The Duke of York was a guest of honour at the ceremony

The International Drumhead Ceremony, held next to the Naval War Memorial in Portsmouth, remembered casualties from all nations.

Commander Tim Peacock said the event marked the "illustrious achievements" of maritime veterans.

Thousands of spectators watched Tuesday's fleet review off Portsmouth.

The Duke of York, Prince Michael of Kent and around 11,000 veterans attended Wednesday's ceremony on Southsea Common.

The event involved a mixture of veterans on parade, schoolchildren, sea cadets, live choirs, and a large Royal Marines band.

I am proud to honour maritime veterans of all nations and remember their illustrious achievements Cdr Tim Peacock Drumhead ceremony organiser

Representatives of around 40 nations, from as far afield as Australia, were also present.

In contrast to the party atmosphere of Tuesday's fleet review and re-enactment, the ceremony was dominated by sombre reflection.

The Right Rev Kenneth Stevenson, the Bishop of Portsmouth, led the formal Drumhead act of worship accompanied by representatives of other faiths.

Children from around the UK had produced the ceremony's centre-piece, the Memory Mast, as well as art work and creative objects on display in the Veteran Centre.

Their contribution comes after Royal Navy veterans visited schools to talk about their personal experiences as part of the Veterans and Schools initiative, aimed at forging links between generations.

'Tearful' memories

The event's finale included a steam-past by a Royal Navy aircraft carrier and a fly-past by former and modern military aircraft.

Leslie Duddridge, who served as a cook aboard fleet auxiliary ships in the Second World War, travelled from Bicester, Oxfordshire, to attend the ceremony.

"For me it was a bit tearful as I remembered some of my crewmates that I lost," said the 80-year-old veteran.

His wife, Ellen, who served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATC) between 1942 and 1945, added: "I think it was good to get the children involved - I think they should know about the war because at the moment I think many do not."

Cdr Peacock, the director of the International Drumhead Ceremony, said: "I am proud to have the privilege to organise such an event to honour maritime veterans of all nations and remember their illustrious achievements."

The Drumhead ceremony is thought to date back hundreds of years to when soldiers on the battlefield would parade on three sides of a hollow square.

On the fourth side, drummers would arrange their drums in the shape of a pyramid to make an altar, draped with regimental colours.

It is now a form of service used on ceremonial occasions.

On Tuesday fusillades of gunfire, blasts from cannons and fireworks helped re-enact the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar victory over France and Spain.

Prior to the event, the Queen conducted a massive international fleet review.