IT WAS a different Remembrance Sunday for Royal British Legion (RBL) Fivemiletown branch, but nevertheless an extremely busy day.

Under the command of Iain Lendrum, an Act of Remembrance was held at Fivemiletown Community War Memorial at 10.30am.

The service was opened in prayer by Precentor Kyle Hanlon.

Wreaths were then laid by representatives of FMT RBL, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Assoc., Lisnaskea and Clogher UDR Assoc., Regt. Assoc. of The Royal Irish Regiment and the RUC George Cross Assoc..

This was followed by St. John’s Church, FMT District Lodge, Church Lads Brigade and the Girls Friendly Society.

Mr. Lendrum then laid a wreath on behalf of the Coulter family, in memory of Lcpl Joseph Coulter MM, who was killed in the First World War.

A lament by Charlie McClintock was played on the pipes as the wreaths were laid.

Branch Chairman Robert Carson said The Exhortation, and Noel Trimble played The Last Post.

After the silence was observed, Reveille was played, and the Kohima Epitaph was recited.

Members of FMT RBL then joined St. John’s Church of Ireland for their morning service, which included an Act of Remembrance.

On completion of the Service, members went to the site of the murder of Constables Drew Beacom and Ernie Smith, where Andrew Beacom laid a wreath in memory of his father.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the annual Service of Remembrance was not held at Mullaghafad Church of Ireland.

With this in mind, it was felt that FMT RBL should observe an outdoor Act of Remembrance in the graveyard, joined by two buglers from the Light Infantry Association who had earlier attended a service at the site of the Ballygawley Bus Bomb in memory of their murdered comrades.

Austin Lendrum laid a wreath at the graves of murdered B Special Constables Hall and Coulter, and Iain Lendrum then laid a wreath on behalf of FMT RBL.

Members of FMT RBL also attended the Act of Remembrance at Brookeborough and Colebrooke Church, where Maj (Retd) Jack Dunlop laid a wreath at C Coy 4 UDR memorial to their fallen comrades.

The RBL Fivemiletown branch thanked the community for their support and their adherence to all the guidelines mandated, with the community able to mark the occasion in a dignified manner while safely observing social distancing rules.