THE 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain was marked in Ross-on-Wye on Sunday with a parade by military cadets.

The anniversary on September 15 was marked with flag raising ceremonies across Herefordshire to commemorate the moment during the Second World War when the Royal Air Force defended the country against relentless enemy airstrikes.

The battle was later immortalised by Prime Minister Winston Churchill saying: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much been owed by so many to so few.”

The commemoration began with Air Marshal Sir Barry Thornton inspecting the county’s Air Cadet units at St Mary’s Church, followed by a short parade to The Prospect.

The parade was hosted by 1002 Squadron (Ross-on-Wye) Squadron and led by the Band of 151 (Leominster) Squadron RAF Air Cadets.

Two wreathes were laid at the town’s war memorial in Thew Prospect, one by the Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire Edward Harley and the other by an Air Cadet.

The parade concluded with a march past the Lord-Lieutenant, senior dignitaries and civic leaders from across the county, including the mayor of Ross, Cllr Linden Delves, taking the salute.

A commemorative church service followed, with the organist playing the theme from the film, Battle of Britain as the congregation arrived.

Paul Deneen, Deputy Lieutenant for Herefordshire observed that with the recent passing of the last pilot who flew in the battle, Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemmingway, said: “It is therefore now essential that we pass the flame of remembrance of the battle to the younger generation.”

Following which, John Lewis, one of the oldest veterans took centre stage with a ceremonial lantern and flame and passed it onto a number of air and army cadets.

The service included a potted history on the Battle of Britain and included the hymns, ‘I Vow To Thee, My Country’ and ‘God is Our Strength' , which was sung to the tune of the ‘Dambusters March’.