The Western Front Association's Armistice Day 2021 ceremony at the Cenotaph

The Western Front Association once again led the nation in reflection and commemoration at its Armistice Day service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, to remember the courage and comradeship of those on all sides who served during the Great War of 1914-18.

Guests of honour at this year’s ceremony were Dan Jarvis, MP for Barnsley Central, Mayor of South Yorkshire and a former British Army Major, along with Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Actor Nick Bailey said a few words at the Cenotaph about Walter Tull, one of the very first Black British Army officers of The Great War who lost his life at the Second Battle of The Somme in 1918. Tull, who was also this country’s second Black professional footballer, has no known grave but is remembered at the Arras Memorial.

Nick delivered a reading of ‘In Flanders Fields’ by Canadian poet John McCrae who died in January 1918.

There was also representation from the Chinese Labour Corps, Caribbean Labour Corps and school children from seven schools who have participated in a WFA sponsored history competition.

It is 27 years since The Western Front Association campaigned to reinstate the Armistice Day ceremony after it lapsed in 1946 in favour of Remembrance Sunday.

Rich Hughes, a trustee of The Western Front Association, said:

“Our commemoration this year is very important because we now enter a second century since the end of the Great War.

“The centenary commemorations of 2014 to 2020 are behind us but The Western Front Association will continue to remember the courage and comradeship of those of all sides who served in the conflict.

“As well as the tragedy and scale of loss, modern society was shaped by the war and can only be understood by reference to the changes it brought about."

Dan Jarvis said:

“It is a huge honour to be a part of The Western Front Association’s Armistice Day ceremony.

“I’d like to pay tribute to everyone at the Association, not just for the efforts that have gone into organising the commemoration, but for the tireless work all year round to preserve the memory of those who fought and fell in the First World War.”