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Remembrance Sunday is the Sunday nearest to 11 November - Remembrance Day, which is the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War, in 1918 at 11 am. The national ceremony is held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London. Since 2005 the women's memorial has also been included.The Cenotaph is enclosed in a square formed by detachments from branches of the Fighting Services, a contingent from civilian services vital in times of war and a large body of ex-servicemen and women. Wreaths are laid by the Queen, and other Royal Family members, the Prime Minister, leaders of major political parties, the Foreign Secretary, the Commonwealth High Commissioners and representatives from the Army, Navy, Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets and the Civilian Services.
A two-minute silence is held at 11 am. This silence is marked by the firing of a field gun on Horse Guards Parade to begin and end the silence, followed by buglers sounding The Last Post.
The Cenotaph was first prepared as a temporary wood and plaster structure for use as a saluting base in Whitehall during the First World War Victory Parade, held on 19 July 1919. The immediate and overwhelming public acclaim for this hurriedly prepared design of Edwin Lutyens afforded the Government a ready solution to the potential problem of providing a suitable national memorial to the war dead. A swift decision was taken to re-erect the Cenotaph in a permanent form on the same site.
The unveiling of the stone structure on 11 November 1920 was combined with a ceremony to mark the passing of the body of the Unknown Warrior for re-burial in Westminster Abbey.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
London Cenotaph, 300 Dufferin Ave,London, Ontario, Canada
