A Poignant Remembrance Day For All Generations
-'LEST WE FORGET'
UK, Sunday 09 November 2014
Britain Honours All War Dead On Remembrance Day
Unprecedented Applause for Courageous Queen: Monarch Honoured as She Leads Britain in Remembrance Sunday Service Despite Heightened Security after Terror Arrests
- Queen led commemorations by laying wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall after two-minute silence at 11am
- She was joined by servicemen, senior royals, party leaders including David Cameron and former PM Tony Blair
- Armed officers stood guard and checked area with trained dogs days after Scotland Yard made four terror arrests
- Service 100 years after First World War and 70 years after D-Day came as Tower of London poppy artwork extended
The Queen is leading tributes to fallen servicemen and women as special services are held across the country.
David Cameron, who was at the London service, said this year's events were "particularly poignant" because 2014 marked a century since the start of the Great War, the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the end of UK involvement in Afghanistan.
A shot from a World War One gun, fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, marked the beginning and end of the two-minute silence at 11am.
The ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall features a procession of current and former servicemen and women.
The Queen is joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
Philip, Charles and William laid wreaths after the Queen, watched by Kate and Camilla from a balcony above.
The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband also laid wreaths.
Meanwhile "appropriate and proportionate" policing is in place in London amid heightened fears of a terror attack, Scotland Yard said.
The Queen (centre) led the nation in commemorations by laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall after a two-minute silence at 11am, joined by servicemen, veterans (left), the Duchesses of Cambridge and Cornwall and Countess of Wessex (bottom right) and party leaders including David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg (top right).
Armed officers stood guard and checked the area with trained dogs as crowds gathered a dozen deep, just three days after Scotland Yard made four terror arrests of alleged plotters in west London and High Wycombe. The service 100 years after the First World War and 70 years after D-Day came as it was revealed part of the beloved Tower of London poppy artwork (inset), with one ceramic flower for each British and colonial soldier killed in the First World War, will be briefly extended. Military Cross recipient Paul Baines, 39, from Torquay, said Britain had 'really rallied behind the military' as the service approached. Inset: The London Eye lit red early this morning in tribute.
Officers have also been granted seven more days to hold four men arrested in west London and High Wycombe on
Thursday They were detained over an alleged Islamist terror plot, but it has not been confirmed whether Remembrance Day was a potential target.
In Afghanistan, British armed forces personnel took part in remembrance ceremonies at the Kandahar airbase and in Kabul.
A service is also being held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, with wreaths laid at the stone memorial.
Later, as night falls, falling poppies will be projected onto Big Ben.
Meanwhile public calls for the Tower of London's ceramic poppies to stay in place for longer have also been heeded.
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Paying her respects: The Queen, dressed all in black except for a red poppy, was laid a wreath on the Cenotaph on behalf of the nation
Anniversary: This year's service comes 100 years after the outbreak of the First World War and 70 years after the D-Day landings
Giving thanks: The three main party leaders Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and David Cameron were among those at the ceremony today
Procession: The Queen was followed by Princes Charles and William before a service led by the the Bishop of London Richard Chartres
Memorial: Prince Charles lays a wreath on the Cenotaph, where remembrance services have been held for almost a century
Watching: The Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall and Countess of Wessex on the Foreign Office balcony at the service
Paying tribute: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair joined party leaders and George Osborne (left) as thousands stood on Whitehall (right)
The Queen laid wreaths alongside Prince Charles, Prince William and party leaders including David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was also at the service to pay his respects. Under his leadership, the government began the protracted wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which led to the deaths of more than 630 British servicemen.
Today's ceremony also marked the first time an Irish representative was invited to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in almost 70 years.
Irish ambassador to Britain Dan Mulhall accepted the invitation as part of a symbolic gesture to repair old wounds. Some 200,000 Irish-born soldiers from north and south of the island served in the First World War, with around 50,000 losing their lives.
But those who returned from the war found a country riven by its own conflict with Britain. The Irish war of independence would follow and by 1921 the island was partitioned, with the southern 26 counties becoming independent.
