Countdown To Armistice Day
Stumbled across this today and it seemed fitting to post it a few days before Armistice Day.
Royal Proclamation, Buckingham Palace, 7th November 1919:
“To all my people,
Tuesday next, November 11, is the first anniversary of the Armistice, which stayed the world-wide carnage of the four preceding years and marked the victory of Right and Freedom.
I believe that my people in every part of the Empire fervently wish to perpetuate the memory of that Great Deliverance, and of those who laid down their lives to achieve it. To afford an opportunity for the universal express of this feeling it is my desire and hope that at the hour when the Armistice came into force, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, there may be, for the brief space of two minutes, a complete suspension of all our normal activities.
During that time, except in the rare cases where this may be impractical, all work, all sound, and all locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of every one may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the Glorious Dead. No elaborate organisation appears to be necessary.
At a given signal, which can be easily arranged to suit the circumstances of each locality, I believe that we shall all gladly interrupt our business and pleasure, whatever it may be, and unite in this simple service of Silence and Remembrance”
GEORGE R.I.
Here in Gibraltar and as was the case last year, the Ceremony of Remembrance will be held at the British War Memorial on Line Wall Road, opposite City Hall, at noon.
The Governor, in his capacity as representative of the Queen of Gibraltar, will lead the service and he will read the Bidding. This is followed by the observance of the Two Minutes silence, the beginning and end of which is signalled by a saluting gun. The Last Post will be sounded, after which wreaths are laid, and an inter-denominational service held. The Ceremony concludes with the sounding of Reveille and the singing of the National Anthem.
TheEye will be there, and hopes to see some local blog readers in attendance too.
That is a wonderful Proclamation, Eye, I can’t wait to read about your experience on the solumn day! I’ll be with you there in spirit.
” … marked the victory of Right and Freedom”
How sad that certain sections of our society refuse to acknowledge or accept the sacrifices made – then and since, which have guaranteed that today, they have the freedom to insult our troops, burn poppies and spout their hateful bile ..
Those people WILL NOT be forgotten either !
I’ll be attending my small, local Remembrance Service, Eye .. but no doubt, “Gib” will, as always uphold the finest honours & traditions ..
George, that well known fan of Bognor, could certainly speak from the heart.
As with everyone else tomorrow, I suspect, my thoughts will be of family – now sadly gone – and continued marvelling at how ordinary people can summon extraordinary reserves when called upon.
Thanks Bunni, good to hear that. Yes, a stirring Proclamation and a good start to a great tradition.
You will see that I have addressed exactly that issue in my Armistice Day post CH.
I see your point as being a huge threat and….ah, you’ll see when the post publishes tomorrow what I’m comparing.
Indeed. Too many gone. But their deeds live on.