suppose also an apt reminder of i suppose also an apt reminder of the weather conditions the millions of soldiers faced in the trenches in northern france and belgium during that war of attrition. and here is the cellist born in paris in 1955, who will be playing today in the commemoration, yo yo ma. internationally renowned cellist adding a touch of classical music to the commemoratives events. cello plays.

woman speaks in french. translation: 7th of november 20 13th, i translation: 7th of november 20 13th, lam translation: 7th of november 20 13th, i am grinning, translation: 7th of november 20 13th, lam grinning, the rumours persist and not at this moment the armistice with germany —— germany has been signed, i am so happy i have difficulty believing this can be true. as soon as i have realised my happiness i fear for my brother and sister both victims of the war, and sister both victims of the war, and my eyes fill with tears, friday

8th of november. yesterday i thought that the dream of the war was a nightmare. i now realise that i was deluding myself, the war will continue. shots will be fired and more blood will be shared. 9th of november 1980 and, more than ever i am convinced that the war has at long last ended, the arms of being cast aside, they will not be taken up cast aside, they will not be taken up again. i have much that i want to write, but the low rumbling of the cooking pots and whistling of the bullets is finished, is over. testimony of a british soldier. my darling parents, today has been perfectly wonderful. we got news of the armistice at half past nine this morning so i got everybody i could

lay my hands on, and scrubbed the mud. the streets were packed with wildly cheering civilians, and carrying on only like a foreigner can. although the streets and the square can. although the streets and the square were a can. although the streets and the square were a blaze of colour, mostly of course the belgian covers of red, yellow and black, union jacks, french flags, american flags, in fact all of the flags of the allies. translation: you're watching these commemorative events to mark the centenary commemorative events to mark the ce nte nary of commemorative events to mark the centenary of the armistice that ended the first world war. president macron, you can see, angela merkel, donald trump, just behind him, alongside him, president putin. dozens of world leaders. but this is the scene now in central london ahead of the commemorative events here in the united kingdom and

10,000 people will take part in a procession in a few minutes' time passed the senate after the give a nation's thank you to those who laid down —— passed the senate after. with members of the public chosen by ballot to pay their respects, 100 yea rs ballot to pay their respects, 100 years since armistice day, when war officially ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, after the years of slaughter of some 20 million people, killed. a series of special events happening around the united kingdom today to honour those who died. our royal correspondent, daniela relph is in central london. yes, i'm on the mall down from

buckingham palace at the moment. this is where the people's procession will take place a little bit later on today. it is a unique element to the remembrance services in london. it is something that is com pletely in london. it is something that is completely unique to today, the centenary completely unique to today, the ce nte nary of completely unique to today, the centenary of the armistice, when members of the public could apply for a ticket and then march through central london and lay the rowing wreath at the senate after. joining me now, two younger people who have been involved in a personal capacity. just tell us what you have been doing and what yourjob has been doing and what yourjob has been —— de cenotaph. been doing and what yourjob has been -- de cenotaph. we have been checking the tickets of the members of the public. we don't normally do this in london for remembrance. what is the mood like? everyone is excited to be taking part, they apply through a ballot, so all of

them are really excited to be here, remembering. what has the mood been like on the ground for this people's procession? absolutely buzzing, everyone is excited to be here, it is unique because of the centenary of the armistice and it is something that we have never seen before. i think it is more exciting that it was a lot of the draw that these people were able to come here, 10,000 people are here, so it is a large amount of people and a great atmosphere. and your own personal remembrance, your personal story. my great—grandfather fought at the battle of ypres in france. he was a young person at the time, i can't remember his age, but when it comes to young people in war, we have to remember through the national citizenship society, we are representing the young people of the day, the future, and of 100 years ago when some of them would have been too young to do the national

citizen service. and so it means that today when we remember the people who died when they were too young to do the national citizen service. and you have a family connection to the first world war. my great grandad fought in the war and was shot on the last day, survived and came home and later died of that. it was nice to come here and remember those who bought, because the generation, it can kind of get lost so i was invited to represent the youth of today to kind of carry on that message is that we will carry on remembering those who fought in the war. libby and josh, thank you very much indeed, that people's probation, 10,000 members of the public will leave down past the mall passed the cenotaph in a couple of hours' time. daniela, thank you very much. now let's join

viewers on bbc one for full coverage of today's memorial events. massed bands. attention. now the haunting notes of the most reflective of edward elgar‘s enigma variations nimrod. music: nimrod by edward elgar. and as the last notes of nimrod drift down whitehall. we hear... dido's lament by henry purcell. when i am laid in earth, remember me but forget my fate. as we wait for the procession of clergy and choir who will lead the service of remembrance. the cross bearer leading their

children and gentlemen of the chapel royal, the children in their scarlet coats and the sergeant of the vestry, the forces chaplain, the sub dean and the new bishop of london, there dame sarah mullally. she was formerly chief nursing officerfor england, she was formerly chief nursing officer for england, ordained as a priest in 2002 and this is her first cenotaph service. the major—general commanding the household division and the brigade major. and they proceed the politicians, led by the prime minister theresa may and the leader of the opposition jeremy corbyn who come out next from that same doorway. the prime minister and jeremy

corbyn. the leader of the liberal democrats, the unionists, the speaker of the house of commons. the secretary of state for foreign affairs. and former prime ministers stand behind them. the chiefs of staff, the chief of defence the chiefs of staff, the chief of d efe nce staff the chiefs of staff, the chief of defence staff with out a read there, nicholas carter, the chief of the general staff, mark carlton stepped, and the merchant and civilian

services, the fishing fleets, the auxiliary air transport association, the civilian services and the irish ambassador, adrian o'neill. with the green wreath there. and then the high commissioner ‘s. who form three sides at the cenotaph and each laying a wreath. with two new high commissioner is here today from the solomon islands and from the gambia. and the faith leaders follow, there

are 22 faith leaders, christian, jewish, muslim, hindu, buddhist jain, mormon, humanist ‘s, spiritualists. so in the silence we wait now for the royal party. led by the prince of wales and with them he will have the president of the federal republic of germany, frank—walter steinmeier. the prince of wales and the german president. and then behind them,

members of the royal family, the duke of cambridge, sussex, your, the earl of wessex, the duke of kent, princess michael will be there —— york and with each of them and equerry who passes them there are wreath to lay. the queen on the balcony watching the service down below. and the duchess of cornwall on her right and the duchess of cambridge on her left. and we are now a few moments from

the two minute silence. big ben chimes the hour. the guns of the king's troop signalled the end of the two minute silence. music: last post. the royal marine buglers play the last post and the first wreath will 110w last post and the first wreath will now be laid by the prince of wales on behalf of the queen. for the nation. and now, uniquely, the german president lays a wreath at the cenotaph. the first time on this 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the great war.

the wife of the german president on the left of their standing behind the left of their standing behind the duchess of sussex. and now, a wreath is laid on behalf of the duke of edinburgh by by captain katherine coulthard. and then the prince of wales laying his own wreath. his wreath with its distinctive

prince of wales feathers. and then the duke of cambridge, the duke of sussex, the duke of york and the earl of wessex. and following them, the princess royal, the duke of kent, and prince michael of kent. parade.

