Armistice Day at the Hall of Memory in Centenary Square (11th November 2019)

For the first time since Centenary Square reopened, it was now possible to have an Armistice Day morning service at the Hall of Memory. Also for the first time in front of Ice Skate Birmingham. Getting ready for the two minutes silence at 11am, men in uniform going around with flags. I approached from Centenary Way and left near Baskerville House.

Heading past Paradise Birmingham onto Centenary Way, I was popping into Centenary Square near the Hall of Memory as the service on the 11th November 2019 was getting underway in the shadow of Ice Skate Birmingham (seen behind).

dndimg alt="Hall of Memory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hall of Memory Armistice Day (Nov 2019) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The first Armistice Day service to take place in Centenary Square in perhaps 3 years (the Hall of Memory was closed off while the square was being redeveloped and at the time the Book of Remembrance was moved to the Library of Birmingham).

dndimg alt="Hall of Memory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hall of Memory Armistice Day (Nov 2019) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Uniformed veterans carry flags around the Hall of Memory.

dndimg alt="Hall of Memory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hall of Memory Armistice Day (Nov 2019) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

People pause as they watch the ceremony taking place.

dndimg alt="Hall of Memory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hall of Memory Armistice Day (Nov 2019) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It has changed so much around the Hall of Memory in the last 10 years. The only buildings that were there back then was the Hyatt Hotel, Symphony Hall, The ICC, The REP and Baskerville House. Now we have HSBC UK at 1 Centenary Square and the Library of Birmingham. Ice Skate Birmingham is temporary and will be here until early January 2020.

dndimg alt="Hall of Memory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hall of Memory Armistice Day (Nov 2019) (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A uniformed officer and a man in a suit with a trumpet.

dndimg alt="Hall of Memory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hall of Memory Armistice Day (Nov 2019) (6) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The men with flags have now passed to the right side of the Hall of Memory.

dndimg alt="Hall of Memory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hall of Memory Armistice Day (Nov 2019) (7) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I didn't stick around, but ended up in Birmingham New Street Station at 11am when there was a two minutes silence there.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Remembrance Sunday parade and service around Birmingham Cathedral (November 2019)

I just about caught the tail end of the parade on Temple Row as they headed round onto St Philip's Place. Was more veterans ready to go outside 103 Colmore Row. The Cenotaph was on Colmore Row outside of Birmingham Cathedral St Philip's. Sunday 10th November 2019 on Remembrance Sunday 2019. 101 years since the end of WW1. 80 years since WW2 started.

Remembrance Sunday for 2019 was on Sunday 10th November 2019. For the second year at Birmingham Cathedral and Colmore Row. I missed it last time, so managed to get to town in time to see some of the events going on here.

Parade on Temple Row

Heading up Cherry Street, I saw the parade on Temple Row heading past the banks. Got these views from the area in front of Lloyds Bank as they turned onto St Philip's Place past NatWest.

dndimg alt="Temple Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Temple Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The were marching past Cathedral Square, home of Birmingham Cathedral (St Philip's Cathedral Birmingham).

dndimg alt="Temple Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Temple Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I was hoping to see them on parade on Colmore Row, but Temple Row will do.

dndimg alt="Temple Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Temple Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Veteran firemen and police as well on parade.

dndimg alt="Temple Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Temple Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Marching around past NatWest.

dndimg alt="Temple Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Temple Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Fire and police officers passing the Mexican Street Food place.

dndimg alt="Temple Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Temple Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Also volunteers and St John Ambulance personnel.

dndimg alt="Temple Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Temple Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I think this was the end of the parade on Temple Row.

dndimg alt="Temple Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Temple Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Veterans outside 103 Colmore Row

I wasn't sure if there would be room outside 103 Colmore Row. But there was. Another man with a camera.

dndimg alt="103 Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/103 Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Veterans carrying flags of various regiments and the Union Jack.

dndimg alt="103 Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/103 Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Man at the front with a banner representing their regiment or unit.

dndimg alt="103 Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/103 Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Men at the back in bowler hats.

dndimg alt="103 Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/103 Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday parade (Nov 2019) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Crowd of people in Cathedral Square

The Cenotaph was this year on Colmore Row and a stage was set up, like every year. This time close to the top of Church Street and the Grand Hotel.

dndimg alt="Cathedral Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday in Cathedral Square (Nov 2019) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By this point the poppy laying ceremony was well underway. People could watch what was going on, on the pair of screens. In the distance is the core and cranes of 103 Colmore Row behind Birmingham Cathedral. With the BT Tower and Grand Hotel to the right.

dndimg alt="Cathedral Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday in Cathedral Square (Nov 2019) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

