FEW at the very first Remembrance Day service 90 years ago may have dreamed so many will still have been giving their lives in such numbers in 2009.
But it is fresh images of modern conflict in Afghanistan that made the annual gathering and two-minute silence at Sheffield's City Memorial in Barker's Pool yesterday all the more significant, poignant and essential.
Kenneth Moore, who bore the standard for the RAF Association, said he believed numbers had been swelled by events in Afghanistan, where another British soldier died just hours before the shot was fired to mark the start and end of the silence.
"People are becoming more aware of what has happened in the past and what is happening now because of what is on the television," said the 77-year-old from Coal Aston. "It has not gone away."
Kenneth was the youngest RAF entrant when he joined at 15 and went on to serve in Malaya, before it became Malaysia. Now he is almost the only person available to fulfil the standard bearing role.
"Lots of members have been lost - they are all dying off," he added.
Colour Sgt Neil Bizzell led Yorkshire Regiment Army Cadets in yesterday's service and said he had no problem securing enough to take part.
"Maybe before some had a grandparent who fought. Now they've got brothers and uncles and dads out there," said the 31-year-old, whose 27 cadets ranged in age from 13 to 18. "It is something more tangible to them."
Royal Marine cadets James Ravenhill and Ethan Coldbeck, both 16, and 15-year-old Carlton Joseph were proud to be among the uniforms.
"It was good to see such a really good turnout in this weather. It was great to take part, really touching," said James.
Korean veteran Henry Garlick, 77, from Elm Lane, said: "Now we are in a conflict again people are losing their sons I think it has hit home a bit more."
RAF veteran John Crowther and his wife Joan agreed. "Only in one year, 1968, has a British soldier not been killed. This service is more touching this year. It really has got to everybody. People realise the consequences of war - those getting killed are so young."
Barry Thompson, 76, of Pitsmoor, wearing a number of medals, attended with his family.
"Remembrance Day was more sombre this year. It has become more relevant to a younger generation," he said.
For Col John Murray, commanding officer of the 212 Field Hospital in Sheffield, the service marked his final wreath laying duty before retirement. "It does seem to have more relevance this year," he said of the ceremony.
"The old boys of World War Two are on the decrease while the veterans of more recent conflicts are on the increase. People are now coming to remember those who have fallen since."
On the cenotaph itself wreaths for veterans of World War I and small wooden crosses bearing the names of those killed this decade lay side by side.
'Uncle Ted' 3038 Joseph Fletcher, killed in France in October 1918, lay a few centimetres from L/Cpl Jamie Fellows, a commando who was 26 when killed last December and Afghanistan hero Christopher Bridge, just 19 when he died on August 30 two years ago.
The words of a wreath from Stannington Infant School, remembering soldiers 'today and in the past', summed up the feelings of many huddled against the elements: "Thank you for giving us a tomorrow."
Got a view? Add your comment below.READ MORESubscribe to The StarMain news indexYour lettersFeaturesSouth Yorkshire's environmental newsKids ZoneMore business newsMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsLatest sport