Approximately 10,000 members of the public lined Whitehall in London to take part in the annual two-minute silence at the Cenotaph and to watch The Royal British Legion’s Veterans Parade.
Of the 10,000 individuals marching this year, 326 different Armed Forces and civilian organisations will be represented. Among those marching are people of all ages—from the bereaved children of Scotty’s Little Soldiers through to the D-Day veterans of the Spirit of Normandy Trust.
Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns—who completed his military service in May—was on parade for the first time as part of the Royal Marines Association.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a Minute Gun from Horse Guards Parade at 1100 to begin the Two Minute Silence. They then fired a second gun to mark its conclusion. At this point, buglers from The Royal Marines Band Service performed The Last Post.
The Massed Bands of the Household Division then played Beethoven’s Funeral March No 1 in B Flat Minor, followed by the hymn ‘O God our help in ages past’, which all personnel on parade sang as wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph.
At the conclusion of the service, Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force sounded the Rouse before the Massed Bands played the National Anthem.
The Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth and The Central Band of the Royal Air Force joined The Massed Bands of the Household Division to play music as around 10,000 veterans marched past the Cenotaph as part of The Royal British Legion’s Veteran Parade.
