Communities will fall silent this Sunday to remember the fallen.

Remembrance services are set to be hosted in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester this Sunday (November 12), to remember those who lost their lives.

Smaller towns and villages will also be holding their own services.

Weymouth

In Weymouth the Remembrance service will begin just before 11am on the seafront opposite the cenotaph - this is one of the biggest events in the county with thousands attending.

The Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Kate Wheller, will be joined by her chaplain, Rev’d Betty Port, veterans, councillors, and members of the Armed Forces for the Service of Remembrance. 

At 11am, members of the Nothe Fort Garrison will fire the first cannon from the beach, signalling the start of the two-minute silence, followed by a second at 11.02am to mark the end.

There will be a wreath-laying service at the cenotaph followed by a parade along the Esplanade to the US Memorial Service where a short wreath-laying ceremony will also take place.

Cllr Wheller said: “I am honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the town council and the people of Weymouth at the Service of Remembrance on Sunday 12th November.

“This is a time to offer tribute to those who courageously fought and laid down their lives. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten. With Weymouth’s proud history with the military and the Naval Services this is always a particularly poignant occasion.”  

People attending the service at Weymouth’s cenotaph are warned that the cannon fire will be loud.

The Esplanade from William Street to King Street will be closed to traffic from 10am until about 12pm to allow the service and parade to take place. 

Traffic diversions will also be in effect from 12pm until approximately 12.30pm along The Esplanade between King Street and the King's Statue for the US Memorial wreath laying veremony.

Local diversions will be fully signed and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. 

No parking will be allowed between Lennox Street to Astrid Way by the Pier Bandstand and the loading bay adjacent Enzo’s Restaurant between 8am and 12pm.  

Dorchester

Dorchester Town Council is organising a Remembrance Day parade and service.

This will involve a contingency of soldiers from the Rifles marching from the barracks to the war memorial along with a parade of councillors, veterans groups, community organisations and cadets, all led by the Mayor of Dorchester, Cllr Alistair Chisholm. 

This will take place at about 10.40am and then at 10.55am there will be the Remembrance Service at the war memorial led by Reverend Cora Yarrien and Reverend Heidi Merrett. 

At 11am there will be a two-minute silence followed by wreath laying. 

The service will include the Last Post and the Reveille played by local Thomas Hardye School student, Joe Ansell, and a reading of the Kohima Epitaph by George Osborne, a WW2 navy veteran aged 101. 

The service usually attracts about 2,000 attendees. 

At 12.30pm, there will be a short service of remembrance at the German Prisoner of War memorial (constructed in 1919) in Fordington Cemetery.

Portland

There will be a parade starting at 10.20am from the Drill Hall, the former headquarters of the Portland Volunteers on Easton Lane, to the Portland Cenotaph, situated at New Ground.

The service at the cenotaph will commence at 10.55am.

All are welcome to attend both the parade and the service.

There will also be a service in Victoria Gardens.