stand at ease. stand easy. the order is given for the parade to stand at ease and the prime minister theresa may will be the first of the politicians to lay her wreath. music: funeral march no 1. the leader of the opposition, jeremy corbyn. next, the leader of a scottish

national party at westminster, ian blackford, who lays his wreath on behalf of the snp and plaid cymru. vince cable. the leader of the

liberal democrats. now nigel dodds. leader of democratic unionist party. the house of commons. the speaker of the house of commons, john bercow. the speaker of the house of lords,

lord fowler. and the last of these wreaths, jeremy hunt on behalf of the overseas territories. made up of exotic flowers prepared by kew gardens, representing the overseas

territories, including juniper and plantain, olive trees and myrtle and strawberry trees and mangrove. and a flower called old father live forever. and now it is the turn of the high commissioner ‘s. and first, those of canada, australia, new zealand, south africa and india, who played such a huge part in both world wars. the senior members of the commonwealth. 3 million soldiers from across the empire and the commonwealth served in the first world war and commonwealth served in the first world warand in commonwealth served in the first world war and in the second world war, 5 million men and women. 6

million from britain itself. so this next group, pakistan, solanki, ghana, malaysia, neither nigeria, tanzania, jamaica, trinidad and tobago and uganda. —— nigeria. and now the high commissioner of kenya, malawi, malta, george cross, zambia, the gambia, singapore, diana, and botswana. malta, which holds the record for the most

heaviest sustained bombing attack during the second world war, 154 days and nights, 6700 tonnes of bombs and the place it was used for the launch of the allied invasion of sicily. the gambia here because they rejoined the commonwealth this year, almost five years after leaving. and now, lesotho, barbados, mauritius, former swaziland, they changed their name this year, tonga, fiji, bangladesh, the bahamas, grenada, papua new guinea, and the seychelles. and now the solomon islands, new

here this year, the commonwealth of dominique, st lucia, st vincent and the grenadines, belize, antigua and barbuda, saint christopher and naevus, brunei, namibia, cameroon, mozambique and the wonderful stop —— and rwanda. the solomon islands opened the high commissioner here earlier this year. the solomon

islands where occupied by the japanese army during the second world war. and had almost continuous fighting from 1941—43. and next, the ambassador of ireland, adrian o'neill. the controversy over irish soldiers who fought with the british army in the first world war is something that lasted many years, but here today, their role in that war and the second world war is formally recognised. the service chiefs will come next, the chief of defence staff does not lay a wreath but the royal navy wreath is laid by sir philipjones, the army by mark

carleton—smith and the raf‘s by sir stephen hillier. and after them on behalf of the merchant navy and fishing fleets, captain david johnston, christopher garrett of the air transport auxiliary association and the national fire chief council chair, roy wilsher on behalf of the civilian services. and as the wreath laying comes to an end, the bishop of london, dame sarah mullally will begin the service. o almighty god, grant we beseech thee. that we who here do honour to the memory of those who have died in the service of their country and of the crown may be so inspired by the spirit of their love & fortitude.

that, forgetting all selfish and unworthy motives, we may live only to thy glory and to the service of mankind. throuthesus christ our lord. amen. # o god our help in ages past # our hope for years to come # our shelter from the stormy blast # and our eternal home # beneath the shadow of thy throne

# thy saints have dwelt secure # sufficient is thine arm alone # and our defence is sure # before the hills in order stood # or earth received herframe # from everlasting thou art god # to endless years the same # a thousand ages in thy sight # are like an evening gone # short as the watch that ends the night # before the rising sun

# o god our help in ages past # our hope in years to come # be though our guard while troubles last # and our eternal home #. teach us good lord to serve thee as thou deservest. to give and not to count the cost. to fight and not to heed the wounds. to toil and not to seek for rest. to labour and not ask for any reward. save that of knowing that we will do thy will. throuthesus christ our lord, amen.

our father. which art in heaven. hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come. thy will be done. on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us our trespasses. as we forgive those who trespass against us. and lead us not into temptation. but deliver us from evil. for thine is the kingdom. the power and the glory. for ever and ever. amen. unto god's gracious mercy and protection we commit you. the lord bless you and keep you. the lord make his face to shine upon you. and be gracious unto you. the lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you. and give you his peace

this day and always. amen. parade... music: rouse. the rouse played by... trumpeters of the royal air force. # god save our gracious queen. # long live our noble queen.

# god save the queen. # send her victorious. # happy and glorious. # long to reign over us. # god save the queen. and now with the german president leading the way, the royal family leaves whitehall. and gradually this gathering of the clergy and the politicians take their leave. the

new bishop of london having conducted that service for the first time. the choirboys who come from the city of london school and the professional singers behind them who form this special choir that used to travel around the country with the sovereign to sing mass wherever he oi’ sovereign to sing mass wherever he or she was. and then the prime minister and jeremy corbyn, the leader of the opposition. lead the politicians off. the former prime ministers behind them who themselves have laid

wreaths at the cenotaph in their time. john major and tony blair are there and gordon brown and david cameron. and so, as we see this formal part of the ceremony here at whitehall come to an end and we wait for the start of the great march past of the vetera ns, start of the great march past of the veterans, let us just rejoin start of the great march past of the veterans, let usjust rejoin dan snow. jeff watkins, happy birthday for yesterday, 97. thank you very much indeed. every year you spend

your birthday weekend here in london. i do that because i love the royal air force and ijoined at 16 yea rs of royal air force and ijoined at 16 years of age, many years ago. i joined as an aircraft apprentice. it was a programme for young mechanics to train. and i was 16 when ijoined in 1938 to train. and i was 16 when ijoined in1938 andi to train. and i was 16 when ijoined in 1938 and i loved the programme andi in 1938 and i loved the programme and i come every year to march with the former apprentices and boy entrance as they were called. you come all the way from san diego every year. this must be incredibly important to you. it is important, 6000 miles away and because i love the airforce so 6000 miles away and because i love the air force so much and the apprentices, i want tojoin up the air force so much and the apprentices, i want to join up with them and march in this great parade every year. and at 97, i have booked

up every year. and at 97, i have booked up againfor every year. and at 97, i have booked up again for next year. i am optimistic that i can make it again. you made it through three tours in bomber command, is that why you feel it is important, for the people who did not make it? i made two extended tours, 83 operational flights, did not make it? i made two extended tours, 83 operationalflights, many pathfinders made 100 flights, i made 83 and survived. we were losing 55% of our crews and people on every raid, 55%. whyi of our crews and people on every raid, 55%. why i am one of the 45% remaining, is because of the loch. some people said to me, you must have been good and i said, no, i was lucky. there are a wonderful young

men, 23 or 24 years old, cut down. i think more of that now than what i particularly did. i did most of the major bombing raids starting from january 1943 until december 1944. and i survived. well, i am glad that you did. thank you very much. trumpet voluntary is played as the additional wreath laying, first ball by the president of the royal petition the gym, air marshal david walker and his wreath is on behalf of the royal british legion, the charity that has looked after for many years, former service men and women. “—

many years, former service men and women. —— first of all by the president of the royal british legion. music: trumpet vountary. a little bit of ceremonial, being handed back his bowler hat which she wears for the formality of this occasion and is followed by the president of the royal air force band c is on, sir barry north, the national chairman of the royal british legion, charlie brown, chairman of the royal british legion women's section, patricia grimes, the deputy president of the royal

services league, commonwealth, the former chief of the general staff, general david richards, and the national chairman of the royal naval association, keith ridley. and pauline cotton, representing transport for london. and that is the ending of the formal wreath laying. of course, it's to be followed by the veterans of war in their hundreds and thousands, who have come down to lay wreaths here to pay their tribute as they march past. we talked to three of those who are going to be marching today about why they march. and what they will be thinking of. one from world war ii, one from the falklands conflict, one from our operations in afghanistan. marching past the cenotaph is very important to remember those that

didn't come back from war. they gave their lives for us. this year will be the very first time that i'll be able to walk past the cenotaph, so, for me, this will be a very proud moment. we don't have to say, "where were you in burma?" all you have to say, "77th brigade" and everyone knows where you were. we were in the monsoon and no british forces had ever fought in a monsoon. we slept where we dropped and we carried what we needed. if you were wounded you wouldn't hold the column up because one man had dropped. the greatest fear was being left and i was left. but i got that spark, little spark, that got me on my feet. i marched for four days on my own

