On November 11, at 11am, people from across the globe people will fall silent to mark the end of the First World War.
Armistice Day, or Remembrance Sunday, is commemorated every year on 11 November to honour the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, France.
This year, with Remembrance Sunday falling on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, tributes are all the more poignant.
Ceremonies and parades are due to be held throughout the North-east to remember servicemen and woman killed in conflict.
Aberdeen
In 1918 the Press and Journal reported that the city “was joyous on an unprecedented scale”.
Once news of peace was brought to citizens at the Aberdeen Journals offices on Broad Street, celebrations kicked off with vessels restarting work at the harbour, the bells at St Nicholas ringing and the flags of the Allies hoisted from the Town House.
This year, Remembrance Sunday will be marked in Aberdeen as the Lord Provost and other public representatives join serving forces, reserves, veterans and cadets to remember the sacrifices made in conflict.
Representatives of the Armed Forces and ex-service organisations will muster in Little Belmont Street from 10am and leave at 10.30am to parade to the war memorial led by Grampian Police Scotland Pipe Band.
A short ceremony will be held in front of the memorial on Schoolhill at 10.50am.
Prayers will be said and a hymn sung before two minutes of silence are observed to remember the fallen at 11am.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Barney Crockett, will lead the laying of wreaths at the memorial and introduce poetry readings by pupils from Lochside Academy.
He said: “The people of Aberdeen are strong supporters of our armed forces and we will join as a community to mark the centenary of the end of the Great War and remember the sacrifices made on our behalf.
“These acts of commemoration are but a small way for us to remember the loss of life one hundred years ago in a ‘war to end all wars.
“We remember all of those who have given their lives, and those who have been injured physically and mentally by conflict.”
Banchory
A parade will take place in Banchory to mark the 100-year anniversary of peace.
In anticipation for the event, the 2nd Banchory Brownies have spent the past few weeks painting 51 “Poppy pebbles” which carry the name of someone from the town who lost their life in the conflict.
Lottie Logue, 10, said: “I think it is important to remember the brave soldiers that gave up their lives so that we could live in peace and safety.
“The pebbles are a great way to show that we are thinking about them and to help the rest of the community join in remembering our local heroes from World War 1.”
The evening prior to Remembrance Sunday, a concert entitled Con Anima: Music and Meditations for Remembrance, will be held at Banchory Ternan East Church on Station Road.
The show will feature music from conductor John F Hudson and organist Andrew Morrison and aims to raise money for the SSAFA The Forces Charity, which provides welfare to service-people and their families.
Ellon
The Ellon Royal British Legion Scotland will lead the town’s Armistice Parade, which will begin at 10.15am, when local people meet at Victoria Hall in Ellon.
As a community, the marchers will travel to the local war memorial for official wreath laying followed by a church service of remembrance.
Fraserburgh
The Press and Journal reported on November 12 the news of peace “evoked manifestations of delight and rejoicing” and that all of Fraserburgh’s houses and shops in town were flying union jacks.
This year, an Armistice Parade will take place to remember all those affected by the First World War.
Those wishing to take part should be at the Royal British Legion Hall, School Street, Fraserburgh by 10.00am.
The parade will march to the Old Parish Church followed by laying of wreaths at the War Memorial before marching back to the Royal British Legion Hall.
Huntly
Reporting the day after the peace treaty was signed, the Press and Journal spoke of “bells rung and flags soon flying” in Huntly.
Local school children were granted a holiday and employees from the factor of Messrs Spencer and Son marched through the streets to celebrate.
On November 11 of 2018, the people of Huntly will join ex-servicemen and representatives of other organisations in the town to lay wreaths at Huntly War Memorial in remembrance of the fallen.
In addition, the most recently appointed member of Huntly Community Council, Cally Smith, will lay a wreath to commemorate the lives of all the animals which made the ultimate sacrifice.
HCC are also commemorating the centenary of the end of the Great War with an event on Saturday November 17, from 11am to 4.30pm, in the Gordon Arms Hotel.
Organiser Linda Durward said: “This free, drop-in event will recognise and honour the contribution of the men, women and animals of Huntly and district at home or on service on the Western front and Eastern fronts or at sea.
“It will be a day of reflection, music, poetry and song and an exhibition of photographs and artefacts.”
Peterhead
In Peterhead, the local council have been gifted 10 silhouettes and ‘tommy statues’ from the Armed Forces Covenant in partnership with the “There But Not There” Home – There But Not There’ project.
The statues will honour all those who died in the war, and educate a younger generations about why they made the ultimate sacrifice.
The silhouettes have been distributed to local cadet forces, the boys and girls brigade, and one has been loaned one to the Baptist Church to place among their Knitted Poppies.
After a parade held within Peterhead, the silhouettes will be on display outside the Baptist Church.
Stonehaven
A live performance from pupils of Mackie Academy will be held on November 11.
The Scottish Council on Archives has received a National Lottery grant of £9,600 for its ‘Theatre of Remembrance’ project.
The project encouraged the Aberdeenshire students to use material held by local archives to create dramatic performances, bringing to life the voices and stories of individuals and their communities during the First World War.
