At 5am on 11 November 1918 in a train carriage in France, the armistice was signed. Just 6 hours later the First World War, which had been raging for the previous four years, had ended.
The first Remembrance Day, then called Armistice Day, was held in 1919 to remember all those who lost their lives in the previous years’ hostilities. After the end of the Second World War, Armistice Day was changed to Remembrance Day to commemorate all those who had lost their lives in both world wars and later conflicts. 2 minutes silence is held at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month to remember those who lost their lives and to celebrate the end of the Great War and the silencing of the guns.
Two minutes silence is also observed at 11am on the Second Sunday of November, ‘Remembrance Sunday’, at war memorials, religious services and shopping centres and throughout the country. The Royal Family, religious leaders and politicians gather at the Cenotaph in London for a service of Remembrance, to lay poppy wreaths, and to show their respect to all those who have died for their country.
This years Remembrance Sunday will be on Sunday 9th November
The Poppy – A Memorial Symbol
Poppies grow wildly on broken ground through out Western Europe. Destruction caused by wars, such as the Napoleonic, caused empty fields to turn into blood red fields of poppies which grew around fallen soldiers.
The significance of the poppy was first realised in a poem by John McCrae, 'In Flanders Fields'. The poem signified the colossal sacrifice McCrae’s comrades made, and the poppy quickly became the memorial to all those who lost their lives, fighting for their country.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Remember to buy a poppy this year - the proceeds go to The Royal British Legion, a charity that supports the serving and ex-service community, and their families.
