Second World War veterans gathered at the Cenotaph in central London for a deeply moving Remembrance Sunday service, where they spoke of enduring comradeship and the importance of unity across generations.
Emotional Reunions and Lasting Legacies
Approximately 20 personnel who served during the conflict attended the events, sharing powerful personal stories. Among them was Philip Dawson, 100, from Macclesfield, who enlisted in the Royal Marines in 1943 at just 18 years old. He described the service as a "celebration of comradeship and unity", allowing him to reflect on those he fought alongside.
Mr Dawson earned his Green Beret after Commando training and saw action during the 1944 assault on Walcheren in the Netherlands, a crucial battle to clear German defences blocking Allied access to Antwerp.
"The reception we got was quite amazing," he told PA. "(The applause) didn't stop the whole way around. I'm amazed, but it's good that people are remembering and taking part in the comradeship which is so important."
Bridging Generations Through Shared History
Mr Dawson emphasised the vital lessons for younger generations, stating: "Young people must remember what the forces did during the Second World War and what the aggression was like. You've got to unite against an aggressor and my goodness me there are plenty of them around at the moment."
Reflecting on how his Commando training shaped his character for life, he expressed uncertainty about whether modern youth possess the same drive.
Another veteran, D-Day veteran Arthur Oborne, 101, from Portishead, Somerset, shared an emotional story about reconnecting with the family of a fallen comrade. Mr Oborne was shot in the lung just three days after landing on Gold Beach during the Normandy landings.
His friend, Walter 'Gummy' Gummerson, dragged him to safety and into a field hospital where medics saved his life. Tragically, Gummy was killed the next day alongside his entire unit.
Last September, after Mr Oborne spoke of his gratitude to Gummy during the 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations in France, his daughter managed to trace Gummy's family. "We had dinner and I just wanted to say thank you to them because he saved my life," Mr Oborne said. "I have mixed feelings on days like this, remembering those we lost like Gummy."
First Visits and Humbling Responses
For Kenneth Embleton, 101, from Wellington in Somerset, this marked his first visit to the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday. Mr Embleton served with the Queen's Royal Regiment and later the Royal Corps of Signals, leading a Punjabi unit in Burma before flying to Malaya to take part in its reoccupation.
"It's all been very marvellous and I feel humbled about it because I do wonder if the general population still knows about us," he admitted. "I got quite moved to see them all clapping, I had a few tears... the service hits you right in the heart."
The event served as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by the Second World War generation and the enduring importance of remembrance in bringing people together across decades.
