The British High Commission Singapore, in partnership with the Singapore Armed Forces Veterans’ League (SAFVL), held a virtual service to mark Remembrance Sunday today (8 November 2020).

The ceremony, broadcast at 10.40am (Singapore time) on the High Commission’s UK in Singapore Facebook page, paid tribute to all who had laid down their lives so that the generations after them could live in peace.

In the UK, Remembrance Sunday is held on the Sunday nearest to Remembrance Day on 11 November; the date marks the official end of the First World War in 1918.

As part of the pre-recorded service, senior representatives from the British High Commission Singapore, the Singapore Armed Forces and its Veterans’ League, and UK defence forces laid poppy wreaths at the Singapore Memorial in the Kranji War Cemetery.

The wreath laying was accompanied by a lamentation delivered remotely by bagpipers from the Gurkha Contingent Singapore Police Force.

At 11am, online viewers observed a two-minute silence, in memory of the fallen.

Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Defence Advisers from various nations later joined remotely in pledging ‘We Will Remember Them’, in response to a reading of an excerpt from Robert Laurence Binyon’s ‘For the Fallen’.

A joint choir made up of students from Dover Court International, Dulwich College Singapore, Marlborough College Malaysia and Tanglin Trust School performed the hymns ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’.

In the segment ‘Reflections from Singapore Youth’, members of the Singapore National Cadet Corps Command Band – Swiss Cottage Secondary School shared their personal thoughts on peace and conflict. A bugler from the Singapore National Cadet Corps Command Band also sounded the Last Post and the Reveille.

British High Commissioner to Singapore, Her Excellency Kara Owen, said in her speech:

Normally, we mark Remembrance Sunday together, at a morning service at Kranji War Cemetery. We can’t do so in-person this year. We have to meet virtually instead. But our method of meeting does not dilute our purpose, nor our sincerity.

Today, we are paying our respects to the fallen and in doing so, we are living out our promise to remember the sacrifices of those – from all nations – who fought and died. A promise to remember their service and re-affirm the values that they fought to preserve.

And to acknowledge both the courage of those who served their country and our responsibility to work for the peace they fought so hard to achieve.

Virtual Remembrance Sunday Service 2020

• Members of the Royal Family to attend National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph
• Government unveils ways for the public to get involved with Remembrance Sunday from the safety of their own homes


A national two-minute silence will take place across the UK today as we mark Remembrance Sunday.

The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, along with hundreds of local events across the country will still take place this year by being held outside and in accordance with strict social distancing guidance.

Although the public are unable to attend at the Cenotaph, the national event will be broadcast live across Sky, ITV and BBC One with the public invited to remember by staying at home to protect veterans and the NHS.

Ways in which the public can get involved in this year’s socially distanced Remembrance Sunday include:

• Joining in the online conversation by sharing family histories, personal stories and messages of remembrance using #WeWillRememberThem.

• Posting a tribute on the Royal British Legion’s virtual Field of Remembrance or on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Wall of Remembrance.

• A series of educational and creative resources for children where they can download remembrance templates to colour and display at home.

• Ancestry has made over 1 billion UK wartime records free to access over the Remembrance Sunday weekend so you can discover the personal stories and the role your family played in the First and Second World Wars.

• Premier League Academy players have interviewed a range of Second World War veterans, who were also professional football players. Teachers and schools can also use the Football Remembers films as part of their Remembrance activity. You can see the films, and other teaching resources, on the Big Ideas website.

• Writing a letter to a veteran or serving personnel through the Royal British Legion.

• You can watch a livestream of the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on the DCMS Facebook page.


Visit the DCMS blog for ways to get involved in Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

We come together every November to commemorate the servicemen and women from Britain and the Commonwealth who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

In this time of adversity, no virus can stop us from honouring their memory, particularly when we have just celebrated the 75th anniversary of victory in the Second World War.

And in times of trial, our tributes matter even more. So let’s come together once again and remember those to whom we owe so much.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

Remembrance Sunday is an important date in our national calendar when we come together as a nation to remember and give thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedoms.

While this year’s service is a little different to normal, I want to encourage everyone to get involved from their own homes – watch on your TV, research your family history – but most importantly, keep safe.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

Many of the men and women on parade today have already taken part in efforts to fight coronavirus and many more will do so in the weeks to come. I applaud their selflessness.

Whilst remembrance looks different this year, we have made extra efforts to demonstrate our undiminished respect for those who have gone before, and our firm commitment to the continued safety of the British people.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer said:

While commemorations will be different this year, the COVID pandemic will not prevent us from remembering the huge sacrifices of those who have given their lives defending this country.

I encourage everyone to join in the innovative ways in which we can express our thanks to those who serve and have served.

Around 150 socially distanced personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will be on parade at the Cenotaph, London, to honour the brave men and women that came before them. Musicians from all three services will play traditional music for the service, including the Last Post played by Buglers of the Royal Marines.

ENDS

Download the Order of Service (ODT, 14.5KB)