Low-key service held to mark 90th anniversary of unveiling of Sidmouth’s war memorial and commemorative plaques at parish church.

ON Sunday, February 20, 1921, Sidmouth War Memorial was unveiled and dedicated by distinguished representatives of the Navy and Army.

Exactly 90 years later Sidmouth has held a special anniversary commemoration service at the war memorial, led by the Reverend Peter Leverton.

The service was organised by Dave O’Connor, chairman of Sidmouth branch of the Royal British Legion, and a small group of old comrades took part, including Legion president Kim Smith who said the Legion Epitaph.

Sidmouth Poppy Appeal organiser Sue Pink laid a poppy wreath to mark the occasion and RBL standards from Sidmouth and Sidbury and Sidford branches, were lowered in respect of the men and one woman who gave their lives in the Great War.

Dave, Sidmouth’s standard bearer, said: “I was expecting more people to turn up but it still went well.”

Sidbury and Sidford’s standard bearer is Heather Anguige.

Sunday’s service was certainly more low key than the original, when large crowds assembled to witness the unveiling and dedication ceremony of the war memorial and two commemorative plaques inside the parish church by Rear Admiral Maurice Woollcombe for the Royal Navy and Brigadier-General James Wilfred Stirling for the Army.