"We're here to honour them": 24 reflective Remembrance pictures as Portsmouth honours fallen on Armistice Day

The annual Armistice Day service was held at the First World War Cenotaph in Guildhall Square on November 11. Serving armed forces personnel, religious representatives, and council dignitaries, were all involved in the act of remembrance.

Armistice Day marks the end of the First World War, where the allied forces and Germany agreed to end hostilities on November 11, 1918. Lord Mayor Gerald Vernon-Jackson addressed the crowd, marking “the moment on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the guns fell silent on the western front”.

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The service was led by Canon Bob White, Archdeacon of Portsdown. He called on the public to remember the courage of people who served their country in war and never returned home. The Last Post was performed, and was followed by a two-minute silence. A gun salute could be heard from HMNB Portsmouth at 11am. This was followed by the Reveille, readings of “Armistice Day” and “In Flanders Fields”, and a blessing by Canon Bob White.

This was complimented by The Portsmouth Military Wives Choir and readings by Wendy Doherty of the Royal British Legion and Ewan Fee, The Lord’s Mayor’s Cadet.

The names of more than 6,000 men and women who lost their lives fighting for their country are inscribed on the cenotaph’s plaques. Here are a selection of pictures from the service.