From St Philip's Place. The Bishop of Birmingham was on one of the screens. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham would have been there too (not on display on that screen at this point). The Vice Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands was also present.

dndimg alt="Cathedral Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday in Cathedral Square (Nov 2019) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading back onto Temple Row, the screen was showing a poppy and The Royal British Legion logo.

dndimg alt="Cathedral Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday in Cathedral Square (Nov 2019) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Remembrance Sunday service on Colmore Row

By the time I got back to Colmore Row, most of the veterans were standing still waiting for 11 o'clock to come. Police and fire officers here.

dndimg alt="Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday service (Nov 2019) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In view of Birmingham Cathedral, was a bit hard to see what was going on here.

dndimg alt="Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday service (Nov 2019) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Cenotaph. It goes into storage after the service is over, then comes back out for Remembrance Sunday. It used to take place in Centenary Square, and Victoria Square in one previous year. Been on Colmore Row now two years in a row.

dndimg alt="Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday service (Nov 2019) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

People gathered at the Colmore Row junction with Temple Row West. Towards Birmingham Cathedral St Philip's

dndimg alt="Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday service (Nov 2019) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last look towards the Grand Hotel. By then they were laying the poppy wreaths near the Cenotaph.

dndimg alt="Colmore Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Colmore Row Remembrance Sunday service (Nov 2019) (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Remembrance at Birmingham New Street Station 2015 to 2019

After the new Birmingham New Street Station opened in September 2015, there was a new war memorial in the public square. I think they lay the poppy wreaths a few days before Remembrance Sunday in November every year. Photos taken from 2015 to 2019.

November 2015

The new war memorial seen outside Birmingham New Street Station in the new public square on the 15th November 2015. No poppy wreaths at this time. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were due to officially re-open the station a few days later on the 19th November 2015. It honours the lost workers of the London & North Western Railway from Birmingham, 1914 - 1918 who made the supreme sacrifice.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station war memorial (Nov 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

November 2016

First saw poppy wreaths on the war memorial at New Street Station on the 13th November 2016. This was a few days after the Armistice Day anniversary. Wasn't on Remembrance Sunday that I saw them.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station poppy wreaths war memorial (Nov 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

November 2017

This was on Remembrance Sunday 2017. On Sunday 12th November 2017. By chance I also saw a man with a big poppy on his backpack, as I again passed the war memorial with poppy wreaths.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station poppy wreaths war memorial (Nov 2017)).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

November 2018

The Armistice 100 year. Seen on the 10th November 2018 was this Land Rover Freelander with various Union Jack flags for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station Armistice 100 (Nov 2018) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

VETERAN was on the licence plate.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station Armistice 100 (Nov 2018) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Looking towards the Rotunda and the Bullring. It was near the station's war memorial.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station Armistice 100 (Nov 2018) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One of the poppy wreaths on the war memorial.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station Armistice 100 (Nov 2018) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

November 2019

Headed through Birmingham New Street Station on Remembrance Sunday 2019. On Sunday 10th November 2019. The Stephenson Street media eye was displaying Lest we forget from Bullring & Grand Central.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station Remembrance Sunday (Nov 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Getting closer, it was changing too fast, so here it was between adverts as the poppy fades into the advert of some singers album.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station Remembrance Sunday (Nov 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another look at the war memorial. The poppy wreaths I think were laid a few days before.

dndimg alt="Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham New St Station Remembrance Sunday (Nov 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I was heading from the Colmore Row and Birmingham Cathedral parade and service for Remembrance Sunday. Link to that post here: Remembrance Sunday parade and service around Birmingham Cathedral (November 2019).

Armistice Day

At 11am on Monday 11th November 2019, Birmingham New Street Station fell silent for the two minutes silence on Armistice Day. 100 years since the first one in 1919. Also 101 years since the First World War had ended.

dndimg alt="Two minutes silence" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Two min silence Bham New St Station (Nov 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Virgin Trains ant Network Rail staff as well as passengers were silent for two minutes. While other passengers headed for their trains or exiting or arriving at the station.

dndimg alt="Two minutes silence" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Two min silence Bham New St Station (Nov 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

We will never forget them!

Selection of wonderful photography taken by Daniel Sturley as Birmingham remembers all its heroes on Remembrance Day in Cathedral Square, Colmore Row. 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7686_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7688_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7674_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7661_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7672_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7656_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7615_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7646_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7606_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7594_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7597_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7586_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7555_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7578_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7496_RS18.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Courtesy Daniel Sturley

Remembrance Sunday in Birmingham in past November's

Remembrance Sunday in Birmingham in past years. A parade down Broad Street in November 2012. The