Remembrance Day commemorations across the south: What's happening where you are
A number of services and parades are taking place across the south coast this weekend as we mark Remembrance Day
Last updated 10th Nov 2023
Communities across the south coast are taking part in Remembrance Day commemorations this weekend to pay their respects to past and present Armed Forces personnel who died fighting for their country.
Former soldier Tim Harvey, from Bournemouth, is one of 50 veterans, carers, and staff from Help for Heroes, who will commemorate the service and sacrifice of all those who have served in the military at the Cenotaph march-past on Remembrance Sunday (12 November), in London.
Tim, 50, served with the Royal Green Jackets/The Rifles Regiment for 24 years until he was medically discharged, following injuries received while deployed in Afghanistan, in 2009. He has been supported by Help for Heroes since 2012.
Looking ahead to the march-past, he said: “It’s a time for reflection and I’m quite excited about the opportunity to be there and pay my respects.”
What’s happening in Portsmouth?
Armistice Day Service
Saturday 11 November at the WW1 memorial, Guildhall Square (Cenotaph). This short service starts at 10:55am and will include a two-minute silence at the traditional 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. During the service there will be a selection of readings and poems.
Royal Navy Remembrance Parade
Sunday 12 November, 9.15am at Southsea Naval War Memorial. Sailors from HM Naval Base Portsmouth will conduct a Remembrance Parade. The Naval Base Commander, Commodore John Voyce OBE ADC, would like to invite veterans and service persons to attend. The parade will finish by 10am to allow for the Naval Guard and veterans to make their way to Guildhall Square for the City of Portsmouth Remembrance Parade.
City of Portsmouth Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade
Sunday 12 November, 10.30am–12pm at Guildhall Square. The service will be preceded by a parade of veterans, military personnel and youth groups in the square at 10.30am. At 11am there will be a two-minute silence followed by the service. A wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph will conclude the morning’s events.
What’s happening in Gosport?
The National Museum of the Royal Navy invites visitors to join them at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport for a Remembrance commemoration on Sunday 12 November 2023.
The Submarine Association service is hosted by the Friends of the Submarine Museum and Gosport Submariners Association and Chaplain, The Rev Mark Noakes RN, himself a submariner, will officiate. Grateful thanks are owed to the Chaplaincy of HMS Collingwood for their continued support with the ceremony.
Those attending are invited to be in position by 10:40am. As the clock strikes 11:00am, the congregation will pay their respects and honour the fallen.
Visitors are then invited to stay at the museum and buy a ticket. As well as Second World War-era HMS Alliance which features tours by submariners.
What’s happening in Fareham?
Armistice Day at Sarisbury Green - 10.45am on Saturday 11th November - we will be commemorating the sacrifice of local servicemen who are forever remembered on our memorial adjacent St Pauls Sarisbury Green
Representation from RAF 78 Squadron Swanwick, HMS Collingwood, Blighmont Army Reserve and Fareham Police with 1st Sarisbury Green Scouts reading the names and Rev Amy Adeniran from Hope Church Whiteley leading the service and Tony Flatman from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary providing the music.
What’s happening in Southampton?
Military contingents and the City of Southampton (Albion) Band will leave Guildhall Square at 10.35am and head towards the Cenotaph in Watts Park, where the annual Remembrance Service will begin shortly before 11am. The service is expected to last around one hour, and everyone is welcome to attend.
The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Southampton Councillor Valerie Laurent, Vice Lord-Lieutenant Colonel Charles Ackroyd TD RD DL, and Superintendent Chief Inspector Marcus Kennedy will be in attendance along with other key members of Southampton City Council.
The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Valerie Laurent said: “Remembrance is an opportunity for the city to come together and give thanks to all serving troops, both past and present and of course their families. Please do join us at the Cenotaph if you are able.”
Archie Parsons from Southampton Royal British Legion said: “On Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, we reflect and give thanks to all those that played their part in bringing peace and those who helped to re-build our great city to what it is today."
Over 2000 poppies have been generously knitted and donated by communities across Southampton this year to create a display at the Cenotaph for Remembrance and in local libraries. After the service, the poppies will be stored and then displayed at The Cenotaph for each year.
