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World recalls end of World War I World recalls end of World War I
(20 minutes later)
Ceremonies are being held across the globe to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.Ceremonies are being held across the globe to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.
At a service in Verdun, north-east France, President Nicolas Sarkozy has paid tribute to the millions who died during the four-year conflict. At a service in Verdun, north-east France, President Nicolas Sarkozy paid tribute to the millions who died during the four-year conflict.
French and German troops fought for eight months at Verdun in the longest battle of a war that reshaped Europe.French and German troops fought for eight months at Verdun in the longest battle of a war that reshaped Europe.
In London, three of the four surviving British World War I veterans are attending a ceremony at the Cenotaph. In London, three of the four surviving British World War I veterans attended a ceremony at the Cenotaph.
Henry Allingham, 112, Harry Patch, 110, and Bill Stone, 108, are representing the RAF, Army and Royal Navy respectively. Henry Allingham, 112, Harry Patch, 110, and Bill Stone, 108, represented the RAF, Army and Royal Navy respectively.
Mr Patch, Britain's oldest survivor of the trenches, is to read an act of remembrance.
At 1100 GMT, a two-minute silence was observed, marking the time - at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - when the Armistice Treaty came into effect to end the war.At 1100 GMT, a two-minute silence was observed, marking the time - at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - when the Armistice Treaty came into effect to end the war.
No survivorsNo survivors
Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and the Duchess of Cornwall were French President Nicolas Sarkozy's guests of honour at the event. Speaking to the hundreds attending the Armistice Day service in Verdun, Mr Sarkozy paid tribute to all who had died, as well as those who lost fathers and sons in the fighting. France will never forget the children who have fought for her Nicolas Sarkozy class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7721862.stm">In pictures: Armistice day class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7712908.stm">World War I battlegrounds
But no veterans were in attendance, says the BBC's Europe correspondent, Jonny Dymond. Not one member of the two huge armies that clashed on the fields of Verdun survives. France will never forget its children who have suffered for its sake Nicolas Sarkozy class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7721862.stm">In pictures: Armistice day class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7712908.stm">World War I battlegrounds "France will never forget the children who have fought for her," he said.
Only the dead are left to be remembered, and the backdrop of the service was a huge stone ossuary, which contains the bones of 130,000 men who died in the fighting, as well as the unidentified remains of soldiers from both sides. He paid respect to the soldiers from Europe, North America, Africa and Australasia "who died far away from their countries to defend our liberty".
Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and the Duchess of Cornwall were guests of honour at the event.
But no veterans were in attendance, says the BBC's Europe correspondent, Jonny Dymond. Not one member of the two huge armies that clashed on the fields of Verdun survives.
Only the dead are left to be remembered, and the backdrop of the service was a huge stone ossuary, which contains the bones of 130,000 men who died in the fighting, as well as the unidentified remains of soldiers from both sides.HAVE YOUR SAY I shall remember my grandfather Thomas Crawford Robson killed only seven days before armistice Linda, Leeds, UKSend us your comments
Mr Sarkozy, Prince Charles, Australia's Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Peter Mueller, the president of German Bundesrat, laid wreaths in a field of 15,000 graves in front of the building.Mr Sarkozy, Prince Charles, Australia's Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Peter Mueller, the president of German Bundesrat, laid wreaths in a field of 15,000 graves in front of the building.
The silence was followed by the tolling of the bell inside the ossuary, as sombre-faced dignitaries processed inside to watch Mr Sarkozy light a memorial flame before a male choir sang the French national anthem. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY I shall remember my grandfather Thomas Crawford Robson killed only seven days before armistice Linda, Leeds, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5626&edition=1&ttl=20081111090416">Send us your comments A respectful silence was held and the bell tolled inside the ossuary, where Mr Sarkozy lit a memorial flame and a male choir sang the French national anthem.
The French president then addressed the hundreds present, paying tribute to all who had died, as well as the suffering of the bereaved who lost loved fathers and sons in the fighting.
"France will never forget its children who have suffered for its sake," he said.
He then paid respect to the soldiers from Europe, North America, Africa and Australasia "who died far away from their countries to defend our liberty".
Since the war, Verdun has become a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation.Since the war, Verdun has become a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation.
But its hillside has come to symbolise the conflict's awful savagery, says our correspondent: During the fighting, more than 60m shells fell on the land, transforming it into a pitted piece of hell on earth. But its hillside has come to symbolise World War I's awful savagery, says our correspondent: During the fighting, more than 60m shells fell on the land, transforming it into a pitted piece of hell on earth.
Pacific centuryPacific century
Remembrance ceremonies have already been held in Australia, which lost 60,000 men in the conflict.Services were held across Australia to remember the dead As well as services across Europe, Iraq and Afghanistan, remembrance ceremonies have been held in Australia, which lost 60,000 men in the conflict.Services were held across Australia to remember the dead
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used a speech at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to issue a call for peace.Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used a speech at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to issue a call for peace.
"We have all endured a most bloody century," he said."We have all endured a most bloody century," he said.
"Let us resolve afresh at the dawn of this new century... that this might be a truly pacific peaceful century.""Let us resolve afresh at the dawn of this new century... that this might be a truly pacific peaceful century."
A lone bugler then played the Last Post, which is used to to commemorate the war dead in Commonwealth countries.A lone bugler then played the Last Post, which is used to to commemorate the war dead in Commonwealth countries.
World War I was the world's first industrialised war.World War I was the world's first industrialised war.
It toppled four European empires, led to the creation of the Soviet Union, and marked the end of Europe's long global hegemony.It toppled four European empires, led to the creation of the Soviet Union, and marked the end of Europe's long global hegemony.