We Will Remember Them
As part of the UK national Remembrance commemorations, Bridgend Town Council co-ordinates two events for local residents to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
A Children and Family Remembrance Parade and Service
This special service held on the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday is specifically for primary school age children and families. The event is tailored to provide an opportunity for the children to learn about the importance of Remembrance. Children will actively participate in the event by parading from the top of Wyndham Street to the War Memorial and will receive a Remembrance Service. The event will also provide an opportunity for children to plant crosses at the War Memorial in memory of people from Bridgend who have lost their lives in conflict.
Order of Service:
Bridgend Town Council is co-ordinating two Remembrance events to commemorate the military and civilian servicemen and women from Britain and across the Commonwealth, who lost their lives in the two World Wars and later conflicts
A Children & Family Remembrance Parade and Service will take place on Saturday 12th November. This event is arranged specifically for younger children and families and will provide an opportunity for primary school aged children to learn about the importance of Remembrance. Children will actively participate in the event by gathering at the top of Wyndham Street from 10.20am in readiness to march to the War Memorial in Dunraven Place, where Reverend Rachel Wheeler will conduct a short Remembrance Service. This service will take place irrespective of weather conditions (unless adverse weather deems the event dangerous). We ask that those attending dress appropriately for the weather conditions on the day.
The Bridgend Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service will take place on Sunday 13th November. The parade, led by the City of Swansea Pipe Band, will muster in Adare Street at the junction with Elder Lane from 10:25am. The parade will step off at 10.40am and march to the War Memorial, Dunraven Place for a service conducted by Reverend Rachel Wheeler. Bridgend Male Voice Choir and Lewis-Merthyr Brass Band will provide musical support.
Children under secondary school age are welcome to attend to observe the Sunday Remembrance Parade and Service with their family or carers but will not participate in the Sunday Remembrance parade.
This year, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the loss of HMS URGE in World War Two, Bridgend Town Council has extended an invite to the families of those who lost their lives on board the submarine to attend the Remembrance Service. The invitation follows events held in Malta earlier this year, including a service at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral Valletta, a wreath laying at sea and the unveiling of a memorial to HMS URGE near where the submarine was lost on April 27th, 1942.
Francis Dickinson, grandson of the Captain of HMS URGE, Lieutenant-Commander Edward Philip Tomkinson, DSO*, RN said on behalf of the HMS URGE Families Group:
“It is a privilege for HMS URGE families to take part in Bridgend’s Remembrance Day Commemorations, 80 years after the submarine was lost with all hands in World War Two. We greatly value our ties with Bridgend, just as HMS URGE’s ship’s company did during the intense warfare of the Mediterranean naval campaign.”
Members of the group, Commander Steve Foster, RD, RNR (Rtd), and Mrs.Alison Foster, cousin of Lieutenant David Allen, DSC, RN, added:
“The families are honoured to finally fulfil the invitation from Bridgend to march through the town in recognition of the joint sacrifice made by town members who funded the cost of the submarine and those who were proud to serve in her.”
Further information regarding the Remembrance events and any changes to this event as a result of Covid-19 will be communicated via our website and Facebook Page
Parade and Service Images 2021
Commemorating 100 Years Of Bridgend’s War Memorial
Should you wish to read more of the 1921 service in Dunraven Place, where the War Memorial was unveiled, the Glamorgan Gazette reported on the event in the edition published on November 18th, 1921, what follows is an extract from that report.
100 years of Bridgends War Memorial
With thanks to the Awen Collection, the Edwin Miles Collection, the Francis Frith Collection, David Williams, Mrs Ann Rees and Gerald Dodd for the images.