and caught up with my unit. out of a force of a thousand men, eight of us marched out. people say to me, "why do they call it special force?" and i have to say because they were special men. my role in afghanistan was a ward nurse. the shocking part was the extent of some of the injuries that some of these very young people were experiencing. around about christmas time, a young man came through the casualty. unfortunately he had lost both his legs and an arm and my colleague who was working with me, we both had a son around the same age as this young man, and the two of us kept thinking, "how can you ring up this young man's mother and say, here's the good news,

your son is alive the bad news he has lost both his legs and an arm and then say merry christmas?" it was a very traumatic experience. and we go on thinking, that could be my son. during the falklands i was a helicopter aircrewman based on hms hermes. we didn't think anything was really going to happen to us. we had the best ships, the best people. nothing was going to happen to us or so we thought. things changed dramatically when hms sheffield was hit. i was in one of the first helicopters to get to sheffield and it was very surreal. a british warship with smoke coming out of a hole in the side. i was lowered down on the winch and we picked up half a dozen people

and we flew them back to the flagship. there were a number of lives lost that day. it was that that made us realise that this really was a real war, that people were going to die, and some of us might not be going home. when we march past i think of the three aircrewman that we lost — colin vickers, doc love, and ben casey. we remember their sacrifice and they'll never be forgotten. war is not kind, it's not nice, but we can't afford to forget those people who have given their lives. so we need to remember our past in order, perhaps, we will have a much better future. those men i served with, we have a great understanding. i know that they were in burma in the same conditions, facing the same hazards and horror that i did, and that's what it means to me, the men i was with and the men that are no longer there.

and thousands of veterans will be joining john and jacqueline and peter in the march passed shortly. i'm joined now by one of the key figures in this march past, which is a lwa ys figures in this march past, which is always so moving. i watch it year after yea r. always so moving. i watch it year after year. bob campbell, assistant director of events for the royal british legion, and professor mcmillan is back with us. bob, tell us mcmillan is back with us. bob, tell us before we start seeing it, how do you organise it and decide who should take part and what order they should take part and what order they should go in? there was a certain amount of legacy rules that have been applied over time. but in essence we start injanuary been applied over time. but in essence we start in january each year with feedback from all the associations that take part, to make sure we keep improving it, in order

to get as broad a balance of people involved as possible. this year, 17,000 veterans applied. to march. the capacity is 10,000 for all sorts of logistical reasons. so how do you read them out? we allocate associations a specific number, based on what they think they need, ideally we would like to take them all but the fact of the matter is not only do we need to make sure we stay to the 10,000 limited but come oi'i stay to the 10,000 limited but come on top of that, to make sure every single association has some representation, so clearly there are disappointment each year. representation, so clearly there are disappointment each yearlj representation, so clearly there are disappointment each year. i think what interests people is it's not a military parade. they are not marching as the coldstream guards, lifeguards, blues and royals, the engineers, about marching in all sorts of different ways belonging to associations, groupings of people who were together in the war which cuts across regiments and the

services in effect. largely get the royal navy, airforce, army, but it's not like that they choose to march. no, this is almost unique in that it march. no, this is almost unique in thatitis march. no, this is almost unique in that it is a veterans' march, for britain and the commonwealth, both military and civilian services who fought for the crown on operations and that is the bond you see on horse guards parade as they form up, since 1927, the royal british legion responsible for pulling it together so responsible for pulling it together so there's a certain amount of rules and regulations that are applied, so for instance, you will see today there's a rotation, so this year evenif there's a rotation, so this year even if we were to slide away from those rules and regulations, because of the associations very much part of the associations very much part of the associations very much part of the wider organisation, the royal british legion is about coordination. there are some intriguing things. two things i want to ask you about. shot at dawn made

an appearance, those people who were shot because they were allegedly deserting, in fact suffering from sheu deserting, in fact suffering from shell shock or whatever. was that a big decision for you was there where people who felt uneasy about that and now, of course, it is accepted. the effects of war on people's minds but, at the time, it was controversial. possibly in the wider public. the royal british legion's rollers always been about remembering, as well as supporting going forward and the fact of the matter is, many veterans themselves understood some of the pressures long before the general public did. we now recognise it as ptsd. of course, they were given pardons, all those people. the other thing is a small thing but is always intrigued me forth there was one school represented, the grammar school from gloucester, so how come there's no other schools? i come back to the

story of the enduring peace. the fa ct story of the enduring peace. the fact is that they have had a legacy right over time, it is quite a slow—moving process right over time, it is quite a slow— moving process in right over time, it is quite a slow—moving process in order to create more slow—moving process in order to create more space slow—moving process in order to create more space for the veterans, to make sure that we are balanced and the fact of the matter is, when you have squatters rights, if you like, to use that expression, clearly they are held on tight. like, to use that expression, clearly they are held on tightm is an extraordinary things. how long did it take for this idea of commemoration to take hold?” did it take for this idea of commemoration to take hold? i think it took awhile for some is developed over time and it's a large response to what people wanted for the big government at first had commemoration services, and then they had the cenotaph put up made of cardboard and plywood, but so many people came and i think the government recognised there was a public need to come out and mourn. so the ceremony has developed year

after year and it became what we see today. versus the splendid site of the bands leading off today, the royal navy association, in the lead, followed by the royal marines, merchant navy association, and then the fleet. the royal marines association with a green beret is, and blue ones for the red patch, who aren't commando trained. that association set up in 1946. to support those demobilised after world war ii. the fleet buccaneer association. the aircrew man's association.

lieutenant commander imre who was in that film, is there. we were talking about groups and here are the fleet buccaneer association. those who flew

buccaneers, this is the association just behind the buccaneers. they are followed by the fleet jungle association, those who fought in the indonesian conflict in the and borneo. the naval air commando squadron. they flew helicopters come at the wessex and the whirlwind, and then they're seeking, and now the mole. hms ganges association. theyjoined this training establishment when they were only 15 years old.

operated from 1905. right until 1976. behind them, the hermes association. the hermes association representing ten hermes ships. the last being the longest serving aircraft carrier, not decommissioned until three years ago or two years ago. the hms ark royal association. those who served on that famous ships. also the

exeter association, the glasgow association. saint vincent, penelope association. saint vincent, penelope association. illustrious association. illustrious association. the type 42 and the tonne class and the queen alexandra's royal naval nursing service association, gave back to the crimean war. . in recent years they've served in sierra leone in they've served in sierra leone in the ebola crisis. still very much up and running among them and 92—year—old, marching in memory of her father. the royal

92—year—old, marching in memory of herfather. the royal fleet auxiliary association is there, the the royal naval benevolent trust and a reminder a lwa ys benevolent trust and a reminder always of the yangtze incident in 1949 when the amethyst was stuck for three months in the river in china and fought its way out. the submariners. the association of wrens led by barbara mcgregor who joined in 1977. commemorating particularly the sinking of the ship the leinster. it had on board the first wren to die in action. the

royal training association, submariners. and now the british limbless ex—service association. le this association,, it became a charity 85 years ago, blesma, the limbless veterans. they are followed by the british ex—services wheelchair sports association. some of whose members compete in the invictus games. the royal hospital

chelsea founded by charles second for vetera ns chelsea founded by charles second for veterans of the army. we heard... george parsons. and the royal hospital chelsea still is a home run on military lines for soldiers who give up their military pension in return for living at the royal hospital chelsea and observing proper military discipline. we were talking about combat stress a moment, and here is combat stress

with wreath laid by a veteran who lost both his legs, on the right of the picture there. he is now planning to be the first above neat double amputee —— above the knee double amputee —— above the knee double amputee —— above the knee double amputee to climb everest. ca re double amputee to climb everest. care for double amputee to climb everest. ca re for vetera ns double amputee to climb everest. care for veterans is here, the the royal star and garter and the queen alexandra hospital home. we were talking about those who wanted to come and couldn't be fitted in but the scottish war blinded are here for the first time. there is a big delegation of blind veterans uk later on in this procession today.

