On this day we commemorate the day the guns fell silent in the war to end all wars. Sadly, this wasn't the end of conflict, but we mark the end of this bloodiest conflict each year and commemorate all those who lost their lives in armed conflict throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Sadly, it is sometimes necessary to take up arms in order to defeat evil and protect the innocent. Thankfully for us, there are men and women prepared to lay down their lives to defend our lives and our freedoms. On this day we remember that sacrifice.

The tradition of marking Armistice Day began in 1919. The following year, unknown British servicemen were exhumed from four battle areas. Their remains were brought to the chapel at St Pol. Brigadier General L. J. Wyatt went into the chapel where the bodies lay on stretchers, covered by union flags. He had no idea from which area the bodies had come. General Wyatt selected one, which was placed in a plain coffin and sealed. The other three bodies were reburied. The destroyer HMS Verdun transported the coffin to Dover, and it was then taken by train to Victoria station, to London, where it rested overnight. On the morning of 11 November, the coffin was placed by the bearer party from the third battalion Coldstream Guards on a gun carriage, drawn by six black horses of the Royal Horse Artillery. It then began its journey through the crowd-lined streets, making its first stop in Whitehall, where the Cenotaph was unveiled by King George V. The King placed his wreath of red roses and bay leaves on the coffin, and his card read, 'In proud memory of those Warriors who died unknown in the Great War. Unknown, and yet well-known.' The coffin was then taken to Westminster Abbey, and the body of this poor unnamed soldier was laid to rest in the west end of the nave. This is the grave of the unknown soldier.

So, each year, on Remembrance Day, I give thanks and pay tribute to those unknown soldiers who laid down their lives for us. And even today, 102 years on, servicemen and women are still making sacrifices to protect our freedoms. And we remember the sacrifices made and honour the survivors, and we do this by honouring the armed forces covenant. We will honour them, we will remember them. Diolch yn fawr.