SUSSEX fell silent on Sunday morning as people came together to remember and honour the servicemen and women who have died in past conflicts.
At 9am a short service was held for the Royal Sussex Regimental Association at the war memorial in Regency Square, Brighton.
Bruno Jones, who served for nine years in Yemen with the first battalion Royal Sussex regiment in 1963, attended the ceremony and reflected on the horror of war.
“It’s so important to remember the fallen,” said the 81-year-old.
“Not just in the First and Second World War but all the other wars we’ve had since.
“War is a terrible thing, and many people lose lives.
“It’s very sad and it’s like a ripple. It hurts families and friends too.
“I lost a friend of mine, so I always remember him.
“Private Barnes, he was only 18.
“I could never see the point of why we were out there.”
At 10.30am hundreds of people gathered in Old Steine Gardens in Brighton for the traditional parade, service and wreath laying at the memorial.
Hymns were led by the Salvation Army band and poetry and prayers were read to remember all those who have lost their lives in war and who continue to be affected by war.
Brighton MPs Caroline Lucas and Lloyd Russell-Moyle attended the service and joined representatives from the Armed Forces and other organisations in laying a wreath.
After 45 minutes the service ended and the long line of service personnel who made up the parade left the memorial, with onlookers lining the street to clap as they went past.
Another veteran, who only wanted to give his name as Des, served with the Royal Signals from 1997 until 2018 and is still a reservist.
He said he knew a lot of people who died serving and that his niece was in the parade.
“I have a lot of friends who didn’t come home,” he said.
“You think about it a lot.
“I think about them all the time.
“It’s important to remember those who aren’t here anymore and it’s great to come here with so many other people to remember.”
There were plenty of other services taking place across the county.
In Hove, there were two events.
At 11am, two wreath laying ceremonies were held in Hove Cemetery in Old Shoreham Road - the first at the North Gate Memorial, followed by another at the South Gate Memorial.
Then at 2.30pm, there was a ceremony at the war memorial on Grand Avenue, involving a short service and official wreath laying, followed by a march past, salute and parade to All Saints Church and Civic Memorial Service.
In Portslade, there was a wreath laying ceremony at Easthill Park Memorial, Manor Road at 11am.
In Rottingdean, there was the traditional parade and service at 11.30am, which made its way to The Green for a remembrance service at 12.
In Worthing large crowds packed into the town centre for a service and parade at the war memorial.
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