Manchester falls silent on Armistice Day 2019

This year marks 100 years since the first two-minute Armistice Day silence on November 11th 1919.

Author: Ellie LinfordPublished 11th Nov 2019

This morning at 11am, Greater Manchester fell silent to remember those killed fighting for our country.

It is now 100 years since the first two-minute silence was observed on Armistice Day, November 11 1919.

Yesterday, people lined the streets of Manchester, as a parade took place through the city centre, before a special service at the cenotaph in St Peter's Square.

At Old Trafford, military personal came on to the pitch with wreaths prior to kick-off before United's Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion.

This morning, Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid a wreath and spoke to a veteran during a service at the cenotaph in Wolverhampton.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry attended a service outside Islington Town Hall, north London.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was among those who marked the occasion at Hartlepool War Memorial.

The Royal British Legion asked that people pause by muting their telephones, closing laptops, switching off television sets "for just two minutes and pay your respects to our Armed Forces community, past and present''.

It is a time to honour those "who serve to defend our freedoms and way of life'', said the RBL.

They said the sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth are brought to mind while the innocent civilians who have lost their lives in conflict and acts of terrorism are also not forgotten.

It also serves as a tribute to the special contribution of families and of the emergency services.

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