War and in whose memory the trust was established.

Remembering seamen

A SERVICE of Remembrance was held in St Paul's Church, Mill Road, Northumberland Heath, for merchant seamen who lost their lives in war.

Among those who attended was MP John Austin, who paid tribute to the dead.

He said: "The contribution made by merchant seamen is all too easily forgotten but they played a crucial role in both the first and second world wars and in the Falklands conflict.

"Victory in all these depended upon the efforts of the merchant navy as well as the armed forces."

He said merchant seamen suffered heavier casualties than any of the armed services but their service, which may have shortened the Second World War by two years, often went unrecognised.

Think of the fallen

FORMER servicemen from Abbey Wood and Thamesmead held their own act of remembrance in Thamesmead's Morrisons store, Thamesmere Drive.

It was held at the traditional 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

The store was brought to a standstill as 15 ex- servicemen, six of them veterans of the Second World War, held a two-minute silence in memory of their fallen comrades.

The silence was followed by the commemoration, recited by Royal British Legion chairman Sam Batty, and the sounding of the Last Post.

Display of pride

SERVICEMEN from the area killed in conflicts and in both world wars have been remembered in a commemorative window display by a charity which supports ex-servicemen and women.

Frontline Action Careers Trust gives grants as assistance to other organisations which provide training and professional courses to enable ex-service personnel to cope with civilian life and get new jobs.

Its charity shop in Bellegrove Road, Welling, used photographs and war memorabilia to remind people of the on-going sacrifices by members of the armed services and their families.