A meaningful memorial for surviving World War Two Veterans

King Charles led the annual commemoration on Sunday, laying a wreath in a solemn ceremony held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in Central London.

With the autumn leaves falling, he was joined by other members of the royal family, senior politicians and dignitaries, who shared two minutes of silence.

But among the 10,000 veterans who marched, today there are only about 20 who served in World War two, including six who are now 101 years old.

It is a living memory, rather than a history lesson, for the last survivors of the conflict.

Many are now in wheelchairs and are getting warm applause from the crowds, knowing they are seeing history without sight.

Sid Macin, aged 101, says it has been an “emotional year” remembering those who served with him in the Far East. This summer saw events marking the 80th anniversary of VA Day and VJ Day, the end of World War Two in Europe and the Far East.

“I’ll be thinking of everyone I’ve served with and especially those who haven’t made it home yet,” he said.

Donald Poole, also aged 101, who served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, wanted to “pay tribute to the poor souls who have died in all conflicts and I know how lucky I am”.

While others lined up to thank his generation, he paid his own thanks to the civilian services, “especially the fire service which saved so many lives during the Blitz”.

That’s a reminder that as well as military veterans, the Cenotaph celebration brings together representatives of other types of service.

There were police, fire services, ambulance staff, transport workers and beachcombers laying wreaths and marching.

A memorial service is a time to pause in a noisy world. There was a two minute silence and then the last post was played by a bugler, merging around Westminster rather than the usual roar of traffic.

The scandals surrounding brother Andrew have been like a roaring gale in recent weeks, but this has been a time of peace and quiet.

It is a ceremony that is part of continuing the faith of past generations. The king, dressed in field uniform, placed a wreath similar to the wreaths when placed by his grandfather George VI, with 41 paper poppies in an arrangement of black leaves.

Both of them are standing in the same place facing the same message – the glorious dead – engraved on the Cenotaph.

King Charles’ uniform still bears the cypher of his mother Elizabeth II.

What was he thinking in the great silence?

The Prince of Wales, Back from presenting his land in Brazil’s environmental prizejoined his father in laying a wreath.

Queen Camilla and the princess of Wales look on from the balcony of the foreign office.

More than 20 different faith groups are represented on the Cenotaph’s field stone, with clerical dresses blending in with military uniforms.

Sarah Mullally, who will be the first female archbishop of Canterbury, gives the reading before a hymn is sung.

And like the ghosts of Christmas past, eight former PMs lined up. Sir John Carjor is now the elder merchant among them.

The current incumbent, Sir Keir Starmer said of the current season:

Conserv Bible Kemi Badenoch stepped forward with her wreath.

In a perhaps unexpected connection, Prince William is standing next to former PM Gordon Brown. The two are now working together on a homeless project, there shared a different kind of stage recently in Sheffield, talking about poverty alleviation.

FIRICE SECECEDE SECECEDTE Cooper and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood laid wreaths for intelligence agencies, Mi5, MICQ.

There is also a reminder of current military threats and conflict, with a Ukrainian flag flying over the Foreign Office Building as the veterans pass by.

But on this mild November morning, there is no escaping the sense of time passing and knowing that this is one of the last anniversaries in which the veterans of the World War have two with two.

Last year there were six veterans of the D-Day Landings in 1944, this year there are three.

“We reflect on the courage and sacrifice of the second generation in the World War, knowing that this is one of the last opportunities for the country to recognize us today,” said Philippa Rawlinson, Director of the British Legion.