Tag: Armistice Day

Hundreds gather to pay their respects during 2-minute silence to mark Armistice Day

Hundreds of people gathered as a single gunshot fired from Edinburgh Castle today to mark a 2-minute silence at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month to remember those who have fallen in conflicts through the years. 

The signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, marked the end of the First World War and each year since 1919 the nation has paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in battle.

Preceding the gun fire, at a service within the Garden of Remembrance on Princes Street, Bugler Iona Macfarlane, a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, performed the Last Post.

At the Edinburgh service, wreaths were then laid by the Right Honourable Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge.  

Additional wreaths were laid by the CEO of Legion Scotland, Dr Claire Armstrong OBE, Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland, Colonel (Retd) Jim Wilson, Veterans Scotland, Maj (Retd) Alasdair Henry Hutton OBE TD OstJ, Edinburgh and Lothian & Borders Area President, Legion Scotland, and Reverend Dr Karen Campbell, the National Chaplain of Legion Scotland.  

Piper Lorne McIntyre from George Heriot’s School then completed the day’s service under glorious sunshine in the capital city.

Dr Claire Armstrong, CEO of Legion Scotland, said: “As a country, and as an organisation, we will never forget the sacrifices that have been made for so many, for the sake of so few.  

“These sacrifices are made on a daily occurrence by our Armed Forces community, and they are made on our behalf. I wish to thank our Armed Forces community for their continued dedication to our values and our freedoms. “ 

Freemasons partner with Royal British Legion to mark Remembrance Sunday

To mark this November’s Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) has created an exclusive poppy pin badge in partnership with the Royal British Legion (RBL) to support their annual Poppy Appeal fundraising campaign.

In addition to donating all the proceeds from this exclusive poppy, the Shop at Freemasons’ Hall is selling Brothers in Alms books for £5, with a portion of the proceeds going to the RBL.

For the third year in a row, there will also be a display projected onto Freemasons’ Hall from 11:00pm on 10 November to 11:59pm on 13 November, featuring falling poppies and the commemorative RBL/Freemasons’ pin badge.

Inside Freemasons’ Hall, the ‘Brothers in Alms – Peace through sacrifice’ exhibition showcases rare photographs spanning the period from the second Boer War through to the end of World War Two, and features those who led as well as those who served on land, sea and in the air.

It portrays the great landscape of the conflicts across all continents and the diversity of the participants.

The exhibition includes images of Freemasons who held a large range of military positions, including Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener who was Secretary of State for War at the start of the Great War and is depicted on the famous ‘Your country needs you’ recruitment poster of 1914.

It also highlights the great charitable work by Freemasons both during and after the wars, in building and supporting hospitals and rehabilitation housing, and providing pensions for ex-servicemen.

When visiting Freemasons’ Hall, which was originally built as the Masonic Peace Memorial in 1933, members of the public will be able to see a bronze poppy that is permanently situated in the Vestibules as a symbol of reflection and contemplation for those men and women who have served and sacrificed.

In 2021, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent on behalf of the United Grand Lodge of England signed the Armed Forces Covenant to promote their welfare, support and respect.

Scotland remembers on Armistice Day

Communities across Scotland fell silent at 11am today (Friday 11th November) to mark Armistice Day and remember those who laid down their lives in defence of our nation. 

Veterans, members of the Armed Services and the public came together around the country to pay tribute, including children of serving military personnel paying their respects in Dunblane.

The First World War came to an end at 11am on the 11th of November, 1918 with the signing of the Armistice. Each year since 1919 the nation has paid tribute to the fallen from that and other conflicts at the same time. 

While the service and wreath-laying could not go ahead as planned at Edinburgh’s Garden of Remembrance in Princes Street Gardens due to high winds, the Rt Hon Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, joined Legion Scotland and veterans to reflect at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory. Legion Scotland National Padre Revd Dr Karen Campbell led a short service, before wreaths were laid.

Dr Claire Armstrong, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland, said: “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom, from the First World War to more recent conflicts. Today is about remembering them, as well as those servicemen and women who came back with mental or physical injuries.

“We were very disappointed that the planned service at Princes Street Gardens could not go ahead due to the weather warnings, but public safety has to be paramount. While the service was much smaller than planned, we were glad that veterans from Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory and elsewhere were able to join us in paying tribute, while people across Scotland observed the two minutes silence.”

SCOTLAND REMEMBERS ON ARMISTICE DAY Photo caption:- Tabatha Holly Clark (s1) with  Nathan Collie S1 (L) and Rebecca Wise (s1) right.

