SOLDIERS who died in two world wars were remembered in a special Armistice Day ceremony at Christ Church Cathedral, coinciding with the 99th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
Among those paying their respects was a 94-year-old involved in the D-Day landing, as veterans, families and friends turned out for the Turning the Pages ceremony on Saturday.
In a moving tribute, names of soldiers from both the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars were read from the Book of Remembrance.
The congregation stood as the calls of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars were sounded and service personnel entered the cathedral.
Among those at the service was 94-year-old Vernon Jones who spent his 21st birthday in a boat waiting in preparation for the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.
The anti-tank gunner was in the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and landed on Gold Beach, before being transferred to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
He said during those moments of silence on Remembrance weekend he thinks about one person in particular, his friend George Rook.
He said: "I think of one of my good friends. We were friends for three years in the army and I will always remember him.
"He was killed in Germany right near to the end.
"We were like brothers and would do everything for each other."
Mr Jones was among those reading 20 names from the Book of Remembrance during the service.
The Revd Canon Edmund Newey, sub dean of Christ Church, opened the service talking about the act of remembrance on such a poignant day.
He added: "This year in particular we remember the 325,000 allied soldiers and 260,000 German soldiers who were wounded and gave their lives in the Battle of Passchendaele 100 years ago."
The church then fell silent as the Last Post was sounded and the cathedral tower struck 11am for a two minute silence.
The tradition was started by Colonel Richard Hill, a former officer with the Royal Green Jackets, and after he died he passed the responsibility to Colonel Mike Vince.
Ceremonies are held several times a year and a page from the Book of Remembrance is turned in its glass case when the names are read out.
The names read out at Saturday's service were:
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry -
From World War One
Henry Binham, 21, died October 12, 1917, in the Battle of Passchendaele
Charles Edward Sherwood, 21, died October 22, 1917, in the Battle of Passchendaele
Albert Edward Tetlow, 25, died October 22, 1917, in the Battle of Passchendaele
George Herbert Tompkins, 35, died October 23, 1917, in the Battle of Passchendaele
Levi Woods, 31, died October 24, 1917, in the Battle of Passchendaele
From World War Two
Alfred William Cook, 31, died October 12, 1944, in Nijmegan, Netherlands
Richard Arthur Lear, 22, died August 12, 1944, in Calvados, France
William George Newton, 30, died September 4, 1944, in Riccione, Italy
James Arthur Sharp, 28, died December 2, 1944, in Krakow, Poland
Stanley Robert Winfield, 31, died September 8, 1944, in Riccione, Italy
Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars -
From World War One
Uriah James Clarke, 33, died March 23, 1918, at St Quentin
John Clift, 22, died May 18, 1918, in England of wounds
George Walter Coles, 23, died March 21, 1918 at St Quentin
John Richard Coleshill, 31, died November 1, 1918 in England of wounds
Arthur Collier, 45, died June 1, 1917, in England of wounds
From World War Two
Ernest John Claydon, 28, died February 15, 1942, in Singapore
Edward Cleall, 30, died November 17, 1944, at Boxmeer
Percy William Colburn, 31, died September 11, 1943, in the Far East
Jack McPherson Coles, 32, died July 3, 1943, in the Far East
Stephen Cooney, 33, died July 22, 1943, in the Far East
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel