Teacher-turned-MP Dale Butler yesterday admitted he wanted to call for order at the Remembrance Day service which turned into a PLP rally.

Mr. Butler said: "Many of us in leadership roles, who stood there on November 11 wanted to step forward and ask the crowd to show respect for the veterans but not one of us did.'' See Letters to the Editor on Page 4.

And he said a Master of Ceremonies or newly-appointed Chief of Staff Lt. Col.

David Burch could be tasked with the job of keeping order in the future.

Mr. Butler said: "A brief comment could have been made by an official and I'm sure the crowd would have waited for the veterans to march by before making a cheer.'' But he added: "If I had stepped forward, I would have been condemned for grandstanding and stepping out of my role at an event that I was not responsible for, so I stood and recognised the veterans for what they did.'' Some veterans and their relations were offended when the solemn service, held to remember the dead of two world wars, was interrupted with cheers from people celebrating the PLP General Election victory two days later. The unusually large crowd cheered the new Government MPs and Premier Jennifer Smith as they arrived at the cenotaph.

And even the traditional two minutes silence was briefly interrupted by the cheering crowd.

The scenes sparked a series of letters to the Editor and Bermuda War Veterans Association president Frank Farmer -- who lost two brothers in the Second World War -- admitted he was "disappointed'' by the "disgusting'' lack of respect.

He said afterwards: "They weren't there for Remembrance Day, they were there for the leader of the Government.

"This is the way I feel -- it's a very solemn day and it means a lot to the veterans.'' And PLP MPs who signed autographs on the official order of service cards were also criticised by Mr. Farmer.

He said: "I was very upset with the new MPs using the orders of service to give their autographs -- it was a disgusting display on Remembrance Day.'' But Mr. Butler said the crowd at the cenotaph "responded naturally'' and said the scenes "were not prompted by the PLP''.

He claimed the loudest complaints came from those "who have done the least to perpetuate the history of the war veterans''.

He claimed: "All of us attempted to avoid autograph signing but the crowd would not allow it and we politely did it and left.'' And he said "a large proportion'' of Bermudians "rightly or wrongly'' compared the war against Nazi Germany with the PLP victory at the polls.

Mr. Butler said: "The veterans went to war to fight for freedom and democracy which a large proportion of Bermudians felt, rightly or wrongly, had also been won for them on November 9.'' He added that he had raised concerns several years ago about the lack of recognition for the Island's war heroes.

And Mr. Butler -- despite his earlier comments -- insisted: "The day was for the veterans and everyone there knew this.'' And he offered his services to the families of veterans to help organise future commemorative events.