11/11/2010

Eleventh Hour Silence Marks Fallen

As millions of people across the UK fell silent at 11am today to mark Armistice Day, an innovative 'pop record' This Remembrance Day - actually a two-minute silence to support the Poppy campaign by the Royal British Legion - has seen the track that contains no music whatsoever shoot into the midweek Top 20. Proceeds from the single, which is available on iTunes, are to benefit this year's ex-service's Poppy appeal.

The modern take on commemoration was in parallel with the more traditional remembrance service at the Cenotaph in central London.

There - as in services also taking place across Great Britain and in Northern Ireland - a bugler from the Scots Guards signalled the start of the silence by playing the Last Post.

The conclusion of the 'two minutes was as always, marked by the playing of the Reveille.

The anniversary marks the return of peace to Europe at the end of the First World War after an agreement between Germany and the allies, which took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

The fallen were also honoured in Trafalgar Square, where the Royal British Legion hosted Silence in the Square.

Pop group the Saturdays performed and there were readings from celebrities before the silence. The event was linked by satellite with a remembrance service at Swansea's Castle Square.

In Belfast, as wreaths were being laid by civic representatives and Royal British Legion members this morning at the City Hall cenotaph, the leader of the nationalist SDLP revealed that she will wear a poppy while attending a Remembrance Sunday ceremony this weekend.

It is understood that Margaret Ritchie will be the first leader of a nationalist party to wear a poppy.

She said that she hoped it would be seen as a gesture of "reconciliation and reaching out" as some see the poppy as a controversial symbol in Northern Ireland, often dividing unionists and nationalists even though it is only sold by the British Legion in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday in November to raise money for veterans.

(BMcC/GK)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 October 2007
British Legion Remembrance Campaign Launched
The Royal British Legion has launched this year’s fund-raising campaign to help its work supporting ex-servicemen and women and their dependents.
11 November 2014
Two-Minutes Silence To Mark Armistice Day
A two-minute silence is to be observed across the UK at 11am on Tuesday to mark the World War One armistice. War veterans and dignitaries are to gather at the Tower of London where a ceremony will be held to mark the occasion against the back drop of the ceramic poppy display, which will be completed with the placement of the final poppy.
08 January 2015
UK Police Forces Hold Minute's Silence In Remembrance Of Terrorist Attack
The Association of Police Officers (ACPO) and the Police Federation held a one minute's silence to show their respect for the victims of Wednesday's Paris terrorist attack. Ceremonies took place 10.30am GMT, 24 hours after the attacks happened.
22 October 2009
Afghanistan Highlighted In Poppy Appeal
As another solider killed in Afghanistan was today laid to rest, Dame Vera Lynn and soprano Hayley Westenra have launched the Royal British Legion's 2009 Poppy Appeal. The pair held hands as they sang wartime classic We'll Meet Again to a crowd gathered at Horse Guards Parade in central London.
19 February 2004
Afghan opium production to rise again, UN warns
Last year Afghanistan produced its highest amount of opium since 1999 – an estimated 3,600 tons, or more than three-quarters of the global supply – and the country is poised to exceed that amount this year, according to the results of a UN survey released today.