Over 800 members of the armed forces lead the nation in commemorating the servicemen and women killed in all conflicts since the First World War at the National Service of Remembrance…
Personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force were present at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London, as members of the Royal Family and senior politicians laid wreaths after the two minutes’ silence at 11am. Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter was in attendance and laid a wreath alongside the Chiefs of the Royal Navy, British Army and RAF.
The Chief of the Defence Staff said: “Remembrance is our annual opportunity to pay our collective respects to those who died fighting for our country, to uphold our way of life, our values and our freedom of choice. It is also a time to think about our living veterans and the responsibility we have to defend those who have defended us.
“Our servicemen and women are drawn from society and they will return to society on completion of their service. They deserve our support and respect, and all of them have huge value to add. We should thank them for their service and take pride in their selfless contribution to their country.”
All three services played traditional music for the service, including the Last Post, played by Buglers of the Royal Marines. The annual Royal British Legion Veterans’ Parade followed the service, in which thousands of veterans from the Second World War or more recent conflicts marched past the Cenotaph.
Other Remembrance Sunday ceremonies are taking place across the country and around the world, including in countries where the armed forces are currently deployed, such Afghanistan, Estonia and South Sudan. Over the past year UK troops have been deployed on 35 operations in 30 countries around the world.
This year also marks the 75th anniversaries of numerous battles such as D-Day, Kohima, Arnhem and Monte Cassino.