the italy star association now. you make spot some green, red and white sashes. the 70th anniversary of the battle that started the italian campaign. they had the youngest person on parade, if we can see him. tommy, eight years old. his great—grandfather was in the royal army service corps and he is marching with his mother and his great aunt. three generations of the same family, you canjust great aunt. three generations of the same family, you can just see great aunt. three generations of the same family, you canjust see him peeping out behind there. the eight—year—old tommy. the british korean veterans

association marking the 65th anniversary of the end of the korean war. ssafa, the armed forces charity. been in existence 130 yea rs. charity. been in existence 130 years. help for heroes is here, another charity launched only in 2007, which has helped over 17,000 vetera ns. 2007, which has helped over 17,000 veterans. the malayan volunteers group, called to help the british army. many became prisoners in singapore and they were preceded by the monte cassino society, the officers association, the national service veterans alliance, the gallantree medallists service veterans alliance, the galla ntree medallists league service veterans alliance, the gallantree medallists league and the the queen's body guard of the yeomen of the guard. national gulf veterans

& families association with a wreath thatis & families association with a wreath that is a mixture of colours, very flamboyant, the charity's colours. read for blood, orange for sand and white for peace. for those who fought in the first gulf war. the suez veterans' association and the aden veterans association. the canadian veterans. and somewhere down there, the chindit society with john hutcheon we saw earlier on, we heard from. they are wearing...

there we are, wearing their bush hats. john hutcheon was talking about the horrendous experience of being left behind alone in the jungle and walking for four days to catch up with the rest of his troop. let's just pause a moment as we see these very moving pictures of the faces of people who fought in the warand faces of people who fought in the war and rejoin faces of people who fought in the warand rejoin dan, who faces of people who fought in the war and rejoin dan, who has some of those with him. dan. i've met some wonderful old gentleman from wars past. i have one of the youngest veterans here. ken, how old were you when you joined the army, when was that? 2004, i was 17 and a half. very recently and you saw a lot of service. three tours, one in iraq in 2005, afghanistan

2007 and 2009, late 2090 early 2010, afghanistan. tell me what happened in 2010 that brought that torture when an. we were on night patrol at a compound and stumbled on an ied, try to deal with it. but it went off and took out my eye and hurt my best mate, we both got injured that night. how is your vision now with yellow i have totally lost my right hand side and have a little bit with my left. i deal with hand side and have a little bit with my left. i dealwith what i hand side and have a little bit with my left. i deal with what i have now. are you able to work? i am, so it is hard, but i am able to work. i am working as an instructor at a gp referral and sometimes supervise in the gym. why do you find it important to march here every year with yellow for me it's so important

to pay my respects to those who have given the biggest sacrifice to this nation so i pay my respect and remember them. those who we follow and admire and get our strength from. it's very important to me, it's humbling. thank you very much. as the march past goes past the cenotaph they go down whitehall and back onto horse guards parade whether royal takes the salute. her husband behind her there and with heather secretary of state for defence, gavin williamson. the durham light infantry. we are now made into that part of that is made up of the battalions. the

rifles regiment association. many of them now amalgamated as a we leave for a moment let's just cast up on the latest weather forecast. hello, sunday's weather continues where saturday left off. another day of sunshine and heavy, thundery showers. some heavy rain around the london area. this cloud was spotted in twickenham. it wasn'tjust london that saw heavy rain, the strap of cloud just passing across the twickenham area and into northern ireland. some heavy rain this morning. it's kind of split into two pieces, one across wales and england, and another across east anglia and lincolnshire. that's going to continue to push its way northwards. it will be quite wet for a time. the sunshine follows brit then we see further showers.

particularly in the south east. the show was would be most frequent there today. it could be quite u nsettled. there today. it could be quite unsettled. the rain in northern ireland continues to push northwards, turning wetter for southern and central areas of scotland, the ring working towards the north east later in the day. a mild day for most of us with a south—westerly wind and temperatures between ten and 14 celsius. those winds continued to grow overnight, that will lead to further showers across western and southern areas. the onshore winds across the south, will feel particularly cold. eight and 10 degrees. a bit coolerfurther north, five or 6 degrees in our towns and cities. in the countryside the wings for light. for the week ahead, no pressure in the north—west of the uk maintains those south—westerly winds, the risk of further showers. a chevrolet outlook

for the next few days, some sunshine in between with the light fog developing later in the week. the wings become lighter, and monday looks very similar to the weather we've seen so far this weekend. south—westerly winds, plenty of showers across southern anne western areas. some of them are heavy and thundery. no pressure brings the threat of some showers. temperatures 12 to 14 celsius, stealing miles for the next few days. we could see a peek at 16 degrees in london, but by thursday very mild. that you weather. —— that's your weather. this is bbc news i'm ben brown. the headlines at 12: a global day of commemorations the nation falls silent to mark the centenary of the end

of the first world war. prince charles led the ceremony, laying a wreath at the foot of the cenotaph on behalf of her majesty the queen, followed by senior politicans and members of the armed forces. and i have here with 10,000 other members of the public who will shortly leave here to walk past the cenotaph as part of the people's procession. a series of sand portraits have been created across the uk featuring images of people who lost their lives in the first world war, including the poet wilfred owen who was killed shortly before peace was declared in paris, world leaders, including president and president putin attend a service at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the arc de triomphe. translation: long live peace amongst

the people of the state, long live the people of the state, long live the people of the state, long live the people of the free nations of the people of the free nations of the world, long live friendship among peoples, long live france. and in ypres, cemmemorations at the menin gate, which bears the names of over 50,000 soldiers who died in the first world war and have no known grave. we'll be reflecting the centenary throughout the day, the other stories on bbc news. 25 people are now known to have died in wildfires in northern california, firefighters are still trying to bring them under control. three men have been arrested following a fatal crash in sheffield, which involved a car that was being pursued by police. the nation has fallen silent to mark the centenary of the end

of the first world war. commemorations have taken place in the uk and across the world. more than 60 world leaders met in paris at the grave of the unknown soldier below the arc de triomphe, while here in london wreaths have been laid at the national remembrance service at the cenotaph. big ben chimes the hour gunfire at 11 o'clock, for the first time in nearly a year, the chimes of big ben rang out across central london, marking the start of the two minutes silence — 100 years to the day since the guns fell silent on the battlefields of northern france. the guns of the king's troop announced the end of the silence, followed by the buglers of the royal air force

with the last post. hour music: last post full. music: last post. the first wreath was laid by the prince of wales, on behalf of the queen, as a tribute to all those who have lost their lives in conflict. her majesty the queen watched proceedings from the balcony on whitehall, as other senior royals placed wreaths of poppies at the base of the cenotaph. political leaders from the main parties were led the prime minister, theresa may as they placed their tributes at the whitehall memorial. our royal correspondent

daniela relph is on the mall in central london. of course, this service, every year it is poignant, but particularly so for today, one century exactly one century from the first world war. you will mac that is right, there is added poignancy because of that centenary, and that is why i am here because of course the member on sunday has a rhythm and routine to it that we are all so familiar with, but today there is something different going on. you can see i am in the thick of it here, 10,000 members of the public will march here from the mall down towards whitehall, past the cenotaph as part of the people's procession. the chance for ordinary members of the public to be their respect and say thank you for the service of so

