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D-Day veterans lead Remembrance Day tribute in poignant centenary year D-day veterans lead Remembrance Day tribute in poignant centenary year
(35 minutes later)
The Queen led the nation’s annual ritual of remembrance on Sunday to commemorate those who have fallen in a century of conflicts as services were held across Britain and overseas.The Queen led the nation’s annual ritual of remembrance on Sunday to commemorate those who have fallen in a century of conflicts as services were held across Britain and overseas.
About 10,000 veterans, their campaign medals glinting in autumnal sunshine, marched past the Cenotaph in Whitehall, where senior royals, leading parliamentarians and military chiefs laid poppy wreaths.About 10,000 veterans, their campaign medals glinting in autumnal sunshine, marched past the Cenotaph in Whitehall, where senior royals, leading parliamentarians and military chiefs laid poppy wreaths.
At war memorials in cities, towns and villages throughout the UK, Remembrance Sunday services drew large crowds in this most poignant of years, which has seen the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War and the 70th anniversary of the Normandy D-Day landings. At war memorials in cities, towns and villages throughout the UK, Remembrance Sunday services drew large crowds in this most poignant of years, which has seen the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War and the 70th anniversary of the Normandy D-day landings.
It will also see the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan. Remembrance services in Kabul and Kandahar, where Afghanistan veteran Prince Harry led tributes, are likely to be the last involving British service personnel.It will also see the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan. Remembrance services in Kabul and Kandahar, where Afghanistan veteran Prince Harry led tributes, are likely to be the last involving British service personnel.
A first world war field gun, fired by the King’s Troop Royal Artillery as Big Ben struck 11am, signalled the start of two minutes of silence, punctured only by the harsh cries of circling gulls as dignitaries and a several thousand strong crowd stood with heads bowed in Whitehall.A first world war field gun, fired by the King’s Troop Royal Artillery as Big Ben struck 11am, signalled the start of two minutes of silence, punctured only by the harsh cries of circling gulls as dignitaries and a several thousand strong crowd stood with heads bowed in Whitehall.
As the buglers’ strains of The Last Post faded, the Queen, wearing a distinctive quadruple poppy, laid the first wreath, as she has done for almost every year of her reign, making her the third monarch to do so since the Cenotaph was unveiled in 1920 by her grandfather George V: a secular memorial to the dead. In a break with tradition there was a ripple of spontaneous and applause as she left.As the buglers’ strains of The Last Post faded, the Queen, wearing a distinctive quadruple poppy, laid the first wreath, as she has done for almost every year of her reign, making her the third monarch to do so since the Cenotaph was unveiled in 1920 by her grandfather George V: a secular memorial to the dead. In a break with tradition there was a ripple of spontaneous and applause as she left.
Prince Philip, 93, who followed in Admiral of the Fleet uniform, is a second world war veteran and was mentioned in dispatches for his actions as a naval officer in the Battle of Matapan.Prince Philip, 93, who followed in Admiral of the Fleet uniform, is a second world war veteran and was mentioned in dispatches for his actions as a naval officer in the Battle of Matapan.
From a Foreign Office balcony, the duchesses of Cornwall and Cambridge, both dressed in black, watched as Princes Charles and William laid their own poppy tributes.From a Foreign Office balcony, the duchesses of Cornwall and Cambridge, both dressed in black, watched as Princes Charles and William laid their own poppy tributes.
For the first time in almost 70 years, since Ireland withdrew from the Commonwealth, the Irish ambassador to the UK, Dan Mulhall, was invited to lay a wreath in recognition of “the immense contribution and shared sacrifice made by many thousands of Irish men and women”. Some 200,000 volunteered to serve with the British armed forces during the first world war, with at least 35,000 dying.For the first time in almost 70 years, since Ireland withdrew from the Commonwealth, the Irish ambassador to the UK, Dan Mulhall, was invited to lay a wreath in recognition of “the immense contribution and shared sacrifice made by many thousands of Irish men and women”. Some 200,000 volunteered to serve with the British armed forces during the first world war, with at least 35,000 dying.
