Armistice Day: Falling silent to remember the brave

Armistice Day, on 11 November, was when fighting was suspended on the Western Front in 1918, so Germany and Allied Forces could reach a peace agreement, and the guns fell silent at 11am.

One year after the end of the First World War, on 11 November, 2019, the first two-minute silence in Britain was held. King George V asked the public to observe a silence so, "the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead".

The idea of a silent tribute came from Sir Percy Fitzpatrick who had served as high commissioner in South Africa during the First World War. He modelled the silence on a practice he had observed in South Africa, and it seemed an ideal way to honour the dead, console the bereaved and recognise the sacrifices of servicemen and women.

While this special day was first commemorated to remember the huge losses after World War One, today the anniversary is used to remember all the people who have died in all wars since.

As we pause individually and as a nation, we remember those brave men and women who courageously volunteered for the cause of freedom and peace. 

But it's also important to reflect that for many this time of year brings mixed emotions. For parents, siblings, children and members of the Service community, Remembrance can also bring back painful memories surrounding bereavement and the challenges some now face from their own personal experiences in combat.

November 11 is one day where we can remind ourselves of the hardships that others before us have gone through and of the struggles that so many will continue to experience.