They will grow not old ...
Commemorations took place around the world yesterday to mark the moment 100 years ago when the slaughter of the First World War stopped.
France, the centre of the first global conflict, hosted the international remembrance event. More than 60 world leaders gathered minutes after 11am, a century after the ceasefire.
The US and Russian presidents were joined by leaders whose geographical spread showed how the “war to end all wars” left few corners of the world untouched.
French President Emmanuel Macron marked the anniversary by delivering a rebuke against rising nationalism, calling it a “betrayal of patriotism” and warning against “old demons coming back to wreak chaos and death”. The millions who died in the Great War fought to defend the “universal values” of France, Mr Macron said, and to reject the “selfishness of nations only looking after their own interests. Because patriotism is exactly the opposite of nationalism.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II led a national act of remembrance in central London.
She watched from a balcony as son and heir Prince Charles laid a wreath on her behalf at the Cenotaph, a memorial honouring fallen servicemen and women. The act, marked by two minutes of silence, was repeated across the UK.
Pope Francis, addressing the faithful in Vatican City’s St Peter’s Square, said the war was “a severe admonition for everyone to reject the culture of war and search for every legitimate means to end the conflicts still bloodying several regions of the world”.
Commemorations began yesterday in Australia and New Zealand with ceremonies to remember the more than 80,000 of their nationals who died in carnage half a world away. In moving services across Australia, large crowds paid tribute to the service personnel who gave their lives
Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke of their ultimate sacrifices.
“In silence, we commit ourselves to standing by those who have returned home,” he said.