SERVICE personnel from past and present joined to pay their respects to those who lost their lives fighting for their country during the Second World War.

On the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war, the Battle of Britain Commemoration Service and Parade, held at the Allied Air Forces Memorial at the Yorkshire Air Museum, was watched by hundreds of spectators.

Representatives from RAF associations and Royal Observer Corps associations from the North-East and North Yorkshire were joined by young cadets to mark the anniversary and the famous battles that were fought throughout the war.

The museum, at Elvington, near York, has worked with the RAF Association Eastern Region to present the service, which is an annual event.

The guest of honour was newly-appointed Chief of Air Staff, Sir Stephen Dalton, making one of his first public appearances since taking up the position on August 1.

Sir Stephen also recently accepted the role of Honorary Vice President of the Allied Air Forces Memorial.

In his speech he said: “It is important to remember the service of the people who have gone before us and I have only praise for the cadets who help to keep alive the service and traditions of the past.”

Music from the Massed Bands of the Northern Region Air Training Corps, the York Railway Institute Band and the Cadet Band led the parade of standards, veterans, association members, service personnel and the cadets into the Canadian Memorial Hangar, where a service of remembrance was held, with a reading by the President of the Royal Air Forces Association, Air Marshal Phillip Sturley.

The event concluded with a march past and salute by the more than 400 participants, before a flypast from two of the iconic aircraft of the conflict, a Hurricane bomber and a Spitfire fighter.