Share and Follow
Britain fell silent today to mark Armistice Day – with a two-minute silence observed at 11am in cities, towns and villages around the country.
In London, veterans and dignitaries gathered by the Cenotaph while Big Ben rang 11 times to mark the occasion after being muffled for five years due to repairs.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the National Memorial Arboretum Armistice Day Service in Staffordshire and services are also being held in cities including Edinburgh, Belfast and Portsmouth.
In Edinburgh, the city’s depute lord provost, councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, gathered with veterans, serving personnel and the public to pay tribute at the city’s Garden of Remembrance.
The short open-air service led by Legion Scotland National Padre Rev Dr Karen Campbell was followed by the laying of wreaths before the One O’Clock Gun fires at 11am from Edinburgh Castle.
Today could be the warmest Armistice Day on record, with temperatures across the four nations in the mid-teens.
Lloyd’s of London workers gather on balconies and escalators as they observe two minutes’ silence to mark Armistice Day
Members of the public stand for a two-minutes’ silence by Parliament Square as Big Ben rang 11 times to mark the occasion
Armed forces veterans and poppy factory workers during an Armistice Day service at Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh
LNER train staff observe a moment of silence alongside commuters at Newcastle’s Central Station at 11am
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester join members of the armed forces, veterans and the public at the National Memorial Arboretum
Veterans, dignitaries and members of the public fall silence for two minutes at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London to mark Armistice Day
Flag bearers, veterans and members of the public observe a two minute silence in Guildhall Square, Portsmouth
Veterans and members of the public gather at Guildhall Square in Portsmouth to mark Armistice Day
Members of the armed forces and dignities at a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd’s of London, in the City
Armed forces veterans observe a two minute silence on Armistice Day at the Poppyscotland’s Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh
The Lady Haig Poppy Factory has been making poppies and supporting veterans since its founding nearly 100 years ago
Veterans and dignitaries marking Armistice Day at the Lady Haigh Poppy Factory, which produces three million poppies and 10,000 wreaths annually
Armed forces veterans and members of staff at the Lady Haigh Poppy factory paying their respects to the fallen today
LNER staff and railway workers observe a moment of silence at York Railway Station at 11am on Armistice Day
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is attending a remembrance service hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer joined veterans and railway staff outside Euston station to hear tributes to those who lost their lives in the two World Wars.
The mood was sombre as Salvation Army Captain Michael Kinnear played the Last Post before a two-minute silence was observed.
The stillness was broken only by the rustle of leaves in the trees and the passing of cars. The silence was followed by the playing of The Rouse.
Leading a prayer for those who gave their lives defending Britain’s shores, Euston station railway chaplain Stephen Rowe said: ‘May we never forget the bravery and sacrifice, in the face of fearsome odds, the young and old who gave all, and the victories they won for our liberty.’
Army veteran Tony Matthews reads names on the Armed Forces Memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire
Conservative MP Michael Fabricant at the National Memorial Arboretum ahead of the Armistice Day service
Mr Cleverly said: ‘Since 1918 we have marked Armistice Day and paid tribute to the brave men and women who have served to give us peace.
‘Yet as we salute our troops this year, this peace has been shattered by a Russian aggressor. As we honour the war dead of the past, we also remember Ukraine’s fight for freedom today.
‘The UK stands steadfast with our friends and allies in defence of freedom and democracy in Ukraine and I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with an historic ally in Paris today.’
Mr Cleverly will also meet with French foreign minister Catherine Colonna.
They are expected to discuss the two countries’ support for Ukraine, joint work to improve energy security and illegal migration, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said.
They will also discuss preparations for next year’s UK-France summit, it added.
The Armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany in a railway carriage in the forest of Compiegne to end the First World War in 1918.
The Met Office said there were ‘exceptionally mild’ conditions across the UK as it predicted that Friday could be the warmest Armistice Day on record.
Farmers Fay and Abigail Johnson, from Great Easton, Leicestershire, have painted a poppy design on 11 of their ewes to mark Armistice Day
The sheep are due to stay in their field this weekend, so they can be seen by people attending church services
