SOLDIERS and civilians who sacrificed their lives fighting for Britain were honoured by the nation's leaders yesterday.

Thousands gathered for the service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday, when the Queen, Prime Minister Tony Blair and leader of the opposition William Hague were among those who laid wreaths for the country's war heroes.

The Queen Mother missed the event because of a broken collar bone.

For the first time, previously unrecognised civilian heroes were honoured in a special parade which followed the official military march.

Included were the Women's Land Army and Angels who worked in the dangerous munitions factories. Thousands of women, dubbed the Aycliffe Angels, manned the munitions factory at Aycliffe in the last war.

It was also an emotionally-charged day for relatives of 13 First World War soldiers - shot for desertion or cowardice. For the first time, they joined the parade to commemorate the soldiers publicly. They included Newcastle man John Hipkin, of the World War One Pardons Association

Campaigners want posthumous pardons for 306 executed men, but there was anger when Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said yesterday that no pardons would be granted.

Tom Stones, 60, has been fighting for justice for his great uncle Will Stones, of Crook, County Durham, since learning of his story from previously unreleased war records.

He said: "I'm absolutely disgusted with what the defence secretary said and the insensitive timing of it.

"A lot of the relatives know the medical records show they suffered shell shock.