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. “