The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Communities to gather to mark the end of the First World War on its 100th anniversary
Communities across the Highlands and Moray will fall silent next month as the nation honours the sacrifices made during the First World War. Remembrance parades will commence through the streets of the north on Sunday November 11 as people gather to remember the end of the conflict on its 100th anniversary.
At 11am on Armistice Day, the nation will fall silent for two minutes in memory of those lost during the Great War, as well as the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany in 1918.
A host of church services, better known as the service of remembrance, will take place in parishes and cathedrals across the Highlands.
Inverness
Commemorations will start at dawn as dozens of pipers and drummers come together at Inverness Castle Esplanade to play the traditional Scottish lament When the Battle’s O’er.
The remembrance service takes place at the cenotaph at Cavell Gardens War Memorial, on the banks of the River Ness.
Prior to the ceremony, members of the Royal British Legion will be joined by cadets from various uniformed youth organisations to parade from Huntly Street down to the cenotaph.
Starting at 10.10am, the group will march from Inverness Legion branch and across the Ness Bridge where they will be joined by Highland Council representatives.
Upon their arrival at 10.45, a special service of remembrance will begin to commemorate the end of the war.
At 11am, a single shot from an artillery gun will commence a two-minute silence, with a single shot bringing it to a close. Nairn
Residents in Nairn will begin Armistice Day when individual pipers from Nairn and District Pipe Band play When the Battle’s O’er at 6am at various locations across the town.
Local members of the Royal British Legion will then commence their Remembrance Parade outside their premises shortly after 8.50am prior to their service of remembrance at the town’s St Ninians Church.
Fort William
Lochaber Schools Pipe Band will take the lead on the town’s Remembrance parade this year. The band will begin the procession from Viewforth car park before taking up position at the town’s war memorial shortly before 10.50am. Spean Bridge
Residents in Spean Bridge will gather for their annual service of remembrance at the Commando Memorial.
Military personnel will muster south of the monument before marching northwards along Gairlochy Road at 2.50pm to take their position for the service, which is due to commence at 3pm.
Orkney
A lone piper will play When the Battle’s O’er outside St Magnus from 6am.
From 10.30am, veterans, Army cadets and sea cadets will be joined by council representatives and residents outside the Royal British Legion in Kirkwall for the traditional remembrance parade through the town, before forming up on Broad Street.
Shetland
Residents will gather at the county war memorial at the Hillhead in Lerwick for their annual service of remembrance.
Elgin
The parade will begin on North College Street at about 10.20am and will proceed along the High Street to the war memorial statue on the Plainstones.
Buckie
The parade will commence from the Royal British Legion on High Street. Legion members will be joined by military personnel and cadets from across the region during the march to their war memorial on Cluny Square before their annual service commences.
Lossiemouth
Military personnel will be among hundreds of individuals expected to turn out for the town’s remembrance parade. The parade will take place along Queen Street shortly after 10am, before arriving at the town’s war memorial for a service which is expected to begin at about 10.50am. A two minute silence will also be convened during the ceremony.