Armistice Day 2020

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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Westminster Abbey - image ©National Army Museum


Armistice Day passes once again, this year marking the centenary of the interment of an unknown combatant in a tomb in Westminster Abbey, in memory of those who lie, also unknown in name, in the war graves of France and Belgium.

This year's Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day commemorations were understandably severely abbreviated due to Covid, but nevertheless undiminished. Looking back at my reflection on our war graves visit to Ypres in 1983, it's so often the small, unremarked detail that illuminates and allows us some attenuated comprehension of, the unimaginably awful.

Today's muted remembrance somehow enhances our focus on the humanity underlying war, in the same way that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or The Railway Dugouts Burial Ground at Ypres affords us the clarity of the particular: the Universe in a grain of sand, reminding us that death is always personal, even in war. 

Comments

  1. Phil.11 November 2020 at 17:56

    Very well said Kel.

    There is something strangely powerful and very intense about standing still and being silent whilst in public. It just hits home in a way that the music, marching bands, flypasts, speeches and even prayer doesn’t get close to.

    I was at home this morning, but last year I remember very clearly that I was in a supermarket. It was very impactful and touching to see normal people going about their everyday business just stop, stand still, lower their heads and be silent.

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  2. sideways11 November 2020 at 19:26

    I think the stripped-back nature of it all this year was exemplified best by both the Simon Armitage poem, Bed; and the war-widow's piece read by Cerys Matthews at today's commemoration. I was moved to tears by the latter particularly.

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  3. Steve14 November 2020 at 12:24

    Have to agree with Phil about experiencing the silence in public. Last year Margaret & I were in Stratford-upon-Avon visiting the RSC. Sunday was Remembrance Day so we joined the locals at their memorial. There were about 300 people and the silence was incredibly moving. When the Last Post was sounded I'm sure there were many a tear shed. But for this years pandemic I am certain that we would have joined a similar tribute again this year.

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    Replies
    1. sideways14 November 2020 at 17:56

      It's been a strange but weirdly not an entirely unrewarding year. I think an awful lot of people have learned some pretty fundamental life-lessons: reflection on mortality being one of them.

      Delete

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