Service honours lost world war one soldiers
Updated on 11 November 2009
The country falls silent as the Queen heads a special Armistice Day memorial service at Westminster Abbey after the three remaining world war one veterans died earlier this year.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh joined politicians and the members of the armed forces at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey today marking the sacrifices made by those who served in the 1914 - 1918 war.
It was the first memorial held without any remaining survivors living in the UK after the last veterans died earlier this year.
William Stone died in January, aged 108, followed in July by Henry Allingham, 113, and Harry Patch, 111. At the time of his death Henry Allingham was the world's oldest man.
Today's service at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marked 91 years since the guns fell silent across Europe after Germany and the Allies signed a peace treaty.
The contributions of both armed forces and civilians during the great war was also be remembered with the annual two minute silence at 11 o'clock.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Duchess of Gloucester, patron of the World War One Veterans Association, were among the British and foreign dignitaries.
The head of the armed forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, attendesd alongside the chiefs of staff of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the Army, General Sir David Richards, and the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton.
Members of the public from across the UK with links to the conflict were also invited.
Anne Davidson, the daughter of Mr Stone, a former Royal Navy chief petty officer who fought in both World Wars, delivered a passage from the Bible.
Actor Jeremy Irons read Last Post by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, which was written to mark the deaths of the last surviving first world war veterans in the UK.
A Royal Marines bugler sounded the Last Post followed by a Reveille, and the bells of the Abbey Church rung half-muffled in honour of those who died after living through the war years.
The first world war lasted from 4 August 1914 until 11 November 1918. More than 700,000 British servicemen were killed and some two million wounded during the conflict.
Few families were untouched by the slaughter, as the long rows of names on war memorials up and down the country attest.
