Armistice Day (11th November) is an opportunity to remember all those who have died in wars and conflicts around the world.

It is now 81 years since the end of the Second World War in 1945. With fewer veterans of that war still with us, thoughts also turn to more recent wars, including Iraq and Afghanistan, in which British troops served. Abingdon is also home to people who have been forced to leave their own countries because of conflict, including the war in Syria and the continuing war in Ukraine.

On Wednesday 11 November, people gathered around Abingdon’s War Memorial for the traditional Armistice Day ceremony. There was a two-minute silence, during which the standard bearer of the Royal British Legion lowered the standard.

People stood with heads bowed on the traffic island surrounding the memorial. Others watched from the outer pavement, including a group of children from Thameside School.

The Mayor then laid a wreath, followed by Clare, representing the Royal British Legion, who placed a large cluster of poppies at the memorial. People remained for a while, chatting before gradually dispersing.

There was also a wreath placed at the rear of the memorial in memory of Private Albert Webb, beneath the section bearing his name among those who died.

The act of remembrance goes beyond the memorial itself. Walking up Bath Street, the window of the Acacia charity shop displayed pictures and words saying “We shall remember them”. Other shops and estate agents around the town also marked the occasion with displays.

Two days earlier, on 9 November, members of Abingdon Peace Group gathered at the War Memorial. The group has been meeting regularly every Monday morning since 2022, expressing its solidarity with peacemakers in all conflicts.

Their message was different in emphasis: “No More War: The Best Way to Honour the Dead is to Work to Prevent War”.

The group said that the poppy wreaths at the memorial represent the deep gratitude felt by Abingdon residents towards the British soldiers who gave their lives in the two world wars. But their thoughts also extended to the dead of all countries and all wars.

The Abingdon-on-Thames Act of Remembrance began with a service at St Helen’s Church. The civic party left the Guildhall and followed the mace-bearer to the church. During the first hymn, the standards were taken to the front and placed near the altar.

As the service continued, people gathered along the High Street and around the war memorial. Fiona from Compassionate Café had brought a wreath on behalf of her organisation and the families who use the café some of whom have links with the armed services.

Members of Rotary in Abingdon handed out orders of service to the public. By 10:30, the triangle around the war memorial was filling up, and four soldiers took up positions around the memorial.

Abingdon Town Band started playing as the procession from the church approached. The procession was led by soldiers from nearby Dalton Barracks, whose main site is due to cease military operations and be vacated in 2031. Behind them came various cadet, scout and guide organisations.

Some brought wreaths to be presented at the war memorial during the ceremony.

Once everyone had arrived, Abingdon Town Band played solemn music before the crowd stood in silence. Revd Dr Jennifer Brown, the town rector, read prayers, followed by the exhortation from a member of the armed forces: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old…”

The Last Post was then played on the trumpet, followed by two minutes’ silence, after which organisations laid their wreaths at the memorial.

Speakers had been positioned along the High Street in the hope that people who could not see the ceremony could still hear it.

After the singing of the national anthem, people moved to the pavements to watch and cheer the procession.

The procession marched past County Hall and saluted the Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Andrew Skinner, Felicity Dick DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, and the commanding officer. Other councillors and dignitaries also stood outside County Hall. The march-past was led by soldiers from Dalton Barracks,

followed by the many cadet and uniformed organisations.

At the war memorial, the wreaths are there for everyone to see, along with crosses with the names of Abingdon people who died in past conflicts. Throughout the ceremony, leaves fell from the trees on what was, a cool, dry morning.