The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), the City of London Army Reserve regiment currently exercising on the Isle of Wight, yesterday (Saturday) remembered two of their fallen with wreath laying ceremonies.
The short services, taken by the Regimental Padre, Capt (Rev) Mark Bezerra Speeks CF, took place at Shanklin Cemetery and All Saints Church, Godshill.
At Shanklin the Regiment paid respects to Capt Leonard Price MC who died on 21st November 1920, the victim of an IRA assassination in Dublin. At Godshill it was a young private soldier, Gnr John Cawte, who died during the Battle of Normandy in June 1944, aged just 19 who was remembered.
Both services were attended by the Regiment’s Senior Major, Maj JR Longbottom MBE HAC, who laid the wreaths on behalf of the Regiment, the Adjutant, Capt DB White RHA, and the Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 (RSM) LM Ryan WG.
A member of the HAC’s band played The Last Post and two minute’s silence were observed on both occasions.
Padre Speeks described the importance of these ceremonies:
“It is always a tremendous privilege to officiate at an Act of Remembrance to honour those members of our regiment who sacrificed their lives in the service of our country.
Article continues below this advertisement “It is particularly poignant to do while we are carrying out an exercise with so many young soldiers who are such worthy successors to Captain Price and Gunner Cawte. It wasn’t possible to bring them in from the field to be at the acts of remembrance but they were certainly there in spirit”.
The regiment’s exercise continues until Tuesday and will leave the Island via Yarmouth Harbour throughout Wednesday.
Photographed L-R: Capt White RHA with Maj Longbottom MBE. Photographs by Cpl Max Bryan (Army Photographer)
