Remembrance Day marked with services across Scotland

Tens of thousands turn out to honour the fallen

Author: Rob WallerPublished 13th Nov 2022
Last updated 13th Nov 2022

Tens of thousands of Scots have turned out a local war memorials across the country for Remembrance Sunday services to stand in silence and honour the fallen in the First World War and conflicts since.

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, was among many who laid wreaths of poppies at the stone of remembrance outside the city chambers, in Edinburgh, in the first such gathering since all Covid restrictions were lifted.

Members of the three branches of the Armed Forces marched down the Royal Mile before a short service took place outside the city chambers, led by Rev Calum MacLeod.

After the one o'clock gun was fired from Edinburgh Castle at 11am, a two-minute silence was observed.

Commemorations took place across Scotland on Sunday morning, including at Glasgow's garden of remembrance at George Square.

"Particularly poignant" - Nicola Sturgeon

Ahead of the event, the First Minister said it was important to remember those who made the "ultimate sacrifice" to secure freedom.

She said: "I think it is particularly poignant that people are gathering together to remember in large numbers, in a way that hasn't been possible for the last few years.

"Remembrance has continued during Covid but, of course, these big-scale events have not been possible."

She added: "There are very few now alive who remember first-hand the horrors of the Second World War.

"But the importance of remembrance is as strong as ever.

"Of course, this year we have seen the horror of a land war in Europe for the first time in many decades and that is a reminder of the horrors of war."

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