Scotland falls silent as Remembrance ceremonies take place

Communities across Scotland fell silent in remembrance of those who have lost their lives in conflicts across the world.

In Edinburgh, First Minister John Swinney was joined by veterans and the city’s lord provost in laying a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance outside the city chambers.

Gatherings took place across the country, including George Square in Glasgow, Dublane, and Grantown-on-Spey in Morayshire.

Elsewhere, buildings were lit up in red and adorned with poppies as a mark of respect before the traditional two minutes of silence at 11:00.

Earlier, Swinney had shared the story of his uncle, Cpl Tom Hunter, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross after dying at Lake Comacchio in Italy months before the end of World War Two in a post on X.

Alongside a picture, he quoted the biblical verse John 15:13: “Greater Love hath no man than this”.

The gun fired from Edinburgh Castle signalled the start of the traditional silence.

Rev Dr George J Whyte, interim moderator at St Giles’ Cathedral, led a short service of remembrance.

At the ceremony in Edinburgh, Swinney said it was a chance for generations of Scots to honour those who “paid the ultimate price” in conflicts across the globe.

“My uncle laid down his life to protect his colleagues and his comrades,” he told BBC Scotland News.

“My grandmother lost her son and grieved until the day of her death and my mother felt the same, so in this Remembrance Sunday, I particularly think of the sacrifice that he made and the family, who mourned him for all the days of their lives.

“It is central to our understanding of our freedoms and our democracy today that we understand the sacrifices which were made by previous generation to make sure we could live in the type of society we live in.”

He added: “That is because people paid the ultimate price in the First and Second World Wars to ensure our freedom and in many other wars since then.

“We must remember, particularly in the modern world, with conflict raging around us, the important sacrifices that were made for our freedoms.”

In Glasgow’s George Square, mourners joined veterans and current service personnel in laying wreaths, with a guard of honour presented by representatives of the Royal Navy.

A band composed of members of the Royal Marine Band, the Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums and the Police Scotland and Federation Pipe Band provided arrangements and the sounding of the Last Post.

Meanwhile, Kelvinside Academy was lit up in a red glow in memory of 177 former pupils who lost their lives in World War One and World War Two.

A display featuring the silhouette of a soldier and poppies designed by pupils were also placed outside the school building.

In London, the SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, joined Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and leaders of the other UK parties in laying wreaths at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other senior royals also attended the event, but Queen Camilla missed out while she recovers from a chest infection.

The Princess of Wales watched from the balcony of the nearby Foreign Office in her first public appearance following her recent cancer treatment.

Eight former prime ministers; Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord Cameron, Baroness May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, were also present.

Meanwhile, army veteran Derek “Benny” Bennett called on those observing a period of remembrance on Sunday or Monday to pay tribute to those who served in lesser-known conflicts.

Mr Bennett, 72, saw active service in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles, served in a peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, and as a liaison officer in the Gulf War.

He was originally from Shotton in North Wales, but now lives in a home run by the veterans’ charity Erskine in Edinburgh.

He said the “scars” people got from serving in “less talked-about places” are just as real as those from well-known conflicts.

“It’s crucial we remember not just the big wars like the Second World War, the Falklands, Afghanistan, or Iraq, but all the conflicts and peacekeeping missions that don’t always make the headlines,” he said.

“I know people who have suffered, and I personally know that the scars – whether seen or unseen – are just as real for those who served in less talked-about places.

“The impact on those who were there is the same, and their sacrifices deserve the same respect and remembrance.”