For decades the newly-formed state struggled with its people's role fighting for Britain in the war. Returning soldiers were effectively ostracised and became scared to admit they had participated in the conflict.
Procession: Veterans assemble on Whitehall this morning for the national Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph
Service: Onlookers filmed the procession with their camera phones as they prepared to mark the two-minute silence at 11am
Service: Troops gathered in Whitehall this morning as they prepared to observe two minutes' silence in a remembrance service at 11am
Royals: The national remembrance service included the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall
Wounded in service: An amputee war veteran leaves from Horse Guards Parade this morning en route to the Cenotaph ceremony
A moment of reflection: Veterans and their families walk through St James' Park as they gather this morning for the Cenotaph ceremony
In London, crowds gathered a dozen deep in a welcome respite from downpours which had swept across the south east, bringing with them ten days' rain in six hours, as thousands of servicemen gathered to remember the fallen.
The national remembrance service including wreaths laid by the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Earl and Countess of Wessex took place in Whitehall amid a heightened police presence.
Armed officers stood guard against the grey civil service buildings early in the morning as trained dogs sniffed under manhole covers to check for any signs of a terror plot
.
Scotland Yard said it had an 'appropriate and proportionate' policing plan in place for the event amid heightened fears of a terror attack.
The thorough checks came after four men were arrested in west London and High Wycombe in connection with alleged Islamist terror plans on British soil on Thursday.
Turnout: Armed police gather as a precaution in Whitehall this morning as the Queen prepared to lead a national Remembrance Sunday service in honour of all those who have lost their lives in war. It came three days after Scotland Yard made fresh terror arrests
Paying their respects: Crowds lined the streets of central London a dozen deep in a respite from rain which had lashed the capital
On guard: Mourners and those paying tribute gathered along Whitehall for the service with a heavy police presence out in force
Crowds: A police patrol with sniffer dogs outside the Houses of Parliament this morning, near where the wreaths will be laid
Checks: Officers wore poppies as they arrived at Whitehall in what Scotland Yard called an 'appropriate and proportionate' response
A two-minute silence at 11am was due to be marked at the beginning and end by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery firing one round from one of their 13-pounder First World War guns from nearby Horse Guards Parade.
A young choirboy collapsed as the national anthem was sung just yards from where the royal family were standing. Medics rushed to treat the boy who was helped up and led away through the crowd, which included senior royals and 46 high commissioners from Commonwealth nations, each of whom laid a wreath.
Speaking before the Cenotaph service, Company Sergeant Major Paul Baines, 39, from Torquay, who was awarded the military cross for gallantry after serving in Afghanistan, said: 'The country has really rallied behind the military and not just because of the centenary year.
'When I was younger I tried to imagine the faces of those who had lost their lives. When you experience it for yourself as part of your job, it becomes more personal.'
Asked about the police presence amid heightened fears of a terror attack, he said: 'It's better to be safe than sorry. There's always a strong presence.'
Afghanistan veteran Lance Corporal Andrew Davison, 24, from Newcastle, added: 'It's good to see the end of any conflict. Of course it's going to be emotional today, it always is.'
Paying tribute: The London Eye lit up in comemmoration this morning (left) as a photograph of a soldier was left at the Tower of London
Red sea: The sun glints this morning on the 888,246 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, one for each British soldier killed in WW1
Beloved: It has been revealed part of the artwork, pictured last night, will be briefly extended. It was due to be removed after Tuesday
Grand: A service at Durham Cathedral (left) was attended by Abbie Moore, 17 (right), this year's face of the Poppy Appeal for the Royal British Leigion. Her father was a bombardier with 101 Northumbria Regiment and 203 Elswick Battery Royal Artillery but died this year
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ORDER OF EVENTS IN WHITEHALL
9am Royal British Legion detachments form up on Horse Guards Parade and in Whitehall
10am All detachments march out from Wellington Barracks
11am Two-minute silence marked by the firing of guns from Kings Troop, on Horse Guards Parade, and the first stroke of Big Ben. Cenotaph Service commences
11:25am Cenotaph Service concludes and RBL detachments disperse past the Cenotaph
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Party leaders including David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Alex Salmond were due to join the wreath-laying - but there was a political row after Ukip leader Nigel Farage demanded to be allowed to join them.
