Richard Underhill, of Oakland Road, Newton Abbot, writes:

I write in response to Wayland Van Hyldyck Smith's letter Sound of Terror (MDA, August 15).

I wonder if the air raid siren could actually have been heard at Forde Park?  Unless you were in the vicinity of Courtenay Street/Market Walk the siren was apparently 'barely audible'; as reported by members of the public interested in the first world world display.  

The air raid siren was sounded every two hours so that the public had some idea of what would have been heard prior to an air raid; it was also to make people aware of the display.   There was great interest by the public and especially the youth of the town.

This combined effort by the local Royal British Legion and Newton Abbot Civic Society was only one event of thousands commemorating the start of the war going on around the country on August 4. Both TV and the media are commemorating the first world war daily with much more than the sound of an air raid siren.

The fact that Keith Stokes-Smith sounded the air raid siren for the photo was that no one else was available, as the other members of the team were engaged in conversation with the public (which was what the event was about); it could have been any team member in the photo including officers from the Legion or the civic society. As far as I am aware not one member of the public complained about the air raid siren. Many people were given information of how to trace family members who died in the war and some of the public even took the time to tell us about their relatives who died in the first world war.

We were continually complimented on our efforts put into the display.  

I agree with Mrs Hyldyck Smith that there is no glory in war; however, the fact is that there has not been a decade since the second world war when this country has not been in conflict somewhere.  

We should honour these brave men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our country which was our intention. Perhaps there are times that personal feelings should be kept to oneself even if they do bring back dark memories. Lest we forget.

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