Services held to mark Remembrance Day and WW1 centenary

This year’s Armistice Day services held a particular poignancy, as 2014 is the centenary year marking the start of the First World War.

In East Ren, politicians, police, school pupils and residents gathered at services in Newton Mearns and Barrhead to honour the fallen.

Those attending the Mearns Cross remembrance service included 89-year-old Larry Clarke, from Giffnock, who served for three years in the Royal Navy during World War Two.

East Renfrewshire Council leader Jim Fletcher and fellow councillors were joined by MP Jim Murphy, MSPs Ken Macintosh and Stewart Maxwell and chief inspector Angela Carty at the newly-restored cenotaph.

A two minute silence was also observed at the cenotaph in Glasgow’s George Square, led by lord provost and lord lieutenant Sadie Docherty and reverend Dr Laurence Whitley, minister of Glasgow Cathedral.

Those paying their respects including deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Police Scotland chief constable Stephen House and members of the Royal British Legion and serving military.

The service was followed by a light show projected onto city chambers on Tuesday, telling stories from the First World War both on the home front, and from the soldiers, doctors and nurses on the front line.

In the southside, Scottish Sikhs gathered at the Glasgow Gurdwara for a service of remembrance honouring the fallen from the First and Second World Wars — including the 1.5 million Indians who fought in WW1.

Surinder Singh, president of the Pollokshields gurdwara, said: “Commemoration services are a fitting tribute to our fallen servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country.

“Each service across Scotland reminds us of the futility of war and the losses endured by our communities, and they provide people with a chance to pay their respects.”

Schools across the southside also paid their respects, learning more about the conflicts being marked on Remembrance Sunday.

At Kirkhill Primary on Friday, each class learned more about Armistice Day before recreating their own Tower of London poppy garden in the playground and observing a two minute silence.

Acting principal Wendy Lord added: “One of our pupil groups has already planted poppy seeds in our eco garden to flower next year.”

Click on the link above for more Remembrance Day pictures, or pick up a copy of this week’s Extra (out on Thursday).