He claimed millions of Ukip voters had been snubbed while leaders of smaller parties were allowed to attend. But a senior government source told MailOnline Mr Farage was wrong to make the sombre wreath laying ceremony 'all about him'.
'Today we stand united to remember the courageous men and women who have served our country, defended our freedoms and kept us safe,' he said. 'We remember all those who have fallen and those who have risked their lives to protect us.
'We owe each and every member of our armed forces and the families who support them a tremendous debt - one that can never be repaid - and I pay huge tribute to their bravery and resolve.'
It was announced yesterday that part of the ceramic poppy field at the Tower of London - which will have 888,246 poppies installed by Armistice Day, one for each British and colonial death during the First World War - will remain on show until the end of the month.
The news was welcomed by the Prime Minister, who said the artwork was an 'incredibly moving, yet stark reminder' of British losses in the conflict.
As dusk falls tonight, images of falling poppies are due to be projected onto the tower containing Big Ben and a service will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, before wreaths are laid at the stone armed forces memorial.
Since last year's Remembrance Sunday, seven members of the British armed forces have died on operations.
LCpl Oliver Thomas, Cpl James Walters, Warrant Officer Spencer Faulkner, Flt Lt Rakesh Chauhan, Capt Thomas Clarke, Sapper Adam Moralee and Capt Richard Holloway all died in Afghanistan - five of them in a single helicopter crash in April.
The youngest, 32 Engineers Regiment Sapper Moralee, from Newcastle, was just 23.
Marking time: George Henderson, 90, waits at a commemorative bus stop in Prudhoe, Northumberland, on his way to a service in Newcastle. He was a gunner on a D-Day landing craft nicknamed 'The Fallen Leaves' taking Canadian troops onto Juno Beach
Then and now: The 90-year-old veteran was joined in his journey to the service this morning by Sergeant Terry Moffatt, 37 (left)
Powerful: A 1.2-tonne statue of 'Tommy' (pictured this morning) is now a permanent fixture on the seafront Seaham, County Durham, after locals campaigned successfully to raise the £85,000 fundraising target needed to keep the sculpture in the town
Dawn: The statue cut a lonely figure on the seafront this morning as the sun rose on the national day of remembrance for the fallen
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BRITAIN REMEMBERS: ORDER OF SERVICE AT CENOTAPH TO HONOUR THE FALLEN 100 YEARS AFTER WWI
At 11 o’clock, Silence will be kept for two minutes, beginning at the first stroke of Big Ben.
For all present, suggested subjects for thought and prayer during the Silence are:
We remember those who made the great sacrifice during the two World Wars;
We remember those who have given their lives in the service of their country in other conflicts;
We pray for those who suffer at this time;
We pray for those who have been bereaved;
We pray for peace;
We pray that we may be worthy of the sacrifice made on our behalf.
The end of the Silence will be marked by The Last Post.
Wreaths will then be laid on the Cenotaph.
The Lord Bishop of London will offer the following prayer:
O Almighty God, grant, we beseech thee, that we who here do honour to the memory of those who have died in the service of their country and of the Crown, may be so inspired by the spirit of their love and fortitude that, forgetting all selfish and unworthy motives, we may live only to thy glory and to the service of mankind through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
The following hymn will be sung, accompanied by the Bands of the Guards Division.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Beneath the shadow of thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
The Lord Bishop of London will offer the following prayer:
Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
All present are requested to say The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father
Which art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
In earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive them that trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom
The power and the glory
For ever and ever. AMEN
The Lord Bishop of London will then give The Blessing:
Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection we commit you
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you
And give you his peace this day and always. AMEN
The Rouse
God Save The Queen
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