Hartlepool turns out in force to honour its fallen heroes on Remembrance Sunday

Standard bearers at the Hartlepool Remembrance Sunday parade.

Thousands of people came together to line the streets to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Standing side by side they watched as military personnel, joined by cadets and other uniformed organisations, marched from York Avenue to the town’s war memorial.

The service was led by Civic Chaplain Father Nick Jennings.

As the Last Post sounded, the flags were lowered as the haunting tune was played.

Silence fell on the town as people paid tribute to the nation’s fallen heroes and comrades remembered those who never made it home, those no longer here or those left injured through conflict and war.

One by one wreaths were laid at the town’s war memorial led by the Mayor of Hartlepool Coun Rob Cook.

He was followed by the leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, Coun Christopher Akers-Belcher, before representatives of the town’s emergency services, military units and other uniformed services made their way to the memorial to lay their own tributes.

The service ended with a rapturous applause from the crowd as those taking part in the parade left the area with a final march past the memorial.

Afterwards, people gathered at the memorial to read the tributes left behind and to place wooden crosses or their own poppies as personal tribute to lost loved ones.

Erin Hutchinson, who was with her four-year-old daughter Paige at the service said: “There seemed to be a lot more serving personnel involved in the parade this year which was lovely.

“It was a very moving service and the turnout from the people of Hartlepool was fantastic.

“It’s so important we continue to remember those involved in the wars and conflicts. Paige understands a little about what it is all about - most of our family have served in or are still in the RAF.

“It’s just lovely to see the people of Hartlepool coming together to mark the day.”

Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November, nearest to November 11 – Armistice Day – which marked the end of the hostilities in the First World War in 1918.