A WREATH presented by the Marquis de Saffre´ Association (the French Resistance) was laid at Sunday's Remembrance Day Service at the Newton Abbot war memorial, as a tribute to Flt Lt Eddie Warmington. It was in recognition of his momentous time with the French Resistance during June 1944, and was laid in loving memory on behalf of the Marquis by his family. Flt Lt Warmington's aircraft was shot down during a bombing mission and managed to link up with the Marquis before he was captured by the Germans. He had spent several days in a condemned cell awaiting execution before miraculously being released. A lay preacher at the Avenue Church, Newton Abbot, he was also the chaplain of the Newton Abbot Royal British Legion for several years. It was one of numerous wreaths laid at the service, led by the Newton Abbot RBL chaplain, the Rev Bruce Porter, and attended by several hundred people. Among those at the ceremony were the mayor of Newton Abbot, Cllr Daphne Watts, the chairman of Teignbridge Council, Cllr Beryl Austen, veterans, members of the RBL, services, 1322 Squadron (Newton Abbot) Air Training Corp, and other uniformed organisations, including many young people. With standard bearers they had marched from Courtenay Street and through Queen Street, to the war memorial, where during the service two minutes silence was observed at 11am.