Retired Army Major Andrew Johnstone, from Brisbane, Australia, joined the service at the factory. He said: “When you sign up, you sign a blank cheque that you are prepared to give your life for your country.

“I know many who are not here today because of that, and it’s important that we remember them.”

Aidan Stephen, from Edinburgh, who served as a Major with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, was among those paying tribute in Edinburgh City Centre. He said: “We just can’t forget. There isn’t a single person in my family who has not been affected by conflict in some way. I think of them today, as well as the friends I’ve lost.”

Pupils at Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, which has been looking after the children of UK service personnel since 1908, visited Bud, Poppyscotland’s interactive mobile museum.  They learned more about the origins of the poppy as our national symbol of remembrance and the vital work Poppyscotland still undertakes supporting the Armed Forces community today.

SCOTLAND REMEMBERS ON ARMISTICE DAY Photo caption:- Tabatha Holly Clark (s1) with  Nathan Collie S1 (L) and Rebecca Wise (s1) right.

S1 student Ruby May Gibson, whose father and brother are both currently serving with the Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “My brother, my dad and my grandparents all served so this is an important day for me.  On Armistice Day I think about the people who fought and died for us.

“I’ve really enjoyed learning more about the poppy on Bud. I think it is so important that we always remember.”

Armistice Day is followed tomorrow by “Poppy Saturday”, a day when streets and shopping centres will be filled with thousands of Poppyscotland volunteers as the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal approaches its culmination. 

One day later, Scotland will again fall silent to mark Remembrance Sunday.  The First Minister will join military and civic leaders, serving personnel and veterans at the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh at 11am, with local Remembrance Sunday events taking place in communities across the country.

SCOTLAND REMEMBERS ON ARMISTICE DAY Photo caption:- Sienna Patounas (S1) lays a poppy in the Garden of Remembrance at Queen Victoria School.  

Stagecoach extends UK-wide free travel for veterans and military personnel to include cadets on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday

  • Free travel for military and ex-military personnel available again on 11th and 13th November
  • The operator has now extended the offer to include cadets wearing uniform
  • Available on all Stagecoach bus and tram services across the country
  • Transport operator proud member of Armed Forces Covenant

Stagecoach has confirmed its ongoing commitment to the armed forces by extending its new policy of free travel for veterans and military personnel to include cadets who wish to attend remembrance services. Free travel will be valid on its bus and tram services right across the UK on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

The commitment to free travel, which is now in its second year, comes on the back of the launch of Stagecoach’s employee led Veteran’s Network. The network was launched last year to allow Stagecoach colleagues to come together as one voice to make change, raise awareness, help influence business decisions and introduce new ways of working to make the company even stronger.

As a cause that is close to the hearts of its employees and customers, Stagecoach has been a long-time supporter of the Poppy Appeal, and in addition to free travel on 11th and 13th November, Stagecoach will be operating a number of Poppy Buses across its network. Poppies will also be displayed on the front of buses across the country with some destination blinds showing the messaging “We will remember them”.

Employees across Stagecoach will also respect the two minutes silence and where safe to do so, drivers may pull over to honour this.

Stagecoach has also been a member of the Armed Force Covenant since March 2015, recognising the value of serving personnel, regular and reservists, veterans and military families to both the country and businesses across the country.

With Remembrance services planned at memorials across UK, it is hoped that people wishing to pay their respects will take up the offer to travel for free to the service of their choice.

This commitment from Stagecoach allows for the business to unite and to offer free travel to all military, ex-military and cadet customers and it will continue each year on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday  as well as Armed Forces Weekend.

Simon Tramalloni, Operations Manager in Preston & Chorley is co-lead for the Stagecoach Veterans Network. He previously served in the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Africa and the Middle East.

He said: “After the idea came about last year, I am so proud that we are now able to offer this to military cadets and celebrate a second year of offering free travel to military and ex-military personnel.

“Stagecoach has a strong commitment to supporting the armed forces and our veterans, and we have thousands of ex forces personnel working across our business.

“The Veterans Network is allowing us to build on the work that Stagecoach has led over many years to identify how else we can support those veterans already working for us and those that may want to come and join the company.

“Remembrance Day and the Poppy Appeal are causes close to the hearts of many of our employees and customers and we are very pleased to be making this commitment that will hopefully help people to attend memorials across the UK.”

We Will Remember Them

For the Fallen

BY LAURENCE BINYON

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal 
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; 
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, 
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, 
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, 
To the end, to the end, they remain.

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – we will remember them.

The Armistice, an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918.

Armistice is Latin for to stand (still) arms.

To this day we mark Armistice Day around the United Kingdom with a Two Minute Silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.

