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Lest we forget: Armistice Day services held across UK to remember the fallen
Armistice Day services were held across the UK, where veterans, public figures and members of the public observed a two-minute silence at 11am and paid tribute to those killed in war. The commemorations brought communities together in remembrance, with many attending despite rain and cold.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester laid a wreath at the Royal British Legion’s National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, while ceremonies also took place at the Cenotaph and Parliament in London, Portsmouth, Dover, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Edinburgh, the castle’s one o’clock gun marked the start of the silence; services also remembered the First World War and the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
In short
- UK services marked Armistice Day with a two-minute silence.
- Wreaths were laid at sites across the country.
- Edinburgh Castle’s gun signalled the silence at 11am.
Explained simply
Armistice Day marks the end of fighting in the First World War. The armistice, or agreement to stop fighting, took effect on 11 November 1918 at 11am. The date is now used to remember people killed in wars.
The Royal British Legion supports veterans and their families and organises national remembrance events. The Cenotaph in London and the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire are among the places where people gather to pay tribute. Local services across the UK also give communities a way to take part in remembrance.