At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the United Kingdom pauses in silence for two minutes to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace and security.
The Armistice – Latin for stand (still) arms – was an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations and began at 11am on 11 November 1918. Today, as nation, we continue to pray for peace around the world and for an end to all conflict and human suffering.
The Armistice Day Service at Liverpool Street Station is organised by Michele Ashton, Chaplain to the Railway Industry for Anglia and to the British Transport Police. Each year Michele works hard to pull together the railway community with Bishopsgate’s community leaders, in a shared act of remembrance.
Fr. David Armstrong, Rector of St Botolph Without Bishopsgate, leads the service, ably supported by his choir. This year we were able to enjoy the wonderful voice of soloist Cheryl Enever with Iestyn Evans on keyboard.
100,000 of Network Rail’s employees enlisted into the Armed Forces during World War I, of which roughly 20,000 were killed. The railways were critical infrastructure to support the mechanical and logistical response to war. Stations like Liverpool Street in London had become hugely symbolic, as places families and friends would say their farewells or jubilantly welcome back their loved ones. The Kindertransport initiative through Liverpool Street Station during World War II is also well known and remembered through the statutes in the station.
Several hundred people attended the service today with commuters stopping to pause and reflect, as representatives from across the railway industry and the City of London laid poppy wreaths at the foot of the War Memorial within the station. These wreaths remain in place throughout the year as continuous mark of respect.
Following the service, I was delighted to join Network Rail’s Station Manager and Greater Anglia’s management team in reviewing the poppy themed livery added to their trains to mark the occasion. A very nice touch. I also saw many of TfL’s tubes carrying a poppy on the nose of the train, alongside London’s black cabs with poppies proudly displayed on their bonnets. Long may this continue!
The most welcome news I received today though was from team of Poppy sellers working with the Royal British Legion at Liverpool Street Station. They told me that not only had the London Poppy Appeal’s £1m target for day 1 of the campaign been exceeded by £250,000, but that in addition to that, Liverpool Street Station had raised more than £25,000! This money goes towards supporting veterans in independent living, in their physical and mental wellbeing, in financial and employment support and in building networks and communities in civilian life.
You can read more about The Railway at War – 1914-1918 here.
Many thanks to everyone who supports this important annual event.
Lest We Forget – We Will Remember Them.
