TOWNS, cities and villages across York, North and East Yorkshire fell silent as the country remembered its fallen heroes in Remembrance services.

On the 93rd anniversary of the end of the First World War, hundreds of people, including the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York gathered at 11am yesterday on Station Rise in York for a Remembrance service and rededication of the Railway War Memorial, which has been fitted with new plaques featuring the names of fallen local men.

Corporal Bernard Hallas, of Haxby, served for four-and-a-half years with the Royal Marines on the battleship HMS Warspite, operating a 15-inch turret gun, and also served in the Spanish civil war, protecting British nationals.

Cpl Hallas, now 93, said he had been attending the Remembrance service at Station Rise for more than 20 years, and this year’s turnout was better than recent years.

He said: “I just remember all the friends we were with that we lost and don’t like to dwell on it too much. I have happy memories and sad memories, but it’s very important to remember and that is why I’m here today.”

Within the last few days, two soldiers from the Yorkshire region have been killed in Afghanistan; 21-year-old Private Matthew Haseldin, from Settle, and Private Matthew Adam Thornton, who died on Wednesday, only days after his 28th birthday.

Bombadier Arthur Wragg, from Acomb, joined the Territorial Army in 1937, and servied with the Royal Artillery in London during the Blitz, before storming Juno Beach during the D-Day landings.

He said: “It is as important now as it ever was to remember the fallen.

In Tadcaster, dozens of people gathered around the War Memorial, and at Beverley Minster, a service was held which was attended by military representatives from the Defence School of Transport.

Tomorrow in York, soldiers from 2 Signal Regiment, Queens Own Yeomanry and 4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment will march to the Memorial Gardens from Clifford’s Tower, and guns will be fired in the Gardens for the Act of Remembrance.

Remembrance Sunday services

• In York there will be a procession to Memorial Gardens in Leeman Road, led by the Lord Mayor and civic party, setting off from the Eye of York at 10.30am. The formal service will start at 11am.

• In Selby there will be a memorial service at the Abbey from 10am on Sunday. Wreaths will be laid at the War Memorial in Selby Park.

• The Stamford Bridge branch of The Royal British Legion will hold its annual Remembrance Day parade assembling at 10.30am in the entrance to the Bridlington Road estate, before setting off for Church Road at 10.45am.

• Pocklington’s Remembrance Day parade will set off from Burnby Hall Gardens at 2.15pm. Wreaths will be laid at both of the town’s war memorials before a service at the Methodist Church in Chapmangate at 3.15pm.

• At St Peter’s Church, in Norton, there will be a service at 9.45pm and wreath laying to be carried out by civic dignitaries.