by Laura Hanton

WEYMOUTH marked Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) Day with a remembrance service on the seafront.

Reverend Tom Coopey, vicar of St John's Church, opened yesterday's service, paying tribute to the 90 Anzacs who died, and were later buried, in Weymouth during the First World War.

Mr Coopey said: “We are here to remember their sacrifice, and that of all the Anzacs who came to Weymouth.”

Wreaths were laid at the Anzac Memorial opposite the Hotel Prince Regent, which served as Burdon’s Military Hospital during the war and treated soldiers evacuated from Gallipoli.

Servicemen were treated at the military hospital until they were well enough to return to active service or their homelands.

They were the first of almost 120,000 Anzacs to pass through Weymouth until 1919 .

One wreath was laid by Jane Biscombe, the Town Clerk at Weymouth Town Council, which provided a civic presence at the event. Weymouth is temporarily without a mayor until the local elections.

Herself a long-standing member of the Royal British Legion, Ms Biscombe was pleased with how the service went.

“It’s great to see so many people out and about giving thanks to everyone who helped us during the conflict,” she said. “It’s very important that we remember everyone who contributed and who gave their lives.”

Ms Biscombe also wants to challenge the misconception that you must be ex-services to belong to the Legion.

“That’s not the case at all,” she said. “The Legion is for anyone who wants to show that level of support.”

Representatives from Australia and New Zealand’s Defence Force also attended the service.

Australian Lieutenant James Cosham spoke of the town’s close links to the Anzacs and the importance of local memorial services.

“Weymouth has a strong connection with our history, particularly with the World War One repatriation hospital and its involvement with D-Day during World War Two,” he said.

He added: “A number of Australians I’ve met today are glad to not have to travel to London to pay their respects.”

Lieutenant Brock West was representing New Zealand. His baby son wore a replica of his medals.

Onlookers joined together to recite the Our Father and sing a verse from each nation’s national anthem. The service also included a reading from the Australian Prayer Book and concluded with a blessing from Mr Coopey.