Last week’s Canada Day service at Bramshott’s St Mary’s Church commemorated the many fallen servicemen from the North American continent – some of whom are laid to rest in its graveyard.

Once again the church was filled to capacity as children and teachers from Liphook Junior School joined the congregation along with Canadian veterans, members of the Royal British Legion, two Chelsea Pensioners and Hampshire’s Lord Lieutenant, Nigel Atkinson.

The Lord Lieutenant was welcomed by David Edwards’ trumpet call and the dipped standards of the Royal British Legion and Canadian Veterans Association.

Mr Atkinson spoke to all the bearers and wreath layers before leading them into the church.

The opening hymn was ‘All People That On Earth Do Dwell,’ during which the standards led by Colonel Leslie Clarke holding the Canadian flag were placed in the sanctuary.

The Canadian Veterans Association National HQ standard was carried by Jim Stills, Heidi Watkins carried the Brighton and Hove CVA standard and Andy Lucas carried the standard of Liphook Royal British Legion.

Colonel Rory Radford of the Canadian Defence Liaison staff gave an Old Testament reading, after which the congregation sang a second hymn ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation.’ The New Testament reading was performed by Liphook Junior School pupils.

Alan Geddes’ address mentioned Canada Day events from past years – and recalled the many veterans who attended. Now, he said, with the decline in the number of veterans, a new generation was continuing the remembrance.

Canadian troops were among those who fought on the allied side at The Battle of the Somme in WWI and were praised as “first rate front line troops.”

Pupils also gave readings before prayers and during the final hymn ‘Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,’ the standards were returned to the bearers.

The service finished with a blessing and the singing of the British and Canadian National Anthems during which the clear voices of the children rang out.

The congregation proceeded to the Canadian Cemetery where wreaths were laid by the Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Rory Radford Colonel Jimmy Jack (Liphook branch Royal British Legion), Linda Wilson, vice-president of the Canadian Veterans Association, Michelle Frost (Liphook Infant and Junior Schools) and Jeanette Kirby (parish council vice-chairman).

Pupils had again each adopted a grave and planted a decorated maple leaf by the headstone. They had been studying local history and Commonwealth War Graves, visiting Bramshott churchyard as part of their project. Each child researched a name from a grave stone and wrote a poem dedicated to each one, also drawing on research from Canadian archives.

The Last Post was played by David Edwards on his replica Charles II State trumpet during which the standards were lowered for a minute’s silence. The exhortations were spoken by Dennis Healey after which Reveille was sounded.

The Lord Lieutenant spoke to some of the children who also took the opportunity to talk to Korean War veterans and Chelsea Pensioners Wayne Campbell and Skippy Teesdale about their experiences.

After the service, many of the congregation returned to the junior school in Avenue Close, for lunch, where head Michele Frost made a presentation of an engraved crystal rose bowl to Colonel Radford, and a Canadian silver dollar was presented by him to Zoe McEwan, for her extra effort with her research project.

Ms Frost welcomed the Canadian visitors, saying it was an honour and important for the children to appreciate and understand the sacrifices made during the two World Wars.

Children, in period dress, sang wartime songs to the veterans and other distinguished guests, which included Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major, Run Rabbit Run and concluded with O Canada, the Canadian national anthem.

Pictures by Brian Simmons