November 11 - The Day The World Pauses

Article courtesty of RSA Review.

People around the world pause on 11 November to remember the armistice that ended the shooting during World War I.

What was to have been the war to end all wars -- but turned out to be only the prelude to the next -- officially ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, six hours after the signing of the armistice in a railway carriage at Compiegne, northern France.

This time and date remains a solemn moment in the many countries that sent their young men to war.

Armistice Day is commemorated in many places around NZ but the national observance takes place in Wellington. Chief of Navy Rear Admiral David Ledson this year hosted the Remembrance Sunday service in the Cathedral of St Paul. It featured the Central Band of the RNZAF and the processing up the central aisle to the Sanctuary of the NZ Flag, the NZ White Ensign, the RNZAF Ensign, the NZ Red (merchant navy) Ensign and the Banner of the RNZRSA.

The service had a strong military element. Ex-servicemen and women were present in good numbers; military officers and chaplains led prayers and gave readings. Principal Defence Chaplain John Neal gave the sermon taking his theme from the well-known Waiting, a winter night scene at Waiouru railway station in which a young soldier is joined by the ghostly figures of other soldiers from times past, who had also waited for trains at Waiouru.

The Last Post was sounded and RNZRSA National President Robin Klitscher delivered The Ode. Joshua Scott, a child whose Air Force officer mother is serving in Afghanistan, lit the Peace Candle as a defence cultural group sang a waiata.

Governor General Anand Satyanand and Mrs Satyanand headed the guest list at the 89th Armistice Day National Commemorative Service in the The Hall of Memories at the National War Memorial. Also present was Minister of Veteran’s Affairs Rick Barker representing the Government; Mrs Anne Tolley MP representing the Leader of the Opposition; representatives of national veteran’s organisations; Corporal Willie Apiata VC; members of the Diplomatic Corps and the chiefs of Defence Force, Navy, Army and Air Force or their representatives. A tri-service cenotaph guard stood vigil on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior from 6am to 6pm while a police guard of honour and pipe band welcomed the Governor General. A tri-service guard also took part in the service in the Hall of Memories where Robin Klitscher laid the RNZRSA wreath and again delivered The Ode.

As has become traditional ViPs each laid a red rose on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior while the balance of the congreation paid their individual respects with a simple poppy.

Armistice Day has been a tradition in Britain since 1919.Two minutes of silence are observed around the country and Queen Elizabeth II, lays a wreath at the London Cenotaph watched by thousands of parading veterans. Most people in Britain wear a red poppy as a symbol of Flanders’ fields . As with Poppy Day in NZ the poppies are sold to raise funds for veteran’s groups.

Australia and Canada mark Armistice Day much as NZ does; it is a national holiday in Belgium where the King leads commemorations in Brussels. In France ceremonies took place in many cathedrals, churches and war cemeteries, the French President traditionally laying a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arc de Triomphe

Millions of people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Africa and the Caribbean fought at Britain’s side in both World Wars, and Armistice Day commemorations are held still in those countries.

The US commemorated Armistice Day between the wars but President Eisenhower proclaimed Veteran’s Day in 1954 to replace Armistice Day in honouring all servicemen and women, present and past.

There were no official ceremonies in Germany or in Russia where the millions of casualties were an important contributing factor in the 1917 revolution.

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