UK marks Armistice Day with ceremonies and two-minute silence

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 19:14 · Archive

The UK observed a two-minute silence at 11:00 on Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War One and remember those who have died in conflicts.

The UK observed Armistice Day on Wednesday with ceremonies and a two-minute silence at 11:00 across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Armistice, which ended the fighting of World War One at 11:00 on 11 November 1918, was commemorated in services held at locations including the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, and the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens in Alrewas, Staffordshire.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting attended the ceremony at the Cenotaph and laid a wreath of poppies. He also marked the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme at the same service. The event was attended by senior military figures, children and cadets.

In Staffordshire, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester laid a wreath at the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens, where hundreds of people gathered. Veterans from World War Two to more recent conflicts including the Falkland Islands and Afghanistan were present. Geoffrey Spencer, 101, who joined the RAF in 1943, was among those attending.

Commemorations also took place across the UK. In Edinburgh, a service was held at the Garden of Remembrance in Princes Street Gardens, where the one o'clock gun at Edinburgh Castle fired at 11:00 to mark the start of the two-minute silence. The Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow's George Square and other locations held their own ceremonies. In Westminster, the Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lord Speaker Lord Forsyth of Drumlean laid wreaths at the Angel Memorial.

In Parliament, Prime Minister's Questions began with Andy Burnham paying tribute to those who had made the ultimate sacrifice. Many members of the public braved rain and bitter cold to attend the ceremonies and observe the silence, with wreaths laid at locations including Portsmouth's World War One Memorial and the Tommy statue in Dover, Kent.

How it is being reported

• Commemorations held around Scotland to mark Armistice DayA service was held at the Garden of Remembrance, part of Princes Street Gardens, in Edinburgh.Evening Standard · 11 Nov, 16:05
• Lest we forget: Armistice Day services held across UK to remember the fallenVeterans, soldiers, politicians and mourners united in observing a two-minute silence at 11am with many braving rain and bitter cold to pay their respects.Daily Mail · 11 Nov, 12:59
• Watch: UK falls silent to mark Armistice DayPeople from Belfast to Cardiff, London to Edinburgh held the two-minute silence to mark the end of World War One and to remember those who have died in conflicts.BBC News · 11 Nov, 12:38
• Services being held across UK to mark Armistice DayServices are being held around the world to mark Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War One.BBC News · 11 Nov, 10:46

In this story: UK · Cenotaph · Wes Streeting · Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens · Duke and Duchess of Gloucester · Geoffrey Spencer

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