Security was especially tight after four men were held on Thursday in west London and High Wycombe over an alleged Islamist terrorism plot on British soil. Some of the crowd queued for 40 minutes to pass through security scanners, while sniffer dogs were paraded along Whitehall, and armed police were highly visible in surrounding roads, which had been closed from as early as 6am. A helicopter hovered overhead just before the short service.Security was especially tight after four men were held on Thursday in west London and High Wycombe over an alleged Islamist terrorism plot on British soil. Some of the crowd queued for 40 minutes to pass through security scanners, while sniffer dogs were paraded along Whitehall, and armed police were highly visible in surrounding roads, which had been closed from as early as 6am. A helicopter hovered overhead just before the short service.
The Metropolitan police said security was “appropriate and proportionate”. The chief of defence staff, General Nicholas Houghton, told the BBC: “Certainly the proximity of the sense of threat for this weekend, which has intensified the nature of the security that’s attendant on it, has contributed to quite a different feel about this year.”The Metropolitan police said security was “appropriate and proportionate”. The chief of defence staff, General Nicholas Houghton, told the BBC: “Certainly the proximity of the sense of threat for this weekend, which has intensified the nature of the security that’s attendant on it, has contributed to quite a different feel about this year.”
David Cameron led tributes from politicians, followed by Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband. Earlier, Cameron announced plans for a £1m national memorial to the more than 220,000 troops who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, 632 of whom died. Also paying their respects were former prime ministers Sir John Major and Tony Blair, and the London mayor, Boris Johnson.David Cameron led tributes from politicians, followed by Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband. Earlier, Cameron announced plans for a £1m national memorial to the more than 220,000 troops who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, 632 of whom died. Also paying their respects were former prime ministers Sir John Major and Tony Blair, and the London mayor, Boris Johnson.
The event proved too much for one young chorister from the Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal, who passed out yards from the Queen as the national anthem was sung. Medics attended and he was taken to hospital to be checked.The event proved too much for one young chorister from the Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal, who passed out yards from the Queen as the national anthem was sung. Medics attended and he was taken to hospital to be checked.
Veterans mustered at the far end of Whitehall to Remembrance Day staples including Elgar’s soaring Nimrod, and the pipes and drums favourite, Skye Boat Song. The Great War generation has now passed. But when it came time to march, the seemingly endless river of uniformed and decorated veterans was led by 10 from the Normandy landings. This was a final hurrah for the Normandy Veterans Association, which is to lay up standards and officially disband after Armistice Day.Veterans mustered at the far end of Whitehall to Remembrance Day staples including Elgar’s soaring Nimrod, and the pipes and drums favourite, Skye Boat Song. The Great War generation has now passed. But when it came time to march, the seemingly endless river of uniformed and decorated veterans was led by 10 from the Normandy landings. This was a final hurrah for the Normandy Veterans Association, which is to lay up standards and officially disband after Armistice Day.
Any threat did not appear to be a deterrent. “It was not going to stop me coming,” said David Cameron, a messenger boy during the London Blitz who joined the Parachute Regiment in 1944 and served in Palestine. It might, he conceded, be the last time he marched here, though. “I’m 88. I’m not afraid of falling down, it’s getting back up again.”Any threat did not appear to be a deterrent. “It was not going to stop me coming,” said David Cameron, a messenger boy during the London Blitz who joined the Parachute Regiment in 1944 and served in Palestine. It might, he conceded, be the last time he marched here, though. “I’m 88. I’m not afraid of falling down, it’s getting back up again.”
As paper poppies piled against the Lutyens memorial in Whitehall, down river the crowds were still pouring in to see the 888,246 ceramic poppies of the Tower of London’s Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation, commemorating the British and colonial dead of the Great War. “Seeing it makes me feel sad,” said Russell Leach, 93, who helped build the Mulberry Harbours so crucial to the D-Day landings success. “One wonders what it was all for.”As paper poppies piled against the Lutyens memorial in Whitehall, down river the crowds were still pouring in to see the 888,246 ceramic poppies of the Tower of London’s Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation, commemorating the British and colonial dead of the Great War. “Seeing it makes me feel sad,” said Russell Leach, 93, who helped build the Mulberry Harbours so crucial to the D-Day landings success. “One wonders what it was all for.”
