A large crowd surrounded the National War Memorial and Cenotaph on Front Street this morning to commemorate those who fought and fell in conflict for freedom.

After the parade of the veterans there was a Royal Salute followed by two minutes silence at the stroke of 11am to honour the war dead.

The tradition dates back to the signing of the Armistice marking the end of the Great War at “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918.

While much of the crowd was made up of war veterans, war widows, Royal Bermuda Regiment officials and dignitaries, there was a good turn-out from the general public including young families and groups of tourists. Despite forecasts for rain, the sun shone brightly on the solemn occasion.

The traditional laying of the wreaths was followed by a short prayer: “Brethren, on this Day of Remembrance, we meet to pay tribute to all those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom in two World Wars, especially those who served in defence of this land of ours and are here commemorated.”

Prayers, including the Lord’s Prayer as well as hymns, closed the ceremony as the veterans departed followed by dignitaries.

This year marks the 100th anniversary since the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps entered the First World War, fighting with the Allied Forces in the Battle of the Somme.