Remembrance Day marked in Serbia
Service held in honour of the soldiers who were killed in wars and other conflicts.
On Monday, 11th November, the British Embassy hosted the annual Service of Remembrance at the Commonwealth Cemetery, Belgrade, in honour of the soldiers who were killed in wars and other conflicts. David McFarlane, Chargé d’Affaires to Serbia, together with Colonel William English, Defence Attaché and Father Robin Fox lead the Ceremony. The Service was also attended by the representatives of Serbian Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Mayor of Belgrade’s office, as well as ambassadors, diplomats and military attachés of 37 countries.
Guests gave donations to wear traditional poppies, which are made by the UK’s leading Service charity, The Royal British Legion; who provide care and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families. The Poppy’s significance to Remembrance Day is a result of the Canadian military physician, John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Fields”. The poppy emblem was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in The First World War. Due to the poppies red colour, they were chosen to represent the symbol for the bloodshed in trench warfare. In 1921 the British Legion adopted it and the first Poppy Appeal was born.
Five members of The Queen’s Royal Lancers participated in the protocol, and International Belgrade Singers choir sang hymns and prayers.