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Soldiers mark Armistice Day in Afghanistan
11 Nov 2009British soldiers serving in Afghanistan commemorated Armistice Day today with a two minute silence.
At the operational headquarters in Lashkar Gah, Helmand, the men and women of 11 Light Brigade stood still and bowed their heads.
At exactly 11am local time work came to a halt as servicemen and women around the base took time out to pay their respects.
At Camp Bastion a 105mm light gun marked the beginning of the silence.
From the cook house to the postal centre to the training ground, soldiers took a moment to remember the dead.
Lt Col David Wakefield, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "Operations here in Helmand must continue at full tempo despite it being Armistice Day.
"Wherever it is safe and operationally practical to do so, our soldiers, sailors and airmen will mark the two minute silence and in some locations there will be small parades, but for many soldiers it will be business as usual."
Reader views (1)
I will think of these brave men along with men like my Great Uncle who in spite of medals for bravery, suffered terribly as a result of the First World War and sadly ended his life some several years later. I have read his final letter to his parents and his words (too personal to relate here) summed up the horror and sacrifice of war. Armistice Day is a poignant reminder that we owe everything to these brave men and 2 minutes out of our day to be silent is the least we can do. May they all rest in peace.
- Francesca Quine, London, UK, 11/11/2009 11:21
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