City's silent tribute to war dead

People all over Bath came to a standstill today to remember those who had given their lives in wartime.

Hundreds bowed their heads and observed a two-minute silence outside of Bath Abbey.

The ceremony, which was one of three across the city, marked the 91st anniversary of end of the First World War.

Two maroons were fired from the Parade Gardens for the start and finish of the silence.

The traditional silence at 11am marks the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - when the Armistice Treaty was signed by the Allies and Germany to end four years of the Great War.

Abbey rector Prebendary Edward Mason led a service after the silence.

He said: “We give thanks today for those men and women who have given their lives so we could be free.

“We also pray for those who have lost loved ones.”

For the first time the anniversary was marked without any survivors of the First World War, following the deaths of Henry Allingham and Bath-born Harry Patch.

This time last year they lined up at the Cenotaph in London for the service.

Now the pair, who died within a week of each other in July, were among the hundreds of thousands of war dead remembered.

Bath Royal British Legion chairman Major Rikki Peters was present at the service.

He said: “It is so important, even essential, to remember those who have died fighting for our country.

“People are not just remembering World War 1 and 2, but also those in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

A service led by the Rev David Burleigh was held at Haycombe Cemetery.

People gathered next to the war graves to pay their respects.

B&NES council chair Councillor Bryan Chalker was present and said: “The service provided an ideal opportunity for people to gather together in memory of all those who died in conflicts.”

Another service took place in Combe Down, followed by people placing wreaths on the war memorial at Firs Field.

Villagers and pupils from Combe Down Primary School gathered together to remember the fallen.

Work in the mines underneath the area stopped for the silence

It took place under the new Union flag, which is there thanks to a council pilot initiative that helps ward councillors improve their local communities.

Last year, B&NES Council allocated £40,000 to ten ward councillors to fund projects that improve the well-being of the community they represent.

Councillor Brian Simmons invested his share of the money in a new flagpole for the park and this will be used to fly the Union flag until November 23.

It will then house the Green Flag - an independent award given to the park in recognition of the way it is looked after.

To honour the bravery of Mr Patch and Mr Allingham, artist Dan Llywelyn Hall has captured them on paper.

Drawings made during sittings with the veterans have now been given to the Royal Collection and the National Museum Wales.

Mr Llywelyn Hall said: “There was a lot of commentary from the Royals at the time of both men's death and I thought it was appropriate for the studies to go to the collection.

“I wrote to the Queen directly as I thought they would be a valuable addition and I'm told she was very keen to have them added to the Royal Collection.”

The Study of Harry Patch: The Last Tommy 2008 was completed during a two-hour sitting at Fletcher House nursing home in Wells last September.

One of the studies shows Mr Patch during a coffee break and another ink sketch shows the 111-year-old perched on a chair with his war medals pinned to his jacket.

To buy a limited edition print of the etching of Harry Patch, priced £155, visit www.danllywelynhall.co.uk.

Proceeds go to the Royal British Legion.