Service held at Belfast City Hall to remember war dead

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Councillors gathered at Belfast City Hall as two minutes silence was held. Credit: Pacemaker

The UK has fallen silent to honour those who lost their lives in conflict, including in Belfast.

A two-minute silence took place at 11am, marking 102 years since the first two-minute silence was observed on Armistice Day, November 11 1919.

Councillors and members of the public gathered at the cenotaph in the ground of Belfast City Hall to pay their respects.

The Duchess of Cornwall was at the 93rd Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, which has been held in the grounds of the Abbey since November 1928.

Duchess of Cornwall attended the memorial at Westminster Abbey Credit: PA

Camilla laid a cross as she honoured the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives for their country.

In Staffordshire, a service of remembrance took place at the National Memorial Arboretum on top of the Armed Forces Memorial, featuring readings, musical performances and wreath laying.

National Memorial Arboretum. Credit: PA

Troops marched at the Cenotaph service in Whitehall, London on Thursday. After the silence, wreaths were laid at the foot of the monument.A single gun fired at 11am from Edinburgh Castle, while local government officials from the city were expected to join members of the Armed Forces for a wreath laying ceremony at the Scott Monument.

The two-minute silence was also marked at the Scottish Parliament and by Cop26 President Alok Sharma at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow.

Armistice Day was disrupted last year and many remembered the nation’s war dead from their homes as they were encouraged to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus.