Remembrance Day – Britain falls silent as nation remembers our heroes
BRITAIN fell silent this morning to remember the nation’s war dead on Remembrance Day.
Commemorations have been taking place across the UK with thousands of wreaths laid at war memorials to honour the fallen.
Last year’s ceremonies were disrupted by the Covid pandemic as people were urged to honour our war heroes from home.
Across the nation today millions of people bowed their heads for the traditional Remembrance Day two-minute’s silence from 11am.
The Last Post sounded as Big Ben chimed to mark the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month when the armistice was signed, ending the First World War.
This year’s Armistice Day commemorations mark the 103rd anniversary of the end of the Great War.
WAR HEROES HONOURED
In London, the Duchess of Cornwall, patron of the Poppy Factory, attended Westminster Abbey for the 93rd Field of Remembrance.
Camilla laid a cross as she paid a solemn tribute to Britain’s war heroes as she joined veterans at the abbey.
England manager Gareth Southgate joined Three Lions stars Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, Jordan Pickford and other squad members at training ground St George’s Park.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer laid a wreath at Euston Station in his Camden constituency.
The Queen is set to lead the Royal Family tributes at the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday.
Hundreds of wreaths are being sent to stations from across the country and locations including the Falkland Islands as part of the Poppies to Paddington and Routes of Remembrance campaigns by The Veterans Charity.
One wreath was shipped up the Thames then onboard HMS Belfast, which served during the Second World War Navy, before being taken to the Tower of London.
TRIBUTES TO THE FALLEN
The Royal Family’s Twitter page shows a photo of Her Majesty, 95, wearing a poppy and another of her walking through the display of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London in 2014.
A tribute from the Windsors read: “On the ‘eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month’ in 1918 the Armistice was signed.
“Today the nation falls silent at 11:00 in an act of Remembrance of all those who have served and sacrificed.
“We will remember them.”
The two-minute silence was marked at the Scottish Parliament and by Cop26 President Alok Sharma at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and others also stood in silence at the UK pavilion at Cop26 this morning.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Charles used their social media accounts to pay tribute to Britain’s war heroes.
A post on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s account read: “Today at 11am the nation will pause to remember. Armistice Day. Lest We Forget.”
‘LEST WE FORGET’
A single gun salute was fired from Edinburgh Castle with government officials joining members of the Armed Forces laying wreaths at the Scott Monument.
In Staffordshire, a service of remembrance took place at the National Memorial Arboretum on top of the Armed Forces Memorial.
In schools, offices and workplaces, Brits stood silent as a mark of respect for those who died at war.
Veterans and political leaders joined those paying their respects to heroic members of the armed forces who lost their lives.
Ahead of this morning’s events, Labour leader Mr Starmer paid tribute to fallen heroes and serving members of the armed forces.
He said: “In a year which saw British forces show remarkable bravery to save lives in the evacuation of Kabul it is important we show how grateful we are for your sacrifice and for everything you have done, and continue to do, to keep us safe.
“As every year passes we take one step further away from the wars of the last century where our armed forces, and those who kept the home fires burning, sacrificed so much.
“Remembrance is always a humbling time of year, because I reflect, as we all do, that our country, our way of life, our values and our democracy are hard fought for, by the UK and our allies, through life-ending and life-changing sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we live by every day.
“We will remember them.”
Yesterday, The Duchess of Cambridge wore a military-style coat and a Remembrance poppy as she officially opened two galleries at the Imperial War Museum.
The two-minute silence has been a tradition since 1919 to remember those who gave their lives in all conflicts.
Many services on Remembrance Sunday will also hold a two-minute silence at 11am.