Bradley White, 28, from Essex, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was shot in the leg in a 2007 ambush, said: “It is quite emotional when you look at the sheer scale of it. When we were out in Afghanistan we lost nine soldiers, and numerous more since. So, it does bring back poignant memories.”Bradley White, 28, from Essex, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was shot in the leg in a 2007 ambush, said: “It is quite emotional when you look at the sheer scale of it. When we were out in Afghanistan we lost nine soldiers, and numerous more since. So, it does bring back poignant memories.”
At the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, the 5,000-strong crowd was twice that expected. In Cardiff, 10,000 wooden crosses ringed Cardiff castle. At the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh, Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, laid his wreath in a ceremony that , for the first time, included officers and sailors from the Germany navy, from the frigate FGS Brandenburg berthed at Leith on a routine visit.At the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, the 5,000-strong crowd was twice that expected. In Cardiff, 10,000 wooden crosses ringed Cardiff castle. At the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh, Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, laid his wreath in a ceremony that , for the first time, included officers and sailors from the Germany navy, from the frigate FGS Brandenburg berthed at Leith on a routine visit.
For Company Sergeant Major Paul Baines, 39, of the Coldstream Guards, who completed two tours of Afghanistan and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, thoughts at the Cenotaph were with the five colleagues killed on his last tour, and the 10 who had undergone amputations as a result of injuries. “It’s not just the people who have fallen that we should think of. It is the wounded as well,” he said. He escaped with shrapnel injuries. “I don’t feel lucky,” he said. “I feel I appreciate the sacrifices that we took when we were there.”For Company Sergeant Major Paul Baines, 39, of the Coldstream Guards, who completed two tours of Afghanistan and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, thoughts at the Cenotaph were with the five colleagues killed on his last tour, and the 10 who had undergone amputations as a result of injuries. “It’s not just the people who have fallen that we should think of. It is the wounded as well,” he said. He escaped with shrapnel injuries. “I don’t feel lucky,” he said. “I feel I appreciate the sacrifices that we took when we were there.”
Michael Wiggins, 37, and his father, Brian, 66, came to the Cenotaph in tribute to family members who served in the second world war. “ I started coming about four or five years ago. My grandfather was in the Royal Navy in world war two. I can imagine him watching this on the telly whenever I come down here. This year is the 100th anniversary of the first world war, which makes it even more special,” said Michael, from Streatham, south London. His father added: “It’s quite emotional. My father served with the army in world war two. He never spoke about it. You can’t imagine what they went through.”Michael Wiggins, 37, and his father, Brian, 66, came to the Cenotaph in tribute to family members who served in the second world war. “ I started coming about four or five years ago. My grandfather was in the Royal Navy in world war two. I can imagine him watching this on the telly whenever I come down here. This year is the 100th anniversary of the first world war, which makes it even more special,” said Michael, from Streatham, south London. His father added: “It’s quite emotional. My father served with the army in world war two. He never spoke about it. You can’t imagine what they went through.”
The Suthers family had travelled from Bournemouth to see the Tower poppies and go to the Cenotaph. Mike Suthers used to attend as a child with his grandfather and was keen for his own sons Eddie, 14, and Max, 11, to experience the ceremony. “It is important to keep the memory going. It’s been 100 years and it’s important the next generation remember,” he said. His wife, Joanna, said the whole experience had been “very emotional”.The Suthers family had travelled from Bournemouth to see the Tower poppies and go to the Cenotaph. Mike Suthers used to attend as a child with his grandfather and was keen for his own sons Eddie, 14, and Max, 11, to experience the ceremony. “It is important to keep the memory going. It’s been 100 years and it’s important the next generation remember,” he said. His wife, Joanna, said the whole experience had been “very emotional”.
At the going down of the sun, as Binyon so memorably penned, there was one more act of remembrance. From 5.30pm images of falling poppies were projected on to the Elizabeth tower, which houses Big Ben. The message was clear: “We will remember them.”At the going down of the sun, as Binyon so memorably penned, there was one more act of remembrance. From 5.30pm images of falling poppies were projected on to the Elizabeth tower, which houses Big Ben. The message was clear: “We will remember them.”