Thousands stood silent for two minutes to remember those killed in conflicts going back to the First World War. Reporters Karen Inchley, Jon Harrington and Jessica Williams spoke to those gathered...

THE rising death toll of British soldiers in Afghanistan cast a solemn shadow over Remembrance Day services.

News that another soldier had keen killed in Helmand Province, emerged as thousands prepared to remember those who lost their lives in conflicts going back to the First World War.

Veterans of the Second World War stood alongside those who survived the bloodshed during two conflicts in Iraq and the ongoing fighting in Afghanistan.

Richard Noonan, aged 27, from Kingsley, of the Mercian Regiment, stood with tears in his eyes as he remembered close friends and comrades killed in conflict at the Nicholson War Memorial in Leek.

"I lost a few mates out there and I was thinking of them," he said afterwards.

He is waiting to be discharged after he was injured in Helmand, where he was on a six-month tour of duty last year.

He said: "I have done seven years and served in Iraq and Kosovo. I've done my time and it is time to retire.

"I have had an operation and I am making a full recovery and looking forward to being discharged."

Thomas Rhead, aged 23, of Haregate, Leek, was also among the crowds.

He is serving with the Mercian Regiment and is due to go to Afghanistan in the next few months.

The member of the Army recruiting team said people were queuing to join up, despite the rising casualty toll.

He said: "I was thinking about my mates and my thoughts were with the dead and wounded."

Last week's killing of five soldiers by a Afghan policeman they were mentoring was etched in the thoughts of a soldier paying his respects in Alsager.

Chris Watts, aged 47, of Poplar Drive, Alsager, has returned to the UK after served with the Air Assault, doing the same job as those who lost their lives.

He was among residents who gathered in Fairview Car Park, Alsager, yesterday to remember the town's fallen heroes. Following a parade through the town, a service was held at St Mary's Church.

Mr Watts said: "I was doing the same job as the men who got killed out in Afghanistan last week. I also lost five of my colleagues last year."

Meanwhile, a veteran gave an emotional tribute in Burslem yesterday as thousands nationwide stopped to remember those who died in armed conflicts.

Former RAF serviceman Bernard Scholes addressed scores of people who gathered outside Swan Bank Methodist Church, Burslem, yesterday with a poignant verse from Laurence Binyon's poem For the Fallen.

The crowd stood silent as Bernard, aged 84, from Burgess Street, Middleport, spoke, recalling his own memories of those who gave their lives during his 22-year career in the Middle East.

He said: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

"Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning.

"We will remember them.

"When you go home tell them of us and say.

"For your tomorrow we gave our today."

A service was held by the war memorial, before the laying of wreaths.

Bernard Titley, who served for 12 years with the Staffordshire Regiment and 18 years with Territorial Army, was among those paying respects.

The 81-year-old, of Farland Grove, Chell, said he was remembering comrades he had lost while serving in the Middle East, Africa, France and Germany, as well as his father William, who was in the First World War and was wounded four times before his 17th birthday.

He said: "I think the remembrance service is important every year, but this year more so, because of all the lads being killed out in Afghanistan."

John McNair served in the Royal Army Medical Corps for 25 years, before leaving to become a paramedic.

He said he had noticed more younger people at this year's service.

The 50-year-old of Wrenbury Crescent, Berryhill, served in countries such as Northern Ireland and Bosnia and in the Gulf War after joining up aged 16.

He said: "The losses we have suffered in the last week mean we have started to develop Vietnam syndrome. People are noticing what is going on more."

Explorer leader Dave Barks, from the 67th Burslem Scout Group, which meets in Baddeley Street, Burslem, said: "We bring the scouts because we take them away on fun things such as camping trips and we want them to pay their respects to people who have allowed that to happen for them."

Scout Derren Adam, aged 12, who goes to James Brindley Science College, Tunstall, said: "We are remembering people who fought in the wars. They fought for us."

Second World War army nurse Ann Burrell, aged 90, of Heathwood Drive, Alsager, said she had come to remember all the patients she lost during the war.

The 90-year-old, who served in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service from 1942, said: "I was based all over the place, in countries such as France, India and Japan, treating injured soldiers.

"I saw such terrible things. Every year I come to remember, but it is very sad."

Leonard Shaw, of Lawton Road, Alsager, served in the 78th Division of the 1st Army from 1941 to 1945, as a signalman in North Africa and Italy.

He said: "I lost one or two comrades from wounds or diseases and have come to remember them and others who have died for their country.

"The war I served in was totally different to what is going on in Afghanistan today.

"In North Africa and Italy we were acting as an army in opposition. Now armies are against terrorists."

Wife Shirley, aged 72, said: "When you have lived through a war, you do not forget."

John McNicholas, aged 74, of Liverpool Road West, Church Lawton, served with the Staffordshire Regiment from 1953 to 1955.

He said: "There seems to be a lot more people at this year's service.

"The public seem to know a lot more now about what is going on than they did before. It is terrible what our lads are going through in Afghanistan."

Thousands of people paid their respects to the war dead at cenotaphs across the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Veterans from the Second World War were joined by schoolchildren, community groups, cubs, scouts and marching bands in parades across the district.

In Leek, traffic was brought to a standstill as hundreds gathered by the town's memorial for a wreath-laying ceremony.

The crowds were joined by a party from Leek's Italian twin town of Este.

And, for the first time in the town's history, a German wreath was laid at the Nicholson War Memorial. It was laid by a group of students from Bad Windsheim, Leek's twin town in Germany.

Wreaths were also laid by children from the town's schools.

Grandmother Pam Wardle, of Ball Haye Green, Leek, was at the ceremony in memory of her uncle George Woodcock, whose name is on the roll of honour on the memorial.

He was in a prisoner of war camp in Germany which was hit during an Allied bombing raid just before the end of the Second World War.

She said: "It has been a brilliant turn out, the best I have ever seen.

"I think people are becoming more aware, because of what of what has been going on in Afghanistan."

Ivor Lucas, chairman of the Kingsley branch of the Royal British Legion, was among standard bearers at the national Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night.

Mr Lucas, who also attended services at Kingsley and Cheadle yesterday, said: "It was a very tiring and emotional day.

"It was an experience of a lifetime."

Firefighters from Staffordshire were today travelling to Ypres, Belgium, to take part in three remembrance parades.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service's ceremonial squad will be marching through the Menin Gate as part of their visit.

They include: watch manager John Berrisford, who is based at the county's headquarters in Pirehill, near Stone; crew manager Frank Barlow, from Biddulph; firefighter Mike Calladine, from Stafford; and crew manager Nigel Hewitt, from Newcastle.

Christine Walker, Staffordshire assistant chief fire officer, and Barrie Mycock, fire authority vice-chairman, are accompanying them.

Alan Smith, who co-ordinates the ceremonial squad, said: "This is the 12th year that the squad has been invited to attend. We shall all be wearing our poppies as a sign of remembrance."