Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday History

Remembrance Sunday is dedicated to honouring the service and sacrifices of those who have served in the British Armed Forces. This national observance provides an opportunity for the public to collectively pay their respects to the men and women who have lost their lives in conflicts since the First World War.

The tradition of Remembrance Sunday can be traced back to 1919 when King George V initiated a two-minute silence on 11th November, marking the first anniversary of the end of the Great War. In 1945, following the Second World War, it was decided to move the commemoration to the second Sunday in November and has remained the practice ever since. For people in the United Kingdom, Remembrance Sunday provides an opportunity to honour the sacrifices of British soldiers and military personnel from the Commonwealth who gave their lives to protect our values, freedom, and democracy.

In the United Kingdom, there are a variety of ways to observe Remembrance Sunday. The main ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph in London, with the Royal Family, political leaders, and military representatives in attendance. Across the nation, local communities hold their own remembrance events, with many gathering at war memorials for wreath-laying ceremonies and observing a two-minute silence. Members of the public often choose to wear a red poppy in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday, as a symbol of their respect and remembrance. The event takes place every year on the second Sunday of November, ensuring that the British public can continue to honour and remember our fallen heroes for generations to come.

Remembrance Sunday Facts

• Every year on the Sunday closest to November 11th, a two-minute silence is held at 11:00 am to remember those whose lives were lost in war.
• There are several different poppies that can be worn. They are:
  1) The red poppy, which represents remembrance and hope. It commemorates those who sacrificed their lives in WW1 and other conflicts.
  2) The purple poppy, which is worn to commemorate the animals that have been a victim of war.
  3) The black poppy, which commemorates black, African, and Caribbean communities' contributions to the war effort.
  4) The white poppy, which also commemorates those who died in conflict. It promotes peace and hopes to challenge the way war is looked at.
• Poppies are an iconic symbol that remembers the blood shed of World War 1. Mentioned in Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's poem, In Flanders Fields, they became a symbolic representation of war in 1915. The poem became very popular at the time and the poppy was used to raise money for soldiers.
• The Last Post, a military bugle call used at British and Commonwealth military funerals, is often played during Remembrance Sunday ceremonies to symbolize that the duty of the dead is over and they can rest in peace.
• People wear artificial poppies on their clothing to show their support and remember those who lost their lives in conflicts.

In the News and Trending for Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday Top Events and Things to Do

• Plan your own act of remembrance.
• Explore resources and materials that help teach Remembrance across the UK.
• Make a donation and help support the Royal British Legion's biggest fundraising campaign.
• Attend local Remembrance Sunday services and parades.
• Purchase a Poppy and wear it with pride to show your support and remember those who have served.
• Wherever you are in the UK at 11 am on Remembrance Sunday, take a moment to pause and join in the two-minute silence, reflecting on the lives lost and the sacrifices made by those who served in the Armed Forces.