British Personnel Based Overseas Commemorate Remembrance Sunday

British military personnel deployed overseas have been marking Remembrance Sunday.

As the Queen led the UK in marking Remembrance Sunday in central London, members of the public and the Armed Forces have taken part in socially distanced and virtual services both at home and abroad.

In Cyprus, British troops based across the island held scaled-down services.

In line with coronavirus restrictions, only 75 people were allowed to attend a service at RAF Akrotiri where it was compulsory to wear face coverings.

The service was also live-streamed on the base so those who were unable to attend could still participate virtually.

In Germany, British service personnel have also been marking the day. 

Like England, Germany is currently in a month-long national lockdown, meaning a much-reduced Remembrance service was held at Normandy Barracks in Sennelager. 

Normally the British Army's largest annual parade in the country, the remembrance service was dramatically reduced in size to 14 participants.

The event, which included a solo rendition of 'Abide With Me', was live-streamed online so that others could join in virtually.

Lieutenant Colonel Danny Wild, Deputy Commander British Army Germany, told Forces News: "COVID was not beating us and deterring us from having a Remembrance service.

"We take our lead from the Cenotaph. If Her Majesty can pay her respects on behalf of the nation to the Armed Forces then so can the rest of us and it’s a privilege to do so."

In the UK, Armed Forces personnel have also been paying tribute.

Sailors from HMS Scott, which is currently in Falmouth undergoing maintenance, laid wreaths at three nearby war memorials in Newquay, Penzance and Truro.

A wreath was also laid on the ship’s behalf in her affiliated city of Swansea.

About 150 military personnel from across the UK Armed Forces took part in the commemorations at the Cenotaph in central London, alongside the Queen and other members of the Royal Family and Government. 

Musicians from all three services played traditional music during the service, including the Last Post played by Buglers of the Royal Marines. 

The ceremony was closed to the public for the first time because of coronavirus, with people urged to watch the service at home on TV. 

Elsewhere in England, veterans stood in silence at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to pay their respects to the fallen.

Irish premier Micheal Martin laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, the first time he has attended the event since becoming Taoiseach.

In Scotland, a closed national service of remembrance was held at the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Queen and the people of Scotland by the Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Frank Ross, and the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.

Due to strict social distancing measures, only 22 people took part in the ceremony which included senior representatives from the Royal Navy, British Army, and RAF.

However, across Scotland, thousands of veterans, serving military personnel, and members of the public observed the two-minute silence from their doorsteps.