Veterans stood to honour fallen comrades at an Armistice Day service in Peterborough city centre today (November 11).
Religious leaders, civic dignitaries and members of the public joined ex-military personnel to observe a two-minute silence - which was impeccably observed at 11am - to remember the those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and never returned home.
The two minute’s silence began with the sounding of an infantry officer’s whistle – as that was the last thing that many soldiers fighting in the First World War would have heard as they went ‘over the top’ on the battlefield.
Speaking after he laid a wreath, Mayor of Peterborough Cllr Chris Harper said: “It’s very important that our city - and our country - comes together to pay their respects and remember those people that gave so much.”
The Mayor said Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday were the two most important days to mark on his Mayoral calendar:
“It’s great that so many people came together to pay their respects with their two-minutes’ silence,” he said.
97-year-old veteran Ron Arthur was among those paying tribute on Bridge Street.
”I’m here to remember the people I worked with and lived with in the forces,” he said, adding “many of them are gone now.”
The RAF veteran added a note of caution about how younger generations mark Armistice and Remembrance:
“I’m afraid the youngsters don’t appreciate it like they used to,” he said.
“It’s a shame really because without the old ones they wouldn’t be here today.”