For residents unable to attend the Remembrance Parade and Service, a highlight video will be shared across Southampton City Council social media channels on the afternoon of Sunday 12 November 2023
Approximate Timings:
10:35am - Military contingents leave Guildhall Square
10:58am - Service begins at Cenotaph
11:50am - Parade from Cenotaph to Guildhall Square
What’s happening in Romsey?
There will be many ways for everyone to remember the fallen that weekend, the Remembrance Trail, Armistice Remembrance Ceremonies, Romsey Choral Society perform ‘For the Fallen’ at Romsey Abbey and the Sunday Remembrance Day Parade.
On Saturday 11th, Romsey will have the Fort Cumberland Guard Reenactment team with their cannon display at Romsey Memorial Park from 10.30am with the canon being fired at 11.00. Romsey Old Cadet Buglers will attend to call the end of the two minutes silence.
The Royal British Legion and Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership will also conduct a Poppy Memorial at Station Approach at 11am with wreath laying and prayers.
That evening the Romsey Chorial Society will perform ‘For the Fallen’ music for Remembrance at Romsey Abbey from 7.30pm.
The Romsey Mountbatten branch chairman, Peter Hurst, of The Royal British Legion said: “We are very proud of the fact that the Romsey remembrance services play such a large part in the lives of Romsey citizens and that these events are well supported by the local community.
On Sunday 12th November, Remembrance Day, the parade will commence from Love Lane at 9am through the town and to Romsey Abbey for the Service of Remembrance commencing at 9.25am.
Following the service at 10.30am, all will make their way to the Romsey War Memorial Park where a service will be conducted. Michelmersh Silver Band, Romsey Old Cadet Buglers and the Romsey Abbey Choirs will be in attendance. There will be a fly pass by an Apache from Middle Wallop just before the 2-minute silence at 11am.
The Sunday Remembrance Parade procession will be attended by Deputy Lieutenant Hampshire, Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis CBE DL, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, MP Caroline Nokes, Romsey Town Mayor Cllr John Ray, Deputy Mayor Test Valley Cllr Gordon Bailey, Senior Military, Police, Past Mayors, Senior and Junior Mace Bearers, 22 Engineers (regiment from the British Army’s Royal Engineers), 7 Regiment Army Air Corps, Medical Army Core, Air Cadets, Army Cadets, Sea Cadets, Embley Combined Forces Cadets, Scouts, and Girl Guides.
Once the wreaths have been laid the civic party will be led by the Caledonian Pipe Band, to take up their position near Palmerston’s Statue in the Market Place at approximately 11.20am. The parade will then march via the North Side of Romsey Abbey, past the Civic Party at Palmerston’s Statue and down The Hundred to the Royal British Legion in Love Lane.
Victoria Burbidge and Marc Thompson foundered the Romsey War Memorial Archive twenty-four years ago in 1999, still run by them it has helped to spearhead Remembrance in the market town of Romsey.
Victoria Burbidge said: "It was initially designed as an educational tribute to the 211 men commemorated on the town’s war memorial, but now the Archive has gone far beyond its original intention.
"The in-depth research over the years has uncovered a story behind every man and his family, and school visits have given the opportunity to share those stories with Romsey’s schoolchildren by exploring the field of individually named knitted poppies, laid out in the Memorial Park as if they were rows of graves, and to lay a wreath at the war memorial.
"To gain an insight to the individual stories of some of Romsey’s fallen there is the opportunity to follow the Remembrance Trail, a series of over forty pictorial biographies detailing their connection with Romsey, their life history and how they died. Situated in shops and businesses around the town you can read their personal story and help keep the memory of those taken. We have uncovered some amazing material, instigated the correction of official records, revealed the horrendous loss sustained by local families and ensured that these men of Romsey are never forgotten."
Judith Giles, Romsey Town Council Chief Officer, said: "This will be one of the biggest Remembrance Sunday Parades in Romsey with approximately 100 military in the parade. We look forward to everyone joining us on Remembrance Sunday and remind residents and visitors the roads in the centre of town will be closed during the procession times."
What's happening in the New Forest?
