Fallen heroes of World War I honoured in Qatar

Several diplomats serving in Qatar and Qatari defence and other officials paid glowing tributes to the millions of people who lost their lives in World War I (WWI), at a solemn ceremony held at Lycee Francais Bonaparte (French School Doha) in West Bay yesterday.

The ceremony, organised by the French embassy, was held to mark the centenary of the end of WWI. It was observed in memory of the signing of the First World War Armistice on November 11, 1918.

At the gathering yesterday, the ambassadors of a number of countries - including Franck Gellet of France - and a senior official from the Austrian embassy laid floral wreaths in honour of those who were killed in the war.

A number of other ambassadors and diplomats representing various countries were also present at the event.

The ceremony coincided with the ongoing Paris Peace Forum in the French capital, attended by heads of States of more than 70 countries from across the world - including His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - and representatives of many international forums.

Besides the singing of the French national anthem by students of the French school, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of those killed in the war. The ceremony also included the formal reading of letters written by French soldiers during the war.

One of the letters, penned by a brigadier identified as Taupiac to his friend a few months after the war began in 1914, narrated some of the horrifying experiences he and other soldiers encountered during the war.

Towards the end, French ambassador Gellet read out a message for the centenary of the armistice from the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.

In Paris, President Macron led tributes to the millions of soldiers killed in WWI yesterday, using an emotional ceremony in Paris attended by scores of world leaders to warn against nationalism a century on from the conflict.

The ceremony, organised by the French embassy, was held to mark the centenary of the end of WWI. It was observed in memory of the signing of the First World War Armistice on November 11, 1918

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday attended the opening of Paris Peace Forum, held at the Grand Halle de la Villette in Paris, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, in the presence of a number of heads of states and governments, heads of delegations and representatives of international organisations and civil society.

PICTURES: Ram Chand Franck Gellet arriving to lay a wreath in honour of the fallen heroes.

French ambassador Franck Gellet reading out French President Emmanuel Macron’s message at the ceremony yesterday.