Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day in the UK, Armistice Day or Veterans Day in the USA) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty since World War I.

This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918; hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice ("at the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 a.m.)

The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on 7 November 1919 as a day of remembrance of members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. This was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey to Wellesley Tudor Pole, who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917.

The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

Services of remembrance in Kingston Borough 

Remembrance Day Services – Sunday 13 November 

Remembering our fallen soldiers

This year, Kingston will as usual host four Remembrance Day Services on Sunday 13 November.  The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillors, Senior Officers of the Council and other key Civic Dignitaries will be present: the Mayor will be attending New Malden and Kingston, the Deputy Mayor will attend Surbiton, and a Mayor’s Representative will attend the Chessington Service on the Mayor’s behalf.

Attendees to any of the services are requested to respect the service and not take any pictures during the two minute silence.

New Malden

The service at the War Memorial will begin at 9:45am and finish at 10:15am, when the Mayor will be escorted back to the Guildhall in Kingston to attend Kingston Services and to watch the march past.

If the weather is particularly bad, the Service at the War Memorial will be cancelled and held in the Methodist Church instead.

Kingston

The service at Kingston will begin with a procession from the Guildhall at 10:37am, to arrive at the War Memorial by 10:45am for the Laying of Wreaths and a short service.  At 11:15am, the Mayoral and Civic Parties will proceed to All Saints Parish Church for another service, after which the procession will return to the Guildhall where the Remembrance Day Commemorations will be concluded with a march past outside the Guildhall.  Contingents will form up on either side of the Market Place and at 12pm march past the Guildhall.

In the event of bad weather, the service planned for the War Memorial will take place in the Church with any necessary alterations allowing for the two minutes silence at 11am. The Civic Service will follow.

A decision will be taken at the end of the Service as to whether there will be a procession back to the Guildhall and also if the march past will take place.

Surbiton

The Surbiton service will take place at the War Memorial in Ewell Road at 10:45am and finish at approximately 11:30am with a Parade marching from the Surbiton British Legion in Hollyfield Road, into Ewell Road, past the War Memorial and then returning back down Ewell Road where the Deputy Mayor will take the salute at the Surbiton Hill Methodist Church as they go past.

Chessington

The service at Chessington will take place at the War Memorial at the Royal British Legion Headquarters, Church Fields, Church Lane, at 10:45am followed by a service at 11:15am at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Church Lane.  A Mayor’s Representative will attend these services on the Mayor’s behalf.