Armistice Day, 11 November

A time for remembering and reflection. A time for hoping that lessons have been learned from the two savage wars that swept Europe and the world twice in just over thirty years. From the carnage and ashes and economic desolation of six long years of savagery and man's inhumanity to man came an idea that perhaps such a tragedy could never happen again. The idea was born in France that an initially small brotherhood of nations might be forged to create a more secure and understanding world. From this eventually came the Common Market and latterly the European Union. This is neither time nor place to argue the merits and problems of that union but to appreciate what it has done in terms of European peace.

Armistice Day here is a public holiday, shops and businesses closed with only essential services running on a day of remembrance. We shall be at our local ceremony at the war memorial in our village as will millions of others in this land to acknowledge the sacrifices made by ordinary people who were fighting these two dreadful wars. Their names are inscribed on the memorial, some twenty four from our village in the first conflict, a village of less than ten times that number. Several family names are there with brothers and fathers killed too. There is also, thankfully, just one name from the second conflict largely due to France being overrun in June 1940.

Others who perished particularly are also remembered, those deported under compulsory labour orders who never returned, political and 'anti-social' elements as well as vast numbers of Jews living in France. An address of remembrance will be read by our mayor, the hub of the local community, the same address will be read at every other ceremony throughout the country unifying an act of remembrance.

Wreaths will be laid then children from the village primary school singing the Marseillaise then two minutes silence. No prayers or other religious symbolism is involved in this simple yet moving event because this is a secular country.

Afterwards at the village hall attached to the Mairie a 'vin d'honneur' will be taken in memory of those who gave their lives for their country.

France has a saying about the war - 'Forgive but don't forget'