The terrible events of a tragic night 60 years ago were remembered at a poignant service.
The ceremony was held to mark the anniversary of the Dock Road bus disaster on December 4, 1951, which killed 24 marine cadets.
Described as one of Britain’s worst road crashes, the youngsters, aged nine to 17, were killed when an unlit bus careered into the back of a marching column of 52 cadets.
Dozens of people gathered at the victims’ graves in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham.
Among them was former Royal Marine Eric Lavender, who was in Chatham barracks when the accident happened.
Mr Lavender, who was 24 at the time, said: “I tried to get down to where it had happened but I couldn’t because of the police and the medical services.
“I stayed in the guard room all night as parents arrived at the barracks. There was an atmosphere of panic and confusion.
“Parents didn’t know what had happened to their children. I tried to help the parents as much as I could.
“I have terrible memories of that night. It was the worst experience of my 12-and-a half-years serving in the Royal Marines, no matter where I was serving or what was going on. I witnessed death and injury, but nothing like that night because these were young boys.”
Two months after the disaster Mr Lavender went on holiday with eight of the survivors when they were discharged from
hospital. The group spent two weeks at a convalescent home in Portsmouth.
He said: “Being with those boys was part of my coping mechanism too.”
The Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Viscount De L’isle, Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fulton and Medway Mayor Cllr Ted Baker were among the guests at the service yesterday. It was conducted by the Rev Andrew Huckett, the former Missions to Seafarers chaplain for the
Medway area.
The names of the 24 cadets who were killed were read out, as members of Chatham’s Royal Marine cadet unit laid crosses on each of their graves.
Prayers were said for the
victims, the survivors, and their families, before a bugler sounded ­Last Post and a two-minute silence was held.
Mr Lavender, of Montfort Road, Walderslade, said: “It is absolutely wonderful the victims are still remembered in this way.”