Sailors from RNAS Culdrose who took part in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last week have spoken of their experience on such a significant day in history.

A total of 31 sailors from RNAS Culdrose took part in the event in London last Monday, including 22 junior rates who nearly all were part of the platoons which wheeled the gun carriage carrying the Queen’s coffin.

Nearly half of those from RNAS Culdrose came from 824 Naval Air Squadron, including leading air engineering technicians Jake Davenport and Molly Ellis.

LAET Davenport, aged 21, was part of the Royal Navy guard which escorted the gun carriage. He said: “What you don’t see on TV is that we did 12-hour days of non-stop drill for a week beforehand. I was focused on the back of the person in front of me for about three hours.

“I didn’t realise how many people were there watching the funeral procession. There must have been 20,000 to 30,000 people on The Mall but no one was making a noise.

“I am really glad I did it. It was amazing to be a part of something like that. We were proud to be there and to be there for a special reason.”

AB Writer Summer Rawlins and leading air engineering technicians Jake Davenport and Molly Ellis

AB Writer Summer Rawlins and leading air engineering technicians Jake Davenport and Molly Ellis

LAET Ellis, also 21, agreed: “We spent a long time training, polishing and ironing to be ready for the day itself.

“I was in the rear rank of the front section of the gun carriage. When we stopped at Westminster Abbey, I was then right at the front and the King, Prince William and Princess Anne came out and they were just right there in front of me.

“Marching up The Mall seemed to take forever. It was a slow pace. I really had to concentrate and listen for the drum and make sure my heel came down in time for each step.

“It was amazing to be a part of though. It was cool to know you were a part of history.”

The procession makes its way up The Mall Picture: POPhot Will Haigh

The procession makes its way up The Mall Picture: POPhot Will Haigh

AB Writer Summer Rawlins, aged 24, from Plymouth, was also part of the gun carriage crew. She said: “It was so emotional on the day, to see so many people lining the streets and paying their respects. It gave it such a sense of occasion. People were saying thank you to us too and saying ‘well done’.

“All of us wanted to be there and we were proud to be taking part, because you knew how much the occasion meant to people.”

More than a thousand sailors and Royal Marines were on duty at the funeral, alongside RAF and British Army personnel.