Armistice Day: How charities marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War

Yesterday the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War was commemorated around the globe. Across the UK, charities were heavily involved in Armistice Day ceremonies to remember the fallen.

Several charities were involved in the annual Remembrance Sunday event at the Cenotaph in central London. The Royal British Legion, which runs the poppy campaign, was among those at the ceremony.

We are proud to be leading today's March at the #Cenotaph. Watch the March and #RemembranceSunday ceremony live @BBC from 10:00 including a #TwoMinuteSilence as we mark 100 year since the end of #WW1 pic.twitter.com/XGt2hn9LsL

— Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) 11 November 2018

The RAF Association was also among the organisations that laid wreaths.

In friendship and in service one to another, we are pledged to keep alive the memory of those of all nations who died in the RAF and in the Air Forces of the Commonwealth. Proudly and thankfully #WeWillRememberThem.

Join us: https://t.co/VKvBgghe1E pic.twitter.com/LNGFRTyNjU

— RAF Association (@RAFAssociation) 11 November 2018

The British Red Cross, which also attended the Cenotaph memorial event, marked the day by releasing a number of colourised and rarely seen historical photos of Red Cross volunteers during the Great War, including these tweeted by the historian Dan Snow.

Ordinary women, like Olwen my great grandma, did extraordinary things during #WWI. The @BritishRedCross has released rarely seen historical photos to mark the centenary & celebrate the volunteers who helped save so many lives. pic.twitter.com/rMgdlOcGek

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) 11 November 2018

The There But Not There charity campaign has raised £4m over the past few months for six charities that offer support for veterans, including Walking With The Wounded, Combat Stress and the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation, with the sale of Tommy silhouettes and figurines. It aims to raise £15m overall. To commemorate the 100th anniversary, the charity shone a large-scale Tommy onto several UK landmarks, including Warwick Castle.

Guy's Tower was lit up this week commemorating the British and Commonwealth troops who died in the First World War.
It was all part of @Remembered2018 https://t.co/oig2JgcyEd#lestweforget pic.twitter.com/bBzxzbA4ET

— Warwick Castle (@WarwickCastle) 11 November 2018

Cardogan Hall in London hosted an Armistice 100 concert, with these volunteers among those collecting for the forces mental health charity Combat Stress.

Thanks to everyone who’s donated to our collection at @cadoganhall this evening for the #Armistice100 concert. A fantastic concert featuring @royalchoral and @RoyalPhilSoc. #WeWillAlwaysRemember #RemembranceDay2018 pic.twitter.com/mQ5TxezNgZ

— Combat Stress (@CombatStress) 11 November 2018

Help for Heroes was among a number of charities that had funds raised for them by members of the public, including the Crystal Palace footballer Connor Wickham, who pledged to donate money for every retweet of the image below.

For those who leave never to return. For those who return but are never the same. We remember.

For every retweet on this photo between 11-12 I will be donating to @HelpforHeroes ?? #LestWeForget #ArmisticeDay100 pic.twitter.com/UGSehTfIks

— Connor Wickham (@ConnorWickham10) 11 November 2018

And St John Ambulance decorated one of its vehicles with poppies for Remembrance Sunday.

Beautiful blue skies throughout #RemembranceDay2018 yesterday. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who gave their time to support communities and to pay their respects at local events. #ArmisticeDay100 pic.twitter.com/TqNRQmnO3I

— St John Ambulance (@stjohnambulance) 12 November 2018

Across the country, the public also joined in to give their thanks and to remember the war dead. Girlguiding Wargrave, in Maidenhead, painted stones with poppies for the anniversary.

We've seen so many creative and thoughtful poppies for #RemembranceSunday. Share with us what your unit has done, these painted stones are from @GG_Wargrave. pic.twitter.com/5PssBcxsjh

— Girlguiding (@Girlguiding) 11 November 2018

The 63rd Reading St Michael’s Scout Group also paid tribute.

Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, volunteers and parents from 63rd Reading St Michael’s Scout Group came together by collecting, cutting and painting over 500 old bottles to create this beautiful remembrance memorial. #LestWeForget #SkillsForLife pic.twitter.com/mlRpV3etWQ

— The Scouts (@UKScouting) 10 November 2018