Submariners pay Remembrance Sunday tribute
By Sean Thorpe & Ron Gordon
MORE THAN 250 serving, veterans and visitors were in attendance at a special ceremony held from Gosport Submarine Museum on November 12 as they joined the nation in marking Remembrance Sunday.
The ceremony was held with the magnificent backdrop and was organised by Roy Dixon (a member of the Gosport Submariners) with HMS Collingwood Chaplain Mark Noakes leading the poignant service. It was held to remember all those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the realm and to remember the 169 lost UK submarines.
Proceedings started at 10:50am where Gosport Branch Chairman, Steve Thorpe MBE, thanked all those attending before handing over to Mark Noakes for the service. It’s timing was impeccable and the two-minute silence was observed with John (Bugsy) Marlow piping the still. There was a reading from Lt Cdr Stu Moss, prior to the wreath laying, and another reading was undertaken by Jock McLees, representing the Friends of the Submarine Museum, for Tennisons Crossing the Bar.
To conclude the ceremony, in good submariner tradition, the order was to out hipflasks and toast absent friends. Following the parade dismissal everyone was invited into the museum to enjoy a tot for a charity donation, which will support the Gosport Submariners widows fund and the ‘Chairman’s Charity. This is currently Elson Heros who provide entertainment and days out for children of military families at Elson Junior School.
Event organisers would like to thank everybody involved for their support and attendance despite poor weather, in particular the Gosport Submarine Museum for allowing the service to be held. It was a huge success with the numbers growing significantly from November 2022 and they look forward to seeing everyone again in 2024.
Anybody wanting to join the Gosport branch of the Submariners Association are asked to contact Ron Gordon by emailing: rongordon58@gmail.com. However all members must either be former or current submariners.
Readers can also read a separate piece from Ron Gordon detailing the Submariner’s attendance at Elson Junior School’s Remembrance Service, which can be downloaded via this document.
PICTURED BY ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES (2ND / 3RD): Guests pay tribute at the Submarine Museum for Remembrance Sunday, joining the nation in remembering those who died or fought for our freedoms today.
