Thousands brave rain to attend 2015 Remembrance Day National Ceremony

At 11 am today, the nation paused for Remembrance Day – the 97^th anniversary of the end of the First World War on 11 November 1918. The guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare.

On this day each year, people across the globe observe one minute’s silence in memory of those who have died or suffered in war and armed conflict, a tradition the Australian War Memorial continues in its National Ceremony.

In Canberra, about 3900 people braved the wet weather to attend the Remembrance Day National Ceremony.

The event was attended by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove and the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull Prime Minister of Australia and Mrs Lucy Turnbull AO.

The Commemorative Address was delivered by Dr Jackie Huggins AM, indigenous author and historian.

More than 280 school children gathered at the Memorial for the poppy-laying ceremony including the School of the Air from Katherine in the Top End; 11 primary schools from South Australia – Uraidla, Gumeracha, Mt Torrens, Mylor, Upper Sturt, Scott Creek, Keyneton, Palmer, Springton, Norton Summit and Mt Pleasant. Guluguba State School travelled from Queensland, while Bialik College represented Victoria and Butler College came from Western Australia along with Windermere Primary School, northern Tasmania. Young High School came from the south west slopes of New South Wales, while Canberra-based Merici College represented the ACT.

The ceremony included a Guard of Honour by Australia's Federation Guard, accompanied by the Band of the Royal Military College.

The day concluded with a moving Last Post ceremony to the Unknown Australian Soldier, first delivered by the Honourable Paul Keating in 1993.