SHARONLLOYD

ON LIFE’S LITTLE INCIDENTS

I ALWAYS find Armistice Day quite emotional, but the 100th anniversary marking the end of the First World War last Sunday took it up a notch.

It was both sad yet quite uplifting, watching the ceremonies unfolding up and down the country on TV. I feel a huge sense of national pride watching the service of remembrance at the Cenotaph, very aware of the gratitude that we owe to all those who serve our country.

I learnt many new facts on social media over the course of the day about the reality of war, and saw dozens of pictures that friends had uploaded of relatives who had served.

There were dozens of beautiful images of poppies, tales of the roles animals played and I learnt the full story behind the tomb of the unknown soldier in Westminister Abbey. Portraits appeared on sandy beaches, washed away with the tides shortly afterwards. Quite poignantly, I watched the clip of Captain Edmund Blackadder and his pals launching themselves out of the trenches to their inevitable death. Even though he was a fictional character, this scene made quite an impact on the TV audience of the time.

It really was a rollercoaster of emotions, and it was wonderful to see so many people, young and old, taking the time to remember the stark reality of war and the sacrifices made by so many folk from 100 ago up until today. A memorable Armistice Day indeed. We shall never forget.