A POWERFUL silence fell across a packed crowd who had gathered yesterday morning in Carlisle city centre.

Surrounding the war memorial, service personnel paid tribute to the sacrifices made in war.

As 11am drew close, the stillness grew in the sedate atmosphere as the crowd prepared themselves for the clock to strike 11am and the Last Post to sound from the lone bugle.

A sudden influx of movement as those surrounding lowered their heads and some saluted while the silence was granted.

Hundreds of people making almost no noise at all was a commanding signal of respect, made even more powerful by the date and time.

It was at 11am on November 11, 1918, that the guns fell silent across the battle-scarred fields of France, Belgium and beyond.

And for another year, Carlisle turned out in force to reflect and remember the horror and sacrifice endured by all those who had gone to war and have been in conflicts since.

Taking a seat just before the start of the procession was Stephen Mcdonnell who lives in Stanwix, and who served in the infantry in the Staffordshire Regiment. He said: “I served in the army myself so I always come to remembrance. It’s great to see everyone here. It was a quiet time when I served and I have been lucky to not have lost anyone.”

His wife Caroline added: “It’s lovely to be here, we come every year, the main reason we come is just to remember those lost during a time of war.”

Following an address, wreaths were laid at the foot of Carlisle’s war memorial on behalf of a wide selection of groups from round the city. Public bodies, voluntary organisations, social clubs, trade unions and political parties all stepped forward and paid their respects to the sacrifice made by those in wartime.

Vast amounts of people have a connection with the armed forces and many have lost loved ones. Hillary Rathbone’s father served in the Border regiment. She said: “It’s absolutely brilliant to be here.

“We come every year.

“My dad fought in the war, we have now lost him, but we have a lot of family serving, it is just our way of paying our respects.

“It means a great deal to me to know he took part. I’m very proud of him.

“It’s very emotional to be here.

“My dad was serving before the war and when he came to Carlisle he met my mum at Carlisle Castle when he was stationed here. The first time he saw her he said he was going to marry her, they went on to have nine children.

“It brings tears to my eye knowing what he did.

“The whole family wore border regiment emblems when my dad died. Our mum bought everyone one and we wear them with pride.”

Finally, the Carlisle ceremony transformed the city’s market square into a parade ground.

Pipers and drummers led the parade past Carlisle’s war memorial, followed by veterans bearing military standards.

Then came serving members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, some of whom had children and family members waving at them from the crowd.

Cadets and scouts then took their place in the parade, marching off with the others towards Carlisle Cathedral, where earlier that morning a special service of Remembrance had taken place.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.”