many. joining me now her two sisters joining the procession today. caroline how was it feel to be part of this? you are lining up and ready to go. it is a lovely atmosphere, very calm and quiet but also a sense of everybody sharing a similar story, and it just of everybody sharing a similar story, and itjust goes to show of everybody sharing a similar story, and it just goes to show how many families still feel quite profoundly affected today by their relatives stories. juliet you have beenin relatives stories. juliet you have been in this day, part of it, surely you will be walking up and there is something quite special, isn't there? very special, we are very proud of her grandfather to be here for the remembering all the people who died in all wars, really, just to be part of something and part of thatis to be part of something and part of that is wonderful, very moving. as juliet has touched on there, you are here marching and walking with someone here marching and walking with someone particular in mind. yes, her grandfather, he was fighting on the night of february 261917 and was

blown up on the edge of a trench and reported missing, presumed killed. two or three months later after the family had had a memorial service and gone into morning, he was found ina and gone into morning, he was found in a prisoner of war camp and came back eventually, obviously, the end of the war. so it is a very inspirational story, really, and we have all the documents from that period. it means a lot to us. i'm sure it does. juliet it must have been quite an experience for him and the rest of your family, it really left its mark. it's deleted mark, her grandmother was very moved by the whole thing and it was a miracle, really, to harrogate he came back from the dead and there was a letter sent from heaven before he went over that make a letter sent from him and we have a copy of that. it was amazing for her that he came back and it left a mark on all the

family cars which one he suffered a lot from post—traumatic stress disorder and suffered for many years with that. hope you both get the chance to remember him today and enjoy this unique experience here in central london for remembrance and so many here have a story to tell. they are related to descendants and people who served in world war i, others have come to remember members of the public with no connection, a real mix of people and the march, a walk due to leave year, the people's procession at around 12:30 p:m.. the biggest ceremonial gathering was in paris, where president macron greeted seventy world leaders. among those attending, america's president donald trump, the russian president vladimir putin, and the german chancellor angela merkel. around five percent of the population of france died in the first world war — at one stage, an average of more than two thousand french soldiers were being killed every day. president macron stressed the importance of global

unity in his address. translation: this brotherhood, this fraternity, this group of friends is an invitation to enter into the only battle that is right, the battle, the struggle for peace, the struggle for a better world. long live peace amongst peoples and amongst the states, long live the free nations of the world, long live friendship amongst peoples. long live france. that was pleasant macron. commemorations also took place at menin gate, near the city of ypres in belgium, close to the battlefields where millions of people died. a rain of poppies was dropped from the ceiling — the red flower has come to symbolise those who lost their lives, as it was one of the few colourful flowers which could be seen around the trenches. our correspondent robert hall

is at the menin gate in ypres. a particularly poignant scene there, robert. yes, the last ceremony that lack the last post ceremony has been held virtually every night since the 19205, a way of saying thank you to british forces were fighting alongside belgian forces and helping to uphold and save in a way the town during those four terrible years of war, and every night at eight o'clock, fireman from ypres line up behind me across the cobbled road where the troops march up to the trenches and sound the last post. i was this day is always a special occasion, there are two last posts today, one at 11 and one as usual at eight this evening. this morning that you perhaps from the pictures it was absolutely packed with

people, hundreds of people from communities, from families, individuals, armed forces from belgium and from the united kingdom and you can see from a number of wreaths that relate here on the floor of the archway the number of groups that are here, and that represents a small percentage of those who came to pay tribute. you can see hundreds of people filing through looking for names on the memorial, pausing for a moment to look at the tributes on the wreathes so it is a moving occasion. probably amongst the memorial is that we visited this week, this is always one of the most powerful. there are over 50,000, about 55,000 names here from britain, from the commonwealth, every single name as a soldier whose body was never identified. i will get simon on the camera to show you some of those names of columns and columns of names. and those are the

people that individuals have come here to remember today. some of them just paused to look at the name, some of them will put a small cross at the base of the panel and others succumbed to formally lay a wreath. we came here last night in the town was absolutely full, the town square is full, there are concerts and events. the city council worked very ha rd to events. the city council worked very hard to provide a welcome, particularly to british visitors. there has lived been a strong relationship between the british and ypres and they come every single year and ypres and they come every single yearand a ypres and they come every single year and a lot of these during the year and a lot of these during the year and a lot of these during the year and we saw all ages at age groups. excuse me sir, have a word. from bromley in england. do you have a particular connection? my great uncle fred, i'm wearing his medals

today and i am so proud have you been here before? what did you make of it unbelievable. everyone so friendly. the scale of it is what strikes you. this isjust friendly. the scale of it is what strikes you. this is just one memorial with these names. we will need to add out yesterday in the best way i can sum it up is like every 100 yards there is a memorial of some kind, be it a graveyard on a stolen, it is amazing. at these people with you? can we have a word with you and you can tell us what you made of it this morning? very emotional. i don't know what to say, really, ijust emotional. i don't know what to say, really, i just wanted emotional. i don't know what to say, really, ijust wanted to be here for the 100 years and when you see all these means it is an inspiring. wasn't what you expected? there were a lot of people here in the evenings when it is quiet, in a way it is even more powerful but it did not lose anything for the crowds did it?

it did not, very emotional. very emotional. glad i was here for this. and this particular day, too. yes. what were you going to say? and it is going to say that we went around and we were at in court yesterday and we were at in court yesterday and the tour guide was explaining everything about the sheer horrendous things that went on. it was very moving. thank you both for talking to me. there you are, just a snapshot and that is the sense of what people experience a year, particularly those who haven't been before. it really almost smacks you in the face, the scale of the losses here and that is what these people will be remembering today and from what was said at the ceremony today there is every intention that this ceremony, there is every intention that this ceremony, this magnet for families and people tracing their ancestors, people retracing the story of the first world war, that they will continue to come here. back to you. huge portraits of some

of those who lost their lives are being etched onto 32 beaches across the uk, before being washed away by the tide. our correspondent, duncan kennedy, is in folkestone folkestone was the place where around 10 million soldiers and nurses passed through using the course of world war i. one of those was the celebrated poet wilfred owen. and it is his image that has been etched on the beach here today, a huge portrait raked into the sand, measuring 60 metres by 40 metres. alan himself died one week before the armistice was signed, he was just 25 years old but by that time he had already written poetry like futility, revealing the horrors of the first world war. his is one of

32 faces that have been etched into beaches all round the united kingdom and ireland as part of today's commemorations. the ceremonies here have attracted literally hundreds of people, local and others who have travelled to witness this incredible sculpture. they include lucy here. hello, good morning. why have you come? what are you make of the image of wilfred ellen? your mac i got here around six o'clock and want to be here when the sun rose, it has been absolutely beautiful. the feeling in the air literally special. i couldn't imagine what it was going to be like. i have read wilfred ellen's poem since i was a kid and learned a lot about the war but being here today feels very real, more real than it has ever felt before. and you are here as well, what message, what impression are you taking away from today?” think it is immensely moving to see the artistry of this wonderful thing

being etched in the sand and to gradually see the scene now, eroding it and the ghostly nurse of it, and wilfred owen's pawns and words resonated around, there are so many beautiful images here. children making figures and leaving messages on poppies. it is a moving thing to have come down to witness. and unusual commemoration. it is normally poppies that we lay at times like this, we don't normally etch the faces of people into beaches and yet it has a resonance, doesn't it, the eyes looking up at you. there was something about seeing one you. there was something about seeing one person you. there was something about seeing one person which really gets to you, the meaning of it all, rather than the endless numbers that we hear, bikers are coming down, thatis we hear, bikers are coming down, that is partly the wind. that is profound, really. it is like wilfred owen personifies the sacrifice of

many. absolutely, yes, he was so young, dislikes many hundreds of thousands, there are so many young people here today. —— just like so many hundreds of thousands. thank you very much, really special, here and alive. you heard the words there. this is one of 32 portrait being etched onto beaches around the country and like others eventually being engulfed by the waves that will take them away, this image will disappear but the memory of those like wilfred owen will linger and belong forever. as duncan was telling us, those etchings on beaches right around the country and there are more. at colwyn bay in wales, welsh war poet ellis humphrey evans, who was killed during the battle of passchendaele injuly 1917 — is remembered. british forces have held a remembrance ceremony in afghanistan.

