The Nation Remembers Its Dead

A two-minute silence was immaculately honoured by the enormous gathering at The Cenotaph.

Hundreds of military veterans constructed a square about the memorial to the war dead having arrived behind a marching band for Remembrance Day.

They were joined by cadets from the three military branches who stood in solemn honour as the Last Post sounded at 11 am, with the chimes of Big Ben in the background.

The hundreds of supporters of far-right leader Tommy Robinson gathered opposite Downing Street and observed the silence along with others assembled at The Cenotaph. Police equipped with riot helmets kept watch on the crowds who waved a Union Jack and a cross of St George flags.

As a bugler signalled the end of the silence applause followed by chants of England erupted from a section of the masses. This quickly ended as the wreath-laying ceremony began.

The only sound was that of a helicopter passing overhead.

Fights broke out earlier in the day as Tommy Robinson and hundreds of his followers arrived in Whitehall as police officers attempted to maintain a ring of steel around the Cenotaph ahead of a huge march in solidarity with Palestinians later in the day.

However, fears that far-right supporters would clash with pro-Palestinian protesters didn’t materialise at the crucial 11 am time.

There were no Palestinian activists in the crowd which stood 10 deep behind metal barriers.

As chants of ‘England till I die’ and ‘Let us through’ echoed near the war memorial, police reinforcements raced to contain the mob as they jostled to be allowed to join the enormous crowds assembled.

Dozens broke through and police could be seen striking out at those pushing through with batons, as it was reported some of those gathered hurled bottles towards police officers.

This comes as crafters marked Remembrance Day by decorating postboxes with poignant knitted and crocheted tributes which included planes, soldiers and poppies.

People from Yarn Bomb Hemel Hempstead, which has more than 900 members, 30 of whom are active, had put up around 35 toppers, both old and new, to pay their respects to those who served.

Christine Allsopp, one of the organisers of the group, alongside Paula Wright and Annette Simons, said that this would be the group’s sixth year marking the remembrance period, with everything from planes and soldiers to tanks being replicated in knitted and crocheted form.

It’s disgraceful to see that those who gave everything to a country are now in such a mess these days.

Most people have someone in their family who lost their life in a war someplace, and it’s only right that we show them some respect and tremendous respect to all who attended The Cenotaph yesterday.

There was a two-minute silence yesterday, broadcasted as families stood watching or listening, while everyone else went about shopping, but not everyone commemorates Remembrance Day, and it’s extremely astonishing how very few people wear a poppy these days.

It appears that people are afraid to show their allegiance to their own country. Numerous people give donations but decline the Poppy. Extremely sad!

The thing to remember is that we commemorate Remembrance Day and yet thousands of ex-service personnel sleep on our streets with no support or help, and this doesn’t appear to be a priority for the Home Secretary.

Yes, it might have been a lifestyle choice for these people who joined the Armed Forces, but they performed for the Monarchy. Some gave their lives in war, and those who came back from the war should be looked after, whether it was a lifestyle choice or not, and very few of them get any help for lasting mental health problems and PTSD.