Nation observes Armistice Day with services and silences

UPDATE - follow-up to UK falls silent to mark Armistice Day: People across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland observed a two-minute silence at 11:00 to mark Armistice Day and remember those who died in conflicts. A national remembrance service was held at the Cenotaph in London, where Defence Secretary Wes Streeting laid a wreath. Senior military figures, children and cadets also attended the Cenotaph service, which marked the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

Staffordshire And Memorials

In Staffordshire, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester laid a wreath at the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens, formerly known as the National Memorial Arboretum. Hundreds of people gathered at the Armed Forces memorial there, including 101-year-old RAF veteran Geoffrey Spencer, who joined in 1943. Spencer spoke about surviving a crash landing and losing a companion plane with 22 men on board during his service. Veterans of more recent conflicts, from the Falklands to Afghanistan, also attended. Wreaths were further laid at the Portsmouth World War One Memorial in Hampshire and near the Tommy statue in Dover, Kent.

Scotland Wales And Europe

In Scotland, Edinburgh Castle fired its one o'clock gun at 11:00 to signal the start of the silence, with additional events at the Scottish National War Memorial and Glasgow's George Square. In Conwy, north Wales, local school pupils read out the names of the fallen in the town square. Conwy Mayor Sian Grady stated that coming together for remembrance remains as relevant today as ever. In Seaham, County Durham, Royal Artillery veteran Joe Walker laid a wreath at the Tommy statue named 1101 on the seafront. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron attended a Paris ceremony to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Context

Armistice Day marks the end of fighting in World War One, which began at 11:00 on 11 November 1918. Nations commonly observe a two-minute silence at this exact hour to honour all military personnel who have lost their lives in past and present wars.