At 11 am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918, the guns fell silent along the Western Front and World War 1 ended. Therefore this day is called "Armistice Day" or "Remembrance Day" in Britain, France, Commonwealth countries and other allied nations.
In Britain people wear poppies on their lapels as so many soldiers died in the poppy fields of Flanders [Belgium] during World War 1. On this day and on Remembrance Sunday, the nearest Sunday to November 11th, we remember soldiers who lost their lives in all wars and at 11 am the country observes a two-minute silence.
On Remembrance Sunday the Queen lays a wreath of poppies on behalf of the nation at the Cenotaph [war memorial] in Whitehall, London. The Duke of Edinburgh, the royal princes, the Prime minister, the leader of the Opposition and other politicians also lay wreaths, as do the High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries. Afterwards there is a march past of war veterans' associations and the associations which help soldiers' families. The event is organised by the Royal British Legion.
The money raised by the sale of paper poppies in Britain is used by the Royal British Legion to help wounded soldiers, their families and the families of soldiers who have died.
This year the Royal British Legion has launched a video on iTunes.
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