A poignant silence as Queen leads tributes to war dead

At the Cenotaph in Whitehall, the monarch laid the first wreath to commemorate members of the Armed Forces who died fighting in all conflicts since the First World War.

The deafening sound of gunfire from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery stationed in Horse Guards Parade signalled the start of the two-minute silence.

The Queen stood motionless with her head bowed as her family, dressed in military uniforms, stood behind her among them the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Kent.

Close by was Prime Minister David Cameron, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband, leaders of other parties, High Commissioners from Commonwealth countries and defence chiefs.

The crowds, who contained many veterans, also watched in silence.

Another booming artillery fire echoed around Whitehall as the silence came to an end.

As the blast faded, buglers of the Royal Marines sounded the haunting melody of The Last Post, which traditionally signalled the end of a soldier’s day.

The Queen led the laying of the wreaths and was followed by the other royals.

Prince Harry was missing as he is in the United States on the final stage of his Apache helicopter training. He attended his Army Air Corps squadron’s remembrance service in Arizona.

After the wreaths were laid, Bishop of London Richard Chartres led the short service at the Cenotaph, where prayers were said for the fallen.

The march-past by old soldiers featured 7,500 veterans and they were clapped by the crowds as they strode past.

Forces in Camp Bastion, Britain’s largest base in Afghanistan, and other military outposts across the world held their own services to pay tribute.

The fighting in Afghanistan claimed its latest victim on Wednesday when Territorial Army soldier Private Matthew Thornton, 28, of Barnsley, serving with 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, was killed by an explosion while on patrol in Helmand Province.

In York, several hundred people gathered at the city’s Memorial Gardens for the service of remembrance.

Earlier, serving military personnel and veterans marched through the city from the castle grounds for the service with a selection of music by the Yorkshire Regiment Band.

The service was attended by senior RAF, Army and Navy representatives, the commander of York Garrison, senior police and fire officers, local MPs, members of York ex-service associations and local Scouts and Guides.

A gun was fired to denote the sounding of The Last Post, followed by a two-minute silence.

In Leeds, the family of Signaller Wayne Bland, from Gipton in the city, who died when his armoured vehicle was rammed by a Taliban suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2008, joined others in remembrance.

Paratrooper Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, the country’s most injured serviceman to survive his wounds including the loss of both legs when a mine exploded in Helmand, paid his respects as he walked 100 yards with the aid of crutches to the memorial in his home town of Doncaster.

He said: “I am very proud to be here. It is important for me to pay my respects.”

Some 100 members of the 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, based at Battlebury Barracks in Warminster, Wiltshire, held a service in honour of its soldiers killed in Afghanistan – Pte Johnathon Young, of Hull, Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, of Huddersfield, and Cpl Liam Riley, of Killamarsh, Rotherham.

The service was attended by families of those being honoured to give them the opportunity to meet other battalion members who served with their sons. An engraved memorial plaque was also unveiled, as well as church kneelers dedicated to those who have fallen.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Zac Stenning said: “We want to pay our respect to those individuals on this significant day, as well as remember all those others that have sacrificed their lives in conflicts around the world.”

How we can help our brave troops

The Yorkshire Post has launched its Christmas appeal in aid of ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity, which is battling to care for soldiers and their families at a time of unprecedented need.

In the past year, the charity has seen a huge increase in both numbers of Army families and soldiers seeking its help.

Anyone who would like to donate can bid for one of the 50 exclusive Christmas gifts throughout November and December.

The bidding for the first 10 exclusive lots runs on the Yorkshire Post website until 5pm on Friday.

Cheques payable to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, can be sent to the Editor’s Secretary, Yorkshire Post, Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 1RF.