Skip to content

In pictures: Two minutes' silence to mark Armistice Day

People at the Tommy statue, officially named 1101, on Terrace Green, by the seafront in Seaham, County Durham.

Owen Humphreys/PA Wire People walk past the Tommy statue, officially named 1101, on Terrace Green by the seafront in Seaham, County Durham — People at the Tommy statue, officially named 1101, on Terrace Green, by the seafront in Seaham, County Durham.

Around the UK, people observed the annual two minutes' silence at 11:00 GMT to mark the day in 1918 when World War One ended.

The tradition of two minutes' silence to remember the dead began exactly a year after the end of World War One.

The coronavirus pandemic affected commemorations this year, although remembrance services and events were allowed, provided there were strict social distancing measures.

Eric Howden BEM, 76, Chairman of the Redcar British Legion, who served with the Royal Ordnance Corps, in front of a commemorative war mural in Redcar on Teesside.

Owen Humphreys / PA Wire Eric Howden salutes — Eric Howden BEM, 76, Chairman of the Redcar British Legion, who served with the Royal Ordnance Corps, in front of a commemorative war mural in Redcar on Teesside.

Military personnel with poppy wreaths at Paddington Station, for 'Poppies to Paddington'. The Great Western Railway and The Veterans Charity transported memorial wreaths from around the UK into London's Paddington Station, where the wreaths were laid around the station's war memorial.

Victoria Jones / PA Wire Military personnel carry poppy wreaths at Paddington Station in London, for 'Poppies to Paddington'. — Military personnel with poppy wreaths at Paddington Station, for 'Poppies to Paddington'. The Great Western Railway and The Veterans Charity transported memorial wreaths from around the UK into London's Paddington Station, where the wreaths were laid around the station's war memorial.

People observe the silence among 200 silhouettes of soldiers, created by Witney-based artist Dan Barton, at Blenheim Palace Gardens in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

Steve Parsons / PA Wire People observe a two minute silence amongst two hundred silhouettes of soldiers — People observe the silence among 200 silhouettes of soldiers, created by Witney-based artist Dan Barton, at Blenheim Palace Gardens in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

The ceremonial party pauses to observe two minutes' silence at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

John Sibley / Reuters 'The ceremonial party pauses — The ceremonial party pauses to observe two minutes' silence at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

Lance Sergeant Stuart Laing, from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, plays the Last Post during a small Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London, marking 100 years since the inauguration of the permanent version of the Cenotaph. The bugle was found next to the body of a Welsh Guard who fought during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Yui Mok / PA Wire Lance Sergeant Stuart Laing — Lance Sergeant Stuart Laing, from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, plays the Last Post during a small Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London, marking 100 years since the inauguration of the permanent version of the Cenotaph. The bugle was found next to the body of a Welsh Guard who fought during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

RAF veteran Alan McQuillin, 97, stands at a war memorial in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

Jacob King / PA WIre RAF veteran Alan McQuillin — RAF veteran Alan McQuillin, 97, stands at a war memorial in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

Soldiers helping with covid testing on Merseyside prepare for two minutes' silence at Liverpool's Arena Convention Centre.

Peter Byrne / PA WIre Soldiers at the Arena Convention Centre in Liverpool. — Soldiers helping with covid testing on Merseyside prepare for two minutes' silence at Liverpool's Arena Convention Centre.

A flag bearer during a special service at Westminster Abbey to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior.

Jeremy Selwyn/Evening Standard/PA Wire A flag bearer during a special service at Westminster Abbey — A flag bearer during a special service at Westminster Abbey to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, paid tribute to the many millions who had died "unnamed and unclaimed, except by God".

Jeremy Selwyn/Evening Standard/PA Wire The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby — The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, paid tribute to the many millions who had died "unnamed and unclaimed, except by God".

The prime minister Boris Johnson was at the Westminster Abbey service, along with other political leaders.

Jeremy Selwyn/Evening Standard/PA Wire The prime minister Boris Johnson — The prime minister Boris Johnson was at the Westminster Abbey service, along with other political leaders.

1px transparent line

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leave Westminster Abbey, after attending the service.

Aaron Chown / PA Wire The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leave Westminster Abbey in London — The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leave Westminster Abbey, after attending the service.

Staff and residents of Cartref Care Home in Cardiff mark the two minutes' silence alongside mannequins of a soldier and a woman wearing a poppy dress made by residents of the home.

Gareth Everett/Huw Evans/REX/Shutterstock Staff and residents of Cartref Care Home in Cardiff — Staff and residents of Cartref Care Home in Cardiff mark the two minutes' silence alongside mannequins of a soldier and a woman wearing a poppy dress made by residents of the home.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon bows her head outside St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, alongside service personnel from the Navy, Army and RAF.

Jane Barlow / PA Wire Nicola Sturgeon outside St Andrew's House — First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon bows her head outside St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, alongside service personnel from the Navy, Army and RAF.

Malcolm Clerc, 94, a World War Two veteran, who joined the Royal Navy aged 15 and served as a petty officer stationed in Guam, observes two minutes' silence at his home in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Martin Rickett / PA WIre Malcolm Clerc observes the silence — Malcolm Clerc, 94, a World War Two veteran, who joined the Royal Navy aged 15 and served as a petty officer stationed in Guam, observes two minutes' silence at his home in Knutsford, Cheshire.

1px transparent line

People pause to observe two minutes' silence at Waterloo Station in London.

Dylan Martinez / Reuters Waterloo station — People pause to observe two minutes' silence at Waterloo Station in London.

England's rugby union players observe the silence ahead of a training session in London.

Andrew Matthews / PA Wire England players observes a moments silence — England's rugby union players observe the silence ahead of a training session in London.

A man pays his respects during the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

Neil Hall / EPA Laying a wreath — A man pays his respects during the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

The Last Post is played as Welsh footballers (left-right) Ben Davis, Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Danny Ward, Tom Lawrence and Kieffer Moore observe a silence ahead of a training session at The Vale Resort, Pontyclun.

Nick Potts / PA Wire Welsh footballers as The Last Post is played — The Last Post is played as Welsh footballers (left-right) Ben Davis, Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Danny Ward, Tom Lawrence and Kieffer Moore observe a silence ahead of a training session at The Vale Resort, Pontyclun.

A World War One helmet is seen at the War Memorial Tribute Garden in Edinburgh.

Andrew Milligan / PA Wire A helmet on a grave — A World War One helmet is seen at the War Memorial Tribute Garden in Edinburgh.

Spectators observe the Armistice Day service in Seaham, County Durham.

Lee Smith / Reuters Spectators observe the Armistice Day service in Seaham — Spectators observe the Armistice Day service in Seaham, County Durham.

Ex-RAF serviceman Tom Blundell wears a Union Flag mask at the war memorial in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.

Ben Birchall / PA Wire Ex RAF serviceman Tom Blundell wears a Union flag mask — Ex-RAF serviceman Tom Blundell wears a Union Flag mask at the war memorial in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.