Fivemiletown Royal British Legion (RBL) held its annual Remembrance Day Parade last Sunday, November 14, with a large crowd gathering for the Act of Remembrance at the Community War Memorial outside the RBL Hall in Fivemiletown.

The short service opened in prayer led by Precentor Kyle Hanlon. Wreaths were then laid by representatives from the RBL, Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers Association, UDR Association and the Association of the Royal Irish Regiment.

Further wreaths were laid on behalf of Fivemiletown High School, Fivemiletown Primary School, the PSNI, Fivemiletown Parish, Church Lads Brigade, Girls' Friendly Society (GFS) and Fivemiletown District LOL No 15.

It was also extremely poignant to have members from the Coulter family at the memorial to lay a wreath on behalf of their relative, Lance Corporal Joe Coulter MM.

Lcpl Coulter MM (Royal Irish Fusiliers) was killed in 1918, and is commemorated on Fivemiletown Community War Memorial.

His family travelled down from Belfast to lay a wreath on his behalf.

Piper Charlie McClintock played a lament during the wreath-laying ceremony. After the ceremony the exhortation was led by the Chairman of Fivemiletown RBL, Robert Carson.

The Last Post and Reveille were sounded by Noel Trimble, of Murley Silver Band.

Under the command of Iain Lendrum, the parade then stepped off, led by Cavanaleck Pipe Band to make its way around the town en route to St. John’s Church.

The large parade consisted of members from the RBL, various Regimental Associations, RUC George Cross Association, Church Lads Brigade and Fivemiletown GFS.

The Standards from Fivemiletown RBL, Royal Inniskilling Fusilier Association, Lisnaskea UDR Association and East Tyrone RUC George Cross Association were on parade.

The parade stopped to lay a wreath at the site where two local RUC men were murdered. The wreath was laid by Andrew Beacom in memory of his father, Constable Drew Beacom, and his colleaguem Constable Ernie Smith.

The parade then continued on to St. John’s Parish Church for the Service of Remembrance.

Numbers attending the service were restricted due to Covid guidelines, but the service was relayed to the church hall for those unable to enter the church.

The service was led by Precentor Hanlon, who also delivered a most appropriate sermon.

James Hamilton-Stubber, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for County Tyrone and President of Fivemiletown RBL, led the first reading with Reverend Clodagh Yambasu (Fivemiletown Methodist) leading the second reading.

Prayers were led by Reverend David Curran (Cavanaleck and Aughentaine Presbyterian).

Wreaths were laid during the Act of Remembrance by the Fivemiletown RBL, Clogher UDR Association, the PSNI, RUC George Cross Association, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Association and St. John’s Church.

After the service, the parade formed up and made its way back to Fivemiletown RBL Hall, with Mr. Hamilton-Stubber taking the salute. The parade closed with the National Anthem.