A collection of poppies featuring military buttons will be up for grabs in a Lymington sculptor’s annual community treasure hunt.
Stainless steel artist Michael Turner is gearing up for this year’s hunt for 11 hand-crafted flowers on Remembrance Day to raise thousands for the Royal British Legion.
On Remembrance Day, Saturday 11th November, Michael will hide 11 poppies and post clues on his Instagram and Facebook pages.
On his website, Michael said: "Once again, I can’t wait to hide the poppies around the New Forest, for all you lovely people to find them.
"This year’s poppies are a little different from past years. I’ve acquired some original WW1 & 2 military buttons. To commemorate as many of the battalions as I can, I have set a number of different buttons into the centre of the poppies. I’m pleased to say, they look beautiful."
Michael has also created a further 11 stainless steel poppies which he will auction in aid of the RBL.
He added: "For those who don’t live in the area, or can’t do the Poppy Hunt, or just have not been lucky enough to find one this year, I have another 11 to Auction off.
"The 11 highest Bids will win. All proceeds will go to the Royal British Legion.
"I’m afraid I do not sell them, these are the only 2 ways that you can get the poppies, to find one on the hunt or to be one of the highest bidders in the auction."
What's happening on the Isle of Wight?
On Armistice Day (Saturday 11 November) a bugler will signal the start of a two-minute silence in St Thomas's Square, Newport, Newport, at 11am, to remember those who died in conflict.
The following day, on Remembrance Sunday, a service of remembrance will be held at Newport war memorial in the square.
His Majesty’s representative, Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Susie Sheldon, the Island's High Sheriff, Dawn Haig-Thomas, and council chair, Councillor Claire Critchison, will be in attendance and laying wreaths along with other dignitaries and representatives.
Proceedings will start with processions led by the Royal British Legion parade marshal, Simon Tutton, from Drill Hall Road, Newport, at 10.30am and by the council's mace bearer from Newport Guildhall to St Thomas's Square at 10.50am, where the processions will join for prayers before the formal silence.
The wreath-laying ceremony will follow before the remembrance service continues in the square in Newport.
There will be a second parade following the service, where HM Lord-Lieutenant will take the salute in Newport High Street.
Council members will also be present and laying wreaths at a number of other services and ceremonies taking place across the Island on Sunday.
What's happening in Bournemouth?
Sunday 12 November
Bournemouth’s Annual Service of Remembrance and Parade will take place at the War Memorial in the Central Gardens.
The parade will be led by The Salvation Army Band who will play the bugle alongside the Field Gun Display Team to mark the start and end of the two-minute silence.
The Service commences at 10:55am and will be led by Reverend Dr Steve Parselle, with music provided by the Salvation Army Boscombe Band and the Bournemouth Combined Cadet Force Band.
Please be advised that Braidley Road, Bourne Avenue and Avenue Road will be closed to vehicle access from 9:00am until 1:00pm.
What's happening in Poole?
Saturday 11 November
The Mayor of Poole will be observing the Two Minute Silence with a short service of remembrance outside Beales in the Dolphin Shopping Centre. The service will commence at 10.55am and a bugler from Poole Sea Cadets will be in attendance.
Sunday 12 November
The Annual Service of Remembrance and Parade will take place at the War Memorial in Poole Park.
The Poole Sea Cadets Marching Band will lead the parade and play the bugle to mark the start and end of the two-minute silence. The Service will commence at 10:50am and will be led by Reverend Timothy Meachin, with music provided by the Poole Borough Band.
Please be advised that Poole Park will be closed to vehicle access from 7.30am until 1pm.
What's happening in Christchurch?
Sunday 12 November
The traditional Remembrance Services will begin with a short service at Purewell Cross War Memorial at 9:15am. A procession led by the Royal British Legion, Armed Forces Units, Town Council and Civic organisations, from the Royal British Legion at 10am, down the High Street to the Priory Church.
A wreath laying ceremony will then take place at the Garden of Remembrance at the Priory Church at 10:15am, prior to the commencement of the main Remembrance Service at 10:50am which will include a two-minute silence.
Following the Service the procession will return along the High Street, past the Old Town Hall, where the Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset and Mayor of Christchurch will receive the salute.