Submariners gather in London for annual remembrance service
Serving and Veteran Royal Navy Submariners travelled to London at the weekend to remember those submariners who have gone on “eternal patrol”.
Hundreds of members of the Silent Service attended events at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, and at Middle Temple Gardens on Sunday, to pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
This year marks the centenary of the first ever Submariners Memorial Service held in 1923 following the establishment of the National Submarine War Memorial in 1922. Ever since, the Submariners’ Remembrance has been held the week before the nation’s main Remembrance commemorations to allow Submariners to attend both.
Events are held over two days with serving submariners and veterans gathering for the Dedication of the Poppy Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
The main event is the Remembrance Parade the following day and is attended by members of the Submariners’ Association, serving and veteran submariners and Commodore (Cdre) Paul Dunn, Commodore of the Submarine Service.
Cdre Dunn is the Commanding Officer of the Submarine Flotilla, based at HMNB Clyde.
The Naval Base is the home of the UK Submarine Service and as well as the four Vanguard-class and five Astute-class Royal Navy submarines currently based there, it will be the homeport for the new Dreadnought Class of submarine, expected to be in service in the early 2030s.
Submariners, veterans, and family members gather at the Poppy field of Remembrance.
Following the Parade at Middle Temple Gardens, a Service was led by the Reverend Steven Dray, the Submarine Association Chaplain, with prayers read by the Reverend Mark Street, Chaplain for the Submarine Flotilla. During the ceremony there was a two-minute silence, wreath laying, and the reading of the roll call of submarines lost.
Once again the annual Submarine Remembrance Service brought together all generations of The Submarine Family.
From our youngest 17-year-old submarine trainee to a war veteran now aged 100, the weekend celebrated those submariners who continue to deliver our enduring mission whilst remembering those who have gone before us.
Commodore Paul Dunn laying a wreath during the service.
100-year-old Veteran, Alec Alfred ‘Maxey’ Maxim laying a wreath at the drumhead.
One of the youngest members of the Silent Service, Engineering Technician Rhys Tiffany (aged 17) laid a wreath on behalf of HMS Sultan, the Navy’s training establishment in Gosport for all engineers – above and below the waves.
ET Rhys Tiffany salutes during the Memorial Service.
I have always taken a great interest in the act of Remembrance; it is important we recognise the sacrifices made by those gone before us. As someone who is just starting my military career, they are a huge inspiration.
It is a massive honour to represent HMS Sultan and the Submarine Service in laying a wreath. It is something I didn’t expected to do, and I am immensely proud.
Serving Submariners and veterans gather in West Cloisters at the Submariner Statue.
At the start of World War 1, the Royal Navy had fifty seven operational submarines which expanded to one hundred and thirty seven vessels by the time the war ended in 1918, with another seventy eight under construction. During the war, fifty four of its submarines were sunk, and over thirteen hundred Royal Navy submariners were killed.
Sent by: Royal Navy, Communications & Influence (RNCI) Regional Press Office (Scotland & Northern Ireland), HM Naval Base Clyde.
HMNBC 41/23 Monday, 6 November 2023
ROYAL NAVY MEDIA RELEASE