With many unable to take part in Remembrance services and events this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you can still play your part from home.

Take part in a moment of Remembrance by observing the Two Minute Silence at 11am from your doorstep.

UNKNOWN WARRIOR 100

Huw Edwards presents coverage live from Westminster Abbey of a unique event marking the 100th anniversary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior on BBC One at 10.30am.

HRH The Prince of Wales attends an event marking the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior and the unveiling of the Cenotaph by King George V.

Huw Edwards is at Westminster Abbey with experts to discuss the history of the mysterious Unknown Warrior, whose tomb has inspired similar monuments to the fallen worldwide.

The Order of Service will reflect the funeral of 100 years ago and incorporate two minutes silence at 11am. Ruby Turner performs Abide With Me, Cerys Matthews gives a reading, and there is an address by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Last Post

In memory of the 19 million who died and the countless millions more whose lives were changed forever by The Great War.

LAST POST

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If poetry could tell it backwards, true, begin
that moment shrapnel scythed you to the stinking mud …
but you get up, amazed, watch bled bad blood
run upwards from the slime into its wounds;
see lines and lines of British boys rewind
back to their trenches, kiss the photographs from home –
mothers, sweethearts, sisters, younger brothers
not entering the story now
to die and die and die.
Dulce – No – Decorum – No – Pro patria mori.
You walk away.
You walk away; drop your gun (fixed bayonet)
like all your mates do too –
Harry, Tommy, Wilfred, Edward, Bert –
and light a cigarette.
There’s coffee in the square,
warm French bread
and all those thousands dead
are shaking dried mud from their hair
and queuing up for home. Freshly alive,
a lad plays Tipperary to the crowd, released
from History; the glistening, healthy horses fit for heroes, kings.
You lean against a wall,
your several million lives still possible
and crammed with love, work, children, talent, English beer, good food.
You see the poet tuck away his pocket-book and smile.
If poetry could truly tell it backwards,
then it would.

Carol Ann Duffy

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Lord Provost opens Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance

Frank Ross, the Right Honourable Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, led a special group of wreath-layers at the annual Opening Ceremony of the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance, at the Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens yesterday.  Continue reading Lord Provost opens Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance

Armistice Day: remembering the fallen

‘You were so dazed that you just didn’t realise that you could stand up straight and not be shot’ – Corporal Reg Haine, November 1918

aus armistice

The Armistice came, the day we had dreamed of. The guns stopped, the fighting stopped. Four years of noise and bangs ended in silence. The killings had stopped.

We were stunned. I had been out since 1914, I should have been happy: I was sad. I thought of the slaughter, the hardships, the waste and the friends I had lost.

Sgt Major Richard Tobin, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division Continue reading Armistice Day: remembering the fallen

11 November 1918

WW1 Paths of Glory by Christopher NevinsonWe were still fighting hard and losing men. We knew nothing of the proposed Armistice, we didn’t know until a quarter to ten on that day. As we advanced on the village of Guiry a runner came up and told us that the Armistice would be signed at 11 o’clock that day, the 11th of November. That was the first we knew of it.

We were lined up on a railway bank nearby, the same railway bank that the Manchesters had lined up in 1914. They had fought at the battle of Mons in August that year. Some of us went down to a wood in a little valley and found the skeletons of some of the Manchesters still lying there. Lying there with their boots on, very still, no helmets, no rusty rifles or equipment, just their boots.

Marine Hubert Trotman, Royal Marine Light Infantry

It wasn’t like London, where they all got drunk of course. No, it wasn’t like that, it was all very quiet. You were so dazed you just didn’t realise that you could stand up straight and not be shot.

Corporal Reginald Leonard Haine, Honourable Artillery Company

What was one going to do next? That was very much the feeling of everyone. To some of us it was the end of four years, to others three years, to some less. For many of us it was practically the only life we had known. We had started so young.

Nearby there was a German machine gun unit giving our troops a lot of trouble. They kept on firing until practically 11 o’clock. At precisely 11 o’clock an officer stepped out of their position, stood up, lifted his helmet and bowed to the British troops. He then fell in all his men in the front of the trench and marched them off.

I always thought that this was a wonderful display of confidence in British chivalry, because the temptation to fire on them must have been very great.

Major Keith Officer, Australian Corps

The Armistice came, the day we had dreamed of. The guns stopped, the fighting stopped. Four years of noise and bangs ended in silence. The killings had stopped.

We were stunned. I had been out since 1914. I should have been happy. I was sad. I thought of the slaughter, the hardships, the waste and the friends I had lost.

Sergeant-Major Richard Tobin, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

River of Poppies