TENS of thousands of people across Kent turned out to remember the victims of two world wars and other conflicts on Sunday.

A chill morning mist rolling across the Great Lines at Gillingham provided a suitably sombre backdrop to one of Medway’s Remembrance services.

The ceremony served as a poignant reminder to the many veterans present how they had lost many friends and colleagues during combat.

Hundreds of people, young and old, turned out for the service at the Naval War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday.

The air was bitingly cold as men and women of the seaborne services, gathered at the Portland stone memorial, which bears the names of the thousands of Chatham-based sailors lost in action.

The service, led by Canon Ernie Mann of St Mark’s Church, St Mary’s Island, was attended by ex-servicemen and serving sailors, marines, and soldiers.

At the start of the ceremony the guard, from the Royal Naval Reserve based at HMS President in London, marched into the memorial enclosure, followed by the chief executive of Medway Council, Judith Armitt, and the Mayor of Medway, Cllr Ken Webber.

Royal Navy Commodore Paul Docherty oversaw the service.

Watching were veterans from the Royal Naval Association, the Royal Marines Association and the Royal British Legion. There were also Sea Cadets, Royal Marine Cadets and Army Cadets.

Wreaths were laid in honour of fallen comrades, and a lone piper played a lament, before a bugler played The Last Post.

Among those watching the ceremony were Royal Marines and Royal Navy veterans from Second World War.

Former Marine George Newton, of Gillingham said: “It was an excellent service. It was good to see so many youngsters honouring our war dead.

“I’ve been coming for the past 24 years in all weathers, and today was a particularly cold and poignant day.”

His friend, former sailor, Bryan Buckle, of Maidstone, added: “It’s good to see so many people here for the memorial service.”