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The
Prince of Wales Sea Training School
UNVEILING AND REDEDICATION
OF WWII PLAQUE AT INGHAM
Page 2 -
Dedication at Holy Trinity Church
The standards begin the processional. Revd Richard Jackson,
Assistant Priest of the Benefice of Stalham, Sutton, and Ingham,
welcomed everyone to Ingham and to the service.
Reverend David Potterton, the Principal Chaplain of the British
and International Sailors' Society (BISS) then called the
congregation to worship. The service began with the hymn, "Now
thank we all our God", after which Revd Ken Martin (BISS), led a
prayer.
Mr Ray Leonard, a PWSTS Old Boy (1948) read the first lesson,
from Acts 16 vs 30-34, followed by the second hymn,
"Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?"
Revd Richard Jackson led the prayers, and Mr Fred Honisett, a
PWSTS Old Boy (1948), read the second lesson, from John 17 vs
20-26. "The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended" was the next hymn and then Revd David
Potterton gave a sermon. Having just completed a safari trip, he
spoke of his observations of the animals, and reminded the
congregation that elephants never
 forget.
Nor should we ever forget the men who served. In a reminder of
the vital role of the Merchant Navy, a First Lord of the
Admiralty had said, "We will remember them. These men die daily
that we might live."
"It is not just for us to remember them," continued Revd
Potterton, "but for us to speak of them. For if we do not they
will be forgotten ... Will you remember them? Will you write
their stories? The government will forget unless those who live
in the little towns and villages where they came from remember
them ... Tell your friends and neighbours where you have been,
to remember what these men did and what others like them do and
will do for our safety, comfort, and security."
The congregation then sang the old favourite hymn, written in
1860, and forever associated with mariners, "Eternal Father,
Strong to Save." This was followed by the benediction,
"And now may he grave of the lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen",
The World War II Memorial Plaque was unveiled by Mr Al Robertson.
He is the brother of Angus Robertson, who attended the
PWSTS at Ingham in 1939. He was sadly lost on 17th February
1941, when the Empire Comet was torpedoed and sunk on a homeward
journey to Britain. Angus was just 16 years old.
After the unveiling, Revd Potterton (extreme left, picture
above) dedicated the plaque. "Let us commemorate and commend to
the loving memory of our Heavenly Father, the Great Shepherd of
our souls, the giver of life everlasting, those seafarers,
former cadets of the Prince of Wales Sea Training School named
on this plaque, who we remember as friends, who died in war, for
their country and the cause of peace." After the Lord's prayer,
Mr Len Abel, a PWSTS old boy (1951) read the 85 names on
the plaque.
Mr Tony Sullivan, a PWSTS old boy (1952), read the fourth verse
from "For the Fallen",
"They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them."
and the Epitaph on the Kohima memorial, from World War II,
believed to be from a collection by John Edmonds of epitaphs for
Great War memorials.
"When you go home tell them of us, and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today."
 The
Last Post was played by Tim Thirst, from the Stalham Town Band,
and his son, Robert. It was followed by the Silence, and the
Reveille, after which wreaths were laid by the Plaque. .
Revd Potterton concluded the service with Prayers, "Today we
come together to remember those former members of the Prince of
Wales Sea Training School who lost their lives in the service of
their country. We remember those lost at sea and who entered
your kingdom from a cold and watery grave."
"We ask you to keep them in your eternal love. We thank you for
those that were saved and for the strength you gave some to save
others."
"Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for the courage you
gave the crew members who remained steadfast at their posts, and
we pause to remember those who remain entombed on the ocean
floor"
The
service concluded with the Benediction.
"Go into the world in
peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render
no man evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the
weak, help the afflicted, honour all men, love and serve the
Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit."
"And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, be upon us and remain with us and with those we
love, this day and for evermore. Amen"
This is the front cover of the
Commemorative Service Sheet, from which the order and many of
the words of the service were taken.
next page
pictures by
Simon John Chambers
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