TO ensure none of us forget, war memorials in Bournemouth and Poole and across the area were the focal point for yesterday's poignant Remembrance Day ceremonies. Soldiers from the past marched alongside those of today and those in training for tomorrow to pay their respects to the hundreds of thousands who have died in Britain's conflicts during the years.

In the Afghanistan and Iraq wars alone, nearly 300 British military personnel have been killed in action, and more than 1,800 have needed medical attention.

In Bournemouth, hundreds of people lined the Central Gardens to watch the procession and service at the War Memorial.

War veterans and youngsters proudly paraded through the town centre to gather in the gardens, where they were joined by the mayor of Bournemouth Cllr Anne Filer, MPs Sir John Butterfill and former Green Jacket Tobias Ellwood, councillors and other dignitaries.

Standard flags were slowly lowered as the Last Post played and a two-minute silence was signalled by the firing of guns provided by the Royal Artillery.

The service ended with a wreath laying ceremony before the Salvation Army band led the procession back through the town centre.

It was an equally poignant affair in Poole, where the civic service of remembrance and dedication was held at the War Memorial in Poole Park.

The congregation stood with heads bowed during the two-minute silence before HM Lord Lieutenant Valerie Pitt-Rivers laid the first wreath.

She was followed by the mayor of Poole, Cllr Jeff Allen, and Sheriff Cllr Joyce Lavender.

Christchurch paid its respect with a wreath laying ceremony at Purewell Cross memorial, followed by a parade by the town's branch of the Royal British Legion to the Priory for a service.

Another service was held in the afternoon at St Mark's Parish Church in Highcliffe, and a wreath was also laid.

The recreation ground at Fordingbridge was the scene for one New Forest ceremony.

District council chairman Cllr Bill Dow and Hampshire's deputy lieutenant Vice Admiral Sir James Weatherall laid wreaths at the war memorial prior to a parade and service at St Mary's Church.

Ceremonies were also held at the New Milton and Keyhaven war memorials.

A parade from the British legion clubhouse in Wimborne to the Minster was only part of the town's events. Services were held at the Minster in the morning and afternoon, with two minutes' silence observed at 11am and the Last Post played on the green later in the day.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Roger Palin KCB OBE took the salute when the afternoon column marched back to West Borough following the Last Post.

Verwood's ceremony also saw Commonweath soliders joining the parade from St Michael and All Angels Church to Ferrett Green, while in Swanage, there was a short memorial service and two-minute silence at the war memorial in the morning and a parade and full memorial service in the afternoon.

The parade, which included councillors, South Dorset MP Jim Knight, soldiers from the Royal Signals and members of the Royal British Legion, Air Training Corps and other local organisations formed on Shore Road and marched to St Mary's Church for the service.

They were led by the pipes and drums of the Ringwood Pipe Band.