Remembrance Sunday is always held on the second Sunday in November, while Armistice Day is always held on the eleventh day of the eleventh month to commemorate the signing of the armistice.
11th November, Armistice Day
The Armistice, an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918. The 4-year war left 9 million dead and another 20 million wounded, even on the final day around 3000 soldiers died before 11am.
One of the largest battles of the war that took place was around the town of Apres in the Flanders region of Belgium. Whilst serving in Flanders, soldier John McRae from Canada began to realise how bright red poppies were growing wild on the battlefields completely transforming the war torn landscape. This inspired him to write the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ and soon after this the bright red poppy began being adopted across the world to remember those who lost their lives fighting in the war. People began selling red poppies to support and help raise money for millions is military personnel’s who were now returning from the war. Profits made by the Poppy Appeal go to six key areas: Financial Support, Advice, Employment, Mobility, Housing and Mental Health.
In Flanders Field by John McRae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Remembrance Sunday is always held on the second Sunday in November, while Armistice Day is always held on the eleventh day of the eleventh month to commemorate the signing of the armistice. It’s not to remember those who have died in just the First World War but every war since then.
On Thursday 11 November, from 10.45am, the Queen Mary Chaplain will lead a service of remembrance from the Octagon, which you are warmly invited to join. The brief remembrance service, in which we honour those who have lost their lives in conflicts past and present and make a commitment to peace, will be followed by a two-minute silence for reflection and remembrance.