Plymouth commemorates WW1 centenary

A commemoration service will take place on Plymouth Hoe tonight (Monday 4 August) to mark 100 years since the start of the First World War.

This service aims to 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, providing a time for reflection and thought for everyone who attends.

A service will take place by Rev Dent at the Minister Church of St. Andrew followed by a candlelit procession to The Hoe.

Residents and visitors are invited to join a short commemoration service at Royal Naval War memorial.

The service will include a declaration of war reading which will then be followed by a two minute silence at 11pm.

Plymouth City Council is supporting the national ‘Light’s Out’ campaign, where corporate lights will all be turned off between 10pm and 11pm for a shared moment of silence across the country.

Schedule:

22.45 – Standards and Service personnel in position

22.48 – Alan Swift, Plymouth Pipes and Drums will play ‘Song for Mary’ – a beautiful low air from Smeaton’s Tower (or RN Memorial) 

22.52 –Welcome from the Lord Mayor of Plymouth 

22.55 – ‘For the Fallen’ - a Poem by Robert Laurence Binyon read by Mike Sullivan the Poet Laureate to the City of Plymouth 

22.58 - Declaration reading (Sir Edward Grey - “The lamps are going out all over Europe we shall not see them lit again in our time”) Dr Todd Gray MBE author of Devon Remembers

23.00 – Gun Salute from the Belvedere followed by two minute silence

23.02 - Last Post – Bugler

Coastal Motor Boat CMB.9/DCB.1 - award winning restoration project of the smallest seagoing WW1 Royal Navy fighting Torpedo Boat, built in 1916 by Thornycroft which achieved speeds of up to 40 knots will be moored in Sutton Harbour by Captain Jaspers until the 5 August. It is a site not to be missed!