Two-minute silence on Armistice Day to remember war dead

Are you going to observe today’s two minutes silence to mark Armistice Day?

Comedian John Bishop was spotted among the crowd of city dignitaries, war veterans and members of the public.

Ambassador Sylvie Bermann said it was France’s way of “thanking them for their tremendous service”.

Tributes were followed by children from St Margaret Mary’s Infant School who sang “It’s a long way to Tipperary”.

Around 100 gathered at Dereham’s War Memorial for a brief service and a two-minute silence which started with the Last Post.

Two-minute silences will be observed at 11am up and down the country as people stop to remember those who have died in conflict.

While veterans and serving personnel laid wreaths at the Cenotaph in London.

The service will feature singer Rebecca Nelson, who performed New Zealand’s national anthem at the Gallipoli centenary service earlier this year.

The moving tribute commemorated the end of The First World War- the Great War – where a defeated Germany, signed an armistice agreement with the allies outside Compiegne, France.

In the French capital, President Francois Holland led the ceremony to honour the victims of World War One and the moment the fighting stopped on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

COMMEMORATIONS are being held across Scotland to mark Armistice Day.

Peter Godsmark, 76, gave mother-of-two Karen Lowton an insight into a few of the perceived meanings behind the Remembrance Day symbol when they chatted on a street in Orpington, south-east London. Almost one hundred years later it’s a day many people still remember, including my family and I.

“Some of our residents saw active service in the Second World War and others, as well as a few staff members, served in subsequent conflicts which may have been more limited geographically but which still had a devastating effect on individuals and families”. They do not understand the sadness but lets hope they never have to experience it. I would have thought after the First World War that people would have learnt.

Speaking after the service in Alrewas, Staffordshire, the veteran said: “On the 65th anniversary of D-Day I went back over there and I was told all the engineers got out”.