The Royal Naval Association is calling on members of the local community to attend Royal Naval WW2 Veteran, Bill Silvester’s memorial service taking place on 3 June 2023 at 1100 at Lumps Fort (Southsea Model Village).
Bill, who died earlier this year, joined up at the age of 15 and served in HMS Berwick on the Arctic Convoys during WW2 and was also involved in the D Day Landings for which he received the Legion D’ Honour.
The Chaplain of Portsmouth Naval Base, The Rev Ralph Barber will be officiating the small service and the Royal Marine Band Portsmouth is providing a Royal Marine Bugler.
Richie Farman, a member of Portsea & Portsmouth’s RNA branch and friend of Bill’s said:
“I am hoping to give my good friend Bill a proper and fitting send off and if you are free, I would be honoured if you could attend.”
Bill lived at Admiral Jellicoe House, run by the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and was also supported by a number of charities working closely together, including: Royal Naval Association and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity which bought Bill back from France during the pandemic.
More information about Bill’s incredible life is here: https://www.forces.net/news/i-couldnt-speak-french-veteran-whose-normandy-landing-led-marriage.
If you have any questions about the event please email comms@royalnavalassoc.com
