A Remembrance Day message from Defence IQ

11/11/2011  Contributor:  Andrew Elwell - Defence IQ

Each year at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month we take two minutes to commemorate those who have sacrificed their lives to defend our shores.

Originally observed to remember the war dead of World War I following the signing of an Armistice agreement by Germany in 1918, Remembrance Day has evolved over the years as a mark of respect for all of Britain’s war heroes, past and present.

World War 1 was one of the deadliest conflicts in history. Around 887,000 British military personnel are thought to have been killed between 1914-1918. In all, the war caused over 35 million military and civilian casualties.

That today is 11/11/11 is poignant but it should be no more significant than at any other time when we come together to remember the fallen. Just two days ago Territorial Army Private Matthew Thornton, of the 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in action by an IED. His death marks the 385th UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

We will remember them.