they were joined by service personnel from several other countries who've been deployed to the capital, kabul. jeremy ball is there. today's commemorations here today felt very real, felt very personal for over a thousand british servicemen and women who are still here in afghanistan. many of them have lost close friends in helmand province and just today 12 british protection teams have been out in armoured vehicles in capital city, which are still being targeted by both the taliban and so—called islamic state. for those here, it has been a time to reflect, the commander of british forces said it was a time to remember that conflict has not ceased, especially here in afghanistan. he laid a wreath side by side with his german counterpart and as flares were said in both england and germany could hear a militarily helicopter land but then

everything fell silent for the last post. the ceremony ended with an active commitment to strive for peace, to healing the wounds of war but this is a countryjust outside the walls here the afghan forces are still fighting, still buying. let's think more about the centenary commemorations. heatherjones, professor in modern and contemporary european history from university college london is here. i suppose in a way we remembering but we are also still learning about this conflict, younger generations learning about this dreadful conflict, which ended 100 years ago and asa conflict, which ended 100 years ago and as a historian i suppose that must please you in a sense that we are remembering and discussing this conflict and the lessons of the calero frolicked. on a human level one would prefer the first world war never happened but seeing as it is such an important historical events it is important that so many young people now know more about the city

great, and i think it is really special to see this level of interest among young people and a new history coming to life. people ata new history coming to life. people at a local level have gotten involved. the people's that we are going to see, —— the people's procession that we are going to see, people who got tickets at a ballot, the 10,000 people walking past the senator, that is a reflection of what happens straight after the second world war. it echoes what happens in 1920, when the cenotaph was unveiled people walk with wreaths because there was no room at the burial of the unknown soldier so many families walked up to the cenotaph and there was a procession there, so it is actually quite a nice echo of that historical moment today. it must have been an extraordinary feeling across the

country 100 years ago, massive outpouring of relief, of course, but also grief, so many people had lost loved ones, family, friends. indeed, in the words of vera britain, the war was over but the dead were dead and did not return. that hate people on november 11, suddenly the war work stopped in the charity work stopped. —— that hate people on november 11. and across europe they we re november 11. and across europe they were rebuilding the devastated regions. so 12 million refugees were facing that at that point. a really difficult moment, and the bells ringing across the country from relief at the end of the war, again echoes something that will happen today and it is truly profound. that he very much indeed. heather is an expert on the first world war. the

event a re expert on the first world war. the event are continuing in london. we have seen what unfolded in paris. all those world leaders at the tomb of the unknown soldier. this is the scene live in london and we will rejoin dividend will be at the bbc one team observing those events. the trucial oman scouts association funded by the british in 1951, to work in the gulf. they were preceded by the czechoslovak legionaries association. the friends of the polish veterans association commemorating the

centenary association commemorating the ce nte nary of association commemorating the centenary of polish independence in 1918 at the end of the war. they fought at the very beginning of the second world war. the hong kong ex—servicemen's association. hong kong military service corps,

hkmsc and the ex—servicemen's association. majorjacqueline hall talked about her experience serving with the nursing corps, marching there with the queen alexandra royal nursing corps. i mentioned the hong kong ex—servicemen's association, pa rt kong ex—servicemen's association, part of the regular british army in hong kong. they disbanded when hong kong was handed back to china. but they served with the chinese labour corps, building and repairing trenches and working on the demolition of unexploded bombs and like. very unpleasant, dangerous work. not done until two or three yea rs work. not done until two or three years after the war. now we have the

civilian forces, transport for london, for instance. the british evacuees association, the salvation army in their dark navy overcoats. interned in japan, many army in their dark navy overcoats. interned injapan, many of them. the canteen service, the london ambulance service, stjohn ambulance, british red cross. saint andrew ‘s first aid, the royal ulster co nsta bula ry andrew ‘s first aid, the royal ulster constabulary george cross association. the firefighters, metropolitan special constabulary, show men's guild. rspca, blue cross, pdsa, old christians club, we were talking about earlier from the grammar school in gloucester. inafew

in a few moments, we are now coming up in a few moments, we are now coming up to 12:30pm, and there will be the most extraordinary event led off by big ben striking 11. big ben will be striking, anyway, and then all over the country, bell ringers are going to be winding spells in churches, cathedrals, and the same is happening in effect all over the world today. the bells, the ringing of bells being the symbol of the end of bells being the symbol of the end of the first world war. many people who rang bells, incidentally, were killed, of

course, during the first world war. when the armistice was declared, there were not enough people to ring all the bells, so they have recruited for this 100th anniversary bell ringers to replace those who died to go alongside with the thousands of people who ring bells anyway. they've had a huge response from people who wanted to come in and, so to speak, take the place of those who died in the first world war. during the course of the world war, under the defence of the realm act, it was actually illegal to ring many bells and public clocks even we re many bells and public clocks even were not allowed to strike. people remember their astonishment at seeing bright lights again and hearing the church bells ring. equity is going past there, the

entertainment national service association. the romany and travelling history association. the scouts, the royal national lifeboat institution. girl guides. the boys' brigade, the girls' brigade. let's cross over to hear big ben strike at 12:30pm. bells ring bell chimes

church bells ring

so, those bells from the great cathedrals and from westminster abbey signalling the start of bellringing right across the country in celebration of the armistice of 100 years ago. and while those bells

ring out, still the march passed at the cenotaph is taking place. and remember, after this veterans' march past, there is another march past of 10,000 people who volunteered to come here because they have connections with the first or second world war a huge demand of people wanting to come and like the vetera ns, wanting to come and like the veterans, they have had masses of applications, but people lucky enough to win a ballot will be coming past here. there is the great field of yuppies at the foot of the cenotaph, —— field of poppies laid by the veterans who have already marched past, it has been an hour or

so that the princess royal has been there. and out there is also the tall figure of dan snow. dan... two more very special veterans with me now. both are here with the not forgotten association for wounded service personnel. caroline, tell me about the journey that has brought you this point today.” about the journey that has brought you this point today. i was serving with the world military policejust jump ivory proudly followed my uncle into the military police. u nfortu nately very early o n into the military police. unfortunately very early on in my career i was injured, i received a number of gunshot wounds, wanted my back, my face, my hand. and i've come here today, this is my first time marching today and i'm very proud to be representing the not forgotten association, who have helped me tremendously in my recovery, they‘ re

helped me tremendously in my recovery, they're a wonderful organisation. you are not one of these veterans who bounced straight back, this has been a long and difficult process for you? it has, yes. i have had wonderful support from my family and friends and from my ex—colleagues in the military police. but when i met the not forgotten association, they are such a wonderful, friendly charity and they welcomed me with open arms and helped me tremendous lead. and that has given you the confidence to come to events like this which a few yea rs to events like this which a few years ago you didn't want to do?” didn't, no. this is my first time marching today and i am very proud to be representing the charity. and i'm also very proud to be representing those people that are unable to be here today and also, more importantly, for me, representing wounded service women who have to deal with their injuries ona who have to deal with their injuries on a daily basis. thank you so much

for coming and for sharing your story. jack, you also had eight pretty horrific incident in afghanistan? i was on my second tour of afghanistan in 2010, i was part of afghanistan in 2010, i was part ofa of afghanistan in 2010, i was part of a royal engineers search team and ourjob was to go out and to find ieds and on the 14th of october i had a bad day at the office and i found an ied and i spent nearly six months in hospital in birmingham and a further three and a half years at headley caught, they put me back on my feet and i got my confidence back and from there i have gone from strength to strength. waking up from the coma and discovering the nature of your injuries, what was that like? horrific. my dad did many years in the army and i thought he could tell me what happened and my dad broke down in tears and it was the first time i had ever seen my dad in tears and from then it hit home. with the medication i probably

didn't realise what was happening to me and when i saw him crying that i had lost both legs but all that is when it hit home. but i have always been positive, some of the guys and girls didn't come home so for me, i am independent, got married last year, i compete in the invictus games, i drive my car, for me i'm one of the lucky ones because i have been told so many times that i shouldn't be here and i have always been positive. jack, thanks so much for joining been positive. jack, thanks so much forjoining us. david dimbleby: and still the march past does on. it is a long, long route for some of the older vetera ns, route for some of the older veterans, those in their 905, having to stand waiting at the top end, up by trafalgar square, nearly, and then come down to where the princess royal ta kes then come down to where the princess royal takes the salute. now, as far asi royal takes the salute. now, as far as i know, and we don't know for

certain, i don't think the civilians are going to have the same recognition of a royal salute from the princess royal at the end. i think once the veterans have gone past, she will be leased from her position on the podium there. here on whitehall, the military contingent is now marching off. the royal marine band in the background there. and the infantry. the royal navy goes past. saluting the cenotaph as they go. and this site in this sunshine has been really powerful and impressive

today, the two minute's silence, everybody down here has remarked how extraordinary it is when a whole city just for and falls silent for those two minutes. dan snow is on horse guards parade we canjoin him for a moment and then we will be back here in the studio. i've got two remarkable descendants here, tell me about your grandfather. he was killed on the 14th of october 1918. he went out with the 1st battalion in 1914 into mons and served most of his time on the frontline. so he was on the western front for nearly the whole of the first world war? yes, that's correct. he never saw his son, my dad. and have you been out to the western front? yes, i have, i visited there on the 14th of october this year, which was exactly 100

yea rs this year, which was exactly 100 years to the day that he was killed. and less than a month before the end of the war, it is always a sad but there must have been something very poignant about it? yeah. my grandmother was never very happy because he had just been injured before that and was released back to the front and she always said he should have been on sick leave but needs must, i suppose. sue, what about your remarkable run farther, an equally extraordinary story? my grandfather, joseph price, went to the front with the 1st battalion the kings liverpool regiment, on the 10th of august and he went straight to the front and he remained there are more less again until the middle of 1917. he came back for two weeks in 1915 to get married and on his marriage certificate it says, place of living was the front in france. he fought in all the major battles where the liverpool regiment were,

mons and the others, and he wasjust a remarkable man. he came back, he never really talked about it very much. he then saw both his sons go to war in 1939. and he came back and not with physical wounds but with mental wounds? exactly, not with physical wounds but with mentalwounds? exactly, he had wounds which were what we now know as shellshocked although at the time i don't know that anyone paid much attention to him. but he was a very quiet man from what i know, my father said he never really talked about it at all. but as the representative of the whole price clan, we wanted to thank him for everything that he did and the lives that he's given us today. he has 56 asa that he's given us today. he has 56 as a legacy including rate great—grandchildren and we are very proud of him. both of you, thank you for sharing your stories with us. david dimbleby: back here in the studio we are watching through this window at the wonderful sight of the

troops marching off, the blues and royals, the royal horse artillery. and the whole thing brilliantly lit by sunshine. we have never had a studio down here before, it's because that we've got this civilian march past that we are allowed to get in here! you've been listening and we heard the bells, the wonderful moment when the cathedral bells long and now, all around the country bells are ringing — would that have happened on armistice day 100 years ago? yes, so the bells we re 100 years ago? yes, so the bells were ringing even before 11 o'clock in some places 100 years ago and they did three things, really, announcing the news, celebrating the news and also calling people to church services. and they became a communal expression of the joy, some people called them joy peel rh an act. so you're saying that on the first day, had already happened, or

did it spread gradually across the whole of the united kingdom?” did it spread gradually across the whole of the united kingdom? i think there was a sense that once the good news had arrived, the immediate thing you would do would be to ring the bells, if you could get a team together. in some places it didn't happen until the afternoon because they had to get a scratch team of bellringers from somewhere. compared to today, communications were quite slow, weren't they, not easy to get m essa g es slow, weren't they, not easy to get messages through? no, the bells were actually part of that communication, you could hear them ringing and then you could hear them ringing and then you could hear them ringing and then you could go and start winning yours as well, or getting your team together to do it. was it a period when people were getting good news but also getting bad news at the same time because the war only stopped that very day? yes, so we had famous stories of telegrams arriving as the bells were ringing in these villages and towns to tell families that a loved one had died. it is that strange mix of sadness

and joy, just as we got that strange mix of different noises and sounds and the bells were part of that. you area and the bells were part of that. you are a historian of the whole period of the two wars, how do you think, what was the effect of armistice day need immediate effect on people?” think for a lot of people, they were stunned. they had got so used to the war being on and suddenly it had stopped. and they began to have to think about what would happen next, what would happen when the men came home, what would the women do? they had taken over many of the men's jobs. so it was a real moment of reflection i think, also, what now? and how long was it before that was answered? i'm not sure it ever was. there was a peace conference in 1919 which set up the league of nations and so there was some hope that the world was going to be a better place. but, of course, there was a big depression in many countries immediately after the war and that

didn't help. men coming back often found they couldn't getjobs and all of these promises of a land fit for heroes but i'm not sure it always happened. we now have a particular ta ke happened. we now have a particular take on world war i it seems to me, people have become interested again in actually what it was like fighting in the trenches, for these people, a little boy marching because his great—grandfather had fought, people talking about the horror of the war, was that how it was seen horror of the war, was that how it was seen immediately? i don't think it was seen as horror. soldiers told people what it was like but the war was seen as a just war, unnecessary war, and britain won and the people who died in the warand won and the people who died in the war and survived were treated as heroes. —— a necessary war. war and survived were treated as heroes. -- a necessary war. good thoughts of the unnecessary war creep in? it began to take hold

slowly toward the end of the 19205 and you had a war of memoirs. memoirs were published that were critical of generals like hague. you had journals that could be read as anti—war. at the end of the 19205, and some of the war poets we think of as synonymous with war poetry we re of as synonymous with war poetry were beginning to be published. it took awhile for people to begin to see it as do now, more and more as something unnecessary and wasteful. do you think of it as something unnecessary and wasteful? no, i don't think so. it was a war people thought they should fight and they have reasons to fight it. we have do respect those people who fought and in many cases died. if we patronise them and say, poor idiots, they didn't know, that's wrong. do you think they were well led with white the tactics... controversy over

tactics in the war, do you think those criticisms are justified or is it just with hindsight, those criticisms are justified or is itjust with hindsight, it's easy to see and second—guess how people should have acted? it's always easy to second—guess. there's a lot of debate among historians, especially military historians. generals and officers were learning and part of the problem was they didn't yet have the problem was they didn't yet have the means to overcome the trenches. they developed tanks and got ways of eating through the trenches. they developed aircraft to fly over them and make the trenches less safe but it took time and they experimented with new ways of fighting. it's unfair. let's get back to the people in britain. you have read almost every local newspaper and paper and report of that armistice day, but what. .. picking up report of that armistice day, but what... picking up on what margaret says, what was the feeling that you think people in this country had about the way the war had been conducted and the success or failure

or heroism or the necessity or not fighting the war? i don't think it was a day when people would express misgivings about leadership. people we re misgivings about leadership. people were relieved the crowds were singing the national anthem. were relieved the crowds were singing the nationalanthem. it were relieved the crowds were singing the national anthem. it was a day of respect for the establishment as well as seeing them as being part of their effort and having been a communal spirit. i think, over the years afterwards, there would be a change which is expressed through the changing spirit of the 11th of november and the concept of armistice day, the commemoration, but on the 11th of november in 1918 it was very much one ofjoy november in 1918 it was very much one of joy and november in 1918 it was very much one ofjoy and very much an expression of an idea of victory, which is probably not a term we would necessarily associate with the last day of the war now.” would necessarily associate with the last day of the war now. i think we may be able to speak to... there he is. excuse me a moment. danny boyle,

good afternoon. thank you for joining us. we saw earlier on... can you hear me? i can, yes. i canjust hear you. we saw earlier on the wonderful sight, wilfred owen, on folkestone beach. what gave you this idea of... how do you do this? how do you make that portrait on? they just do it with garden rakes. it's incredible. they are called sand in your eye and they take these patterns and scrub the sand into shade and flat. they created shade with the sun. you get beautiful images. there is one in area in scotland — — images. there is one in area in scotland —— aye in scotland of one of the first black officers to serve in the army. we tried around 30 beaches and they are still going on

because of the tide. we finished here because the tide has come in but we painted these portraits of people and it's trying to personalise. the numbers are so numbing, so extraordinary, that it's trying to personalise through reconnection, individual stories, through the imperial war museum, reconnection, individual stories, through the imperialwar museum, so you get back in touch with the individuals involved and sometimes they are significant. our knowing of they are significant. our knowing of the warand in they are significant. our knowing of the war and in terms of this beach, where he left from to serve in france. what gave you the idea, such an original idea? there is a half days of wilfred owen as the tide comes in. what gave you the idea? i've seen sand sculptures but never this kind of drawing on the sand.” think it was because when they first asked me, ithought, we think it was because when they first asked me, i thought, we associate the beaches with the second world war because of dunkirk, the chris nolan film recently. actually, in

the first world war, everybody left from the beaches and harbours because there was no plain transport of any significance. this would have been lost sight of home and for many it was. i thought, what a wonderful way to recreate with them —— last sight of home. we make a temporary portrait which is a reminder of your own and their mortality, but also a community can gather in a public space which doesn't have the association is the cenotaph has, of solemnity, and we can come here and celebrate in a way or, as we have this morning, observe... there was a wonderful silence, just the noise of the tide beginning to pour in and cover the portrait. it was very moving and that's been repeated around other beaches. we can't see them all, but who were the people you chose, the 30 or so people you chose to represent on the beaches? they weren't all soldiers? no, there

isa they weren't all soldiers? no, there is a munitions worker and a nurse. but mostly soldiers, yes, including two footballers which, as a football fanatic myself, one who played for tottenham hotspur. and jonas who played for clapton orient, or as it became, leyton orient. we try to create connections with people where they go, oh, he's a football! over 100 years, disappears in the blink ofan eye. 100 years, disappears in the blink of an eye. he'sjust gone. this beach won't have changed much in 100 years. it allows you to reconnect with the people. it's all so that's... i think... with the people. it's all so that's... ithink... when with the people. it's all so that's... i think... when i started the project, iwas... ithought that's... i think... when i started the project, i was... i thought i was going to do... i thought i was going to recommend through it as line in the sand, a way of finishing commemoration because 100 years, you know, we no longer commemorate the

boer war, but we do the first world war, and should we stop after the centenary? but because of my research into it, it's become more important ina research into it, it's become more important in a way. in this loud, extraordinarily dangerous world of polarisation, the connection with the consequences of this kind of behaviour is more important than everin behaviour is more important than ever ina behaviour is more important than ever in a way. for me, it reinforced the value of these people and how necessary it was for us to remember them. you've had 30 of them. when was the first one washed away and when will the last one be washed away today? it has to end at dark because we can't recommend people to go out after dark, obviously, because... but there will be... we have finished here now, weymouth is still going, further along the coastline. the other thing we get to know is the tides of britain which va ry know is the tides of britain which vary all over the place. there are extraordinary sites in scotland at the moment. and in the republic of

ireland. they will go on until nightfall in various places. if you look at paintings in the c. or .uk, you can follow the pattern of the day. thank you very much forjoining us day. thank you very much forjoining us and thank you for telling us about that imaginative idea. i wish we could have seen all 30 around the beaches, but alas we were not able. thank you very much indeed. so, the people's march has now begun. 10,000 people we are told and they are led bya people we are told and they are led by a band coming towards the cenotaph now. it's the hospital band. i'm not sure where they are from. this possession will be not a people we will be able to identify one by one or know where they come from or which school regiment they belong to. christ's hospital, i

recognise the uniform. they wear these uniforms. the people who follow will be people who we will try to talk to from time to time, try to talk to from time to time, try to talk to from time to time, try to get contact with one or two we have identified, but basically they are people who are simply here because they wanted to come because they have family connections, relations who were involved, many of them there carrying wreaths and pictures. waiting tojoin us are waiting to join us are some of the people marching past. the people's procession is taking

place just the people's procession is taking placejust behind us the people's procession is taking place just behind us and the people's procession is taking placejust behind us and it the people's procession is taking place just behind us and it is quite something to look at. i enjoyed by kathryn davies and her mother sally who are about to join the procession. thank you for stopping to speak to us. you have a relative who served in the first world he? his name was padre railton, an army chaplain, so he'd never actually carried a gun but it's an honour to be here today to commemorate him and the others as part of this national remembrance. sally, when did you first find out about him?” remembrance. sally, when did you first find out about him? i imagine it was when i was a child, we went to westminster abbey and were shown the tomb of the unknown warrior and it was a great honour to visit it and visit his grave later on and so on. that is significant because he came up with that very idea. he did. he was billeted in france and he had just buried the comrades and he was standing in the garden of the house he was staying in and in the garden

was a little cross to a soldier from the black watch that just said unknown soldier and a simple cross and he thought, what could we do to create a memory for these soldiers who had no known graves? that's when he came up with the idea. when did you first realise the magnitude of his idea and the impact it has had on so many people? like my mother, growing up, he was an important part of our lives, but for me it was when the duchess of cambridge got married and we saw her bouquet being put on the tomb and any subsequent weddings, the most recent one this year obviously, but it's something that we as a family are incredibly proud of. it's a really important thing for people to be able to go and remember people who lost their lives and there is nowhere to go to remember them will stop those four bodies were brought back and one was then picked. the body in that tomb is unknown and so it is perhaps for

everybody here today who has no place to go and visit, it remains a central place. it's one of the most visited war graves in the world, when did you first visit? when i was ten. we visited and we were allowed to go behind the scenes in westminster abbey to look at the original letter that he wrote to the king with his idea. that manuscript is there and we saw that and the other books. it's an idea that has run around the whole world. how does it feel to be year to date to be remember seeing him? it's fantastic —— to be remembering him? i can't thank people enough for bringing it to the attention. the flag flies in westminster abbey and it was the flag draped on the coffin. i would only about three when he died sol didn't know him that well but his

memory lives on. thank you so much for talking to us today. we will let you join the procession. thank you. we have said many times that eve ryo ne we have said many times that everyone who is marching in this, the people's thank you as their own reason for being here and they have brought their own wreaths and mementos with them. one person we tracked down early on, roger miles. we found him in his home village in sussex. i have a personal connection to ww1 through my paternal grandfather, archie miles. he very sadly lost his life following the battle of cambrai. his battalion took a massive number of casualties which was terribly unfortunate as his division had actually been due to he stood down that very night. i became involved in the centenary events here in angmering, this is bbc news.

the headlines: the nation falls silent to mark the centenary the nation falls silent to mark the ce nte nary of the nation falls silent to mark the centenary of the end of the first world war. prince charles laid a wreath at the foot of the cenotaph followed by politicians and members of the armed forces. and i am on the mall with 10,000 other members of the public who have just started walking as part of the people's procession.