CADETS AND RESERVISTS REMEMBER THE FALLEN

Cadets and Reservists were strongly represented at the solemn act of Remembrance at Belfast’s Cenotaph, the City of Belfast’s annual tribute to the memory of those who died during the Great War 1914-1918 and the World War 1939-1945.

They were joined by hundreds from a variety of youth organisations who gathered in the cold at the Garden of Remembrance at Belfast City Hall for a two-minute silence to honour those killed in both World Wars and later conflicts.

Remembrance Sunday was originally conceived as a commemoration of the war dead of the First World War, but following World War II, the ceremony was extended to focus on the nation’s dead of both world wars. In 1980, it was widened further to include all who have suffered and died in conflict in the service of their county and those who mourn their loss.

For the first time, students from Bloomfield Collegiate School in East Belfast joined the Cadets lining the route taken by the wreath-laying procession.  The school has just recently opened a Combined Cadet Force unit in response to the current Cadet Expansion Programme.  Pictured preparing for their ceremonial role are (from left) Cadets Aimee Smith, Anne Sergeant, Meg Watterson, Elia Morrow and Katelin Lord.

On duty at the solemn civic occasion were (from left) Cadet Flight Sergeant Adam McQueen and Cadets James Braithwaite and Joshua Gray.

Proud to play their part in the ceremony, Cadets lined the route taken by the wreath-laying procession.  Taking a few minutes before the ceremony to reflect on the day are Sea Cadets, from left Ordinary Cadet Matthew McIlhenna, Leading Cadet James Smith and Cadet 1st Class Nathan O’Neill.