More than forty people gathered at the village war memorial at 11am on Remembrance Day to honour fourteen men who gave their lives in the First World War.
Children from the primary school paid tribute to five of the soldiers named on the war memorial by reading out short histories of the men. The service was taken by the vicar of Long Wittenham, Revd Canon Paul Wignall.
He reminded people of modern-day conflicts in Ukraine, and those men and women who have died fighting for peace and justice. He also called for statesmen and rulers to have wisdom and courage and to know and do what is right and just.
He said: “Those working for reconciliation amongst people with different beliefs and practices, and for people everywhere, know that they can live with justice, freedom, security and peace. We should recognise homeless people, refugees and hungry people in the world, those who have lost livelihoods and security, and people who have lived and died in the service of humanity”.
He finished the commemoration with the Kohima Epitaph: “When you go home tell them of us and say that for your tomorrow, we gave our today”.
Crosses were planted by school children for those whose name appear on the memorial. Wreaths were laid by the chairman of the parish council, Steve Brown, Phillipa Fielding, on behalf of the WI, and children from Penguin and Owl classes at the school.
The villagers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War were: Percy Beckett, Charles Bidmead, Kenneth Bumpass, Alec Chambers, Alan Eason, Vincent Essex, Harry Green, William Wybrow-Hallwright, William Hermon, Thomas Hopkyns, Ernest Jeffries, Fred and Frank Lamboll and Frank Weston.
At the Little Wittenham war memorial, a wreath was laid for Charles Green who lived in the village. His name is remembered on the Theipval memorial in France.
The names should be
Alec Chambers
Frank Weston
and not as given here
Thanks, Janet, I have corrected the post.