He was one of those involved in the daring operation to storm the Normandy beaches in 1944, which turned the course of the Second World War and led to the defeat of Hitler?s Nazi regime.

Yet for all the bravery and horror he witnessed during the war?s darkest days Frank Farmer, 79, was still unprepared for the flood of emotion he felt as he and hundreds of others in Hamilton yesterday remembered those who had not survived the conflict. The president of the War Veterans was momentarily unable to speak as he reflected on memories of the fallen heroes, two of whom were his own brothers. Phillip and Harry Farmer were Second World War casualties, sacrificing their lives aged only 18 and 21 respectively, while serving in the Army and Royal Air Force.

Sitting on one of the chairs laid out on the lawn of Cabinet House, and facing the Cenotaph where minutes earlier he had laid a wreath to fallen comrades during the Remembrance Day ceremony, the former Royal Navy engine room operator spoke to

He thanked the people of Bermuda who had come out to show their respect to the war veterans and remember those who lost their lives. Mr. Farmer served in the Royal Navy from 1943 and saw service in the Mediterranean, Pacific and at Gold Beach during the Allies? June 6, 1944 D-Day landings on France?s Normandy coast.

He was among the servicemen and women who fought to preserve the free world as long ago as 1939, and who were represented by 43 veterans who paraded down Front Street yesterday morning.

Hundreds of onlookers lined the streets to witness the Island?s main Remembrance Day service giving a ringing applause as the veterans arrived.

And as the former servicemen were honoured by the dignitaries, so they in turn stood before the Cenotaph in honour of Bermuda?s fallen heroes ? and those of other nationalities ? who sacrificed their lives in the two World Wars and other conflicts around the world.

Governor Sir John Vereker inspected the ranks of veterans, walking through a remarkable collection of individuals each with a unique story of what they had done for the service of their country and the freedom of all people.

There was Sgt. William G. Hayward, 87, who joined the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corp in 1939 and was employed as a cook to feed The Regiment, and former Royal Navy Lt. Eric Smith, 86, was among an Atlantic convoy that was torpedoed by the Germans. He met his wife Eunice in Bermuda during the war and finally settled on the Island in 1959.

US Navy Lt. Jim Humphreys, 88, served at the naval base in Southampton in 1945 and 1946 as a supplies and security officer. He returned to live in Bermuda full-time in 1980.

For Donald Jolliffe, 75, the experience of taking part in a Remembrance Day parade is still a novelty despite it being 50 years since he was deployed to the Suez Canal conflict zone ? it was only last year that the British Government finally awarded service medals to the Suez veterans.

Among the younger generation who paraded were former US vets Col. Chip Walters, who retired from the US Army in 1990 having served in Germany, Yugoslavia and the Middle East, and US Naval officer Sean Lee who officially ended his military service just 11 days ago having been deployed recently in Afghanistan.

Wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph by a number of dignitaries including the Governor, Premier Alex Scott, Hamilton Mayor Lawson Mapp and Opposition leader Grant Gibbons, before the veterans departed to the strains of war time melodies ?It?s A Long Way To Tipperary? and ?Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag? played by the Regiment band.

Earlier in the morning a smaller service was held at the memorial in Victoria Park to the Bermuda Volunteer Rifles Corps, which was attended by seven veterans, one of whom was John Watlington, 88, who joined the BVRC in 1941 before going on to be a pilot in the Canadian Air Force.

Hilton Smith, 78, just made it into the BVRC before the end of the war and remembers being billeted in a tent camp to the east of Warwick Camp and being responsible for dishing up food to the soldiers and being a ?batman? to the captain and the captain of the chief engineers.

The service was conducted by Archdeacon of Bermuda Andrew Doughty and a wreath was laid by Hamilton?s Deputy Mayor Sonia Grant.

Allan Doughty, secretary of the BVRC Association, was pleased with the turn out for the small ceremony to honour those who served in Bermuda?s volunteer corps and the higher profile this year?s service had achieved as a result of backing from Belco. The roll of honour was read by Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith and Belco CEO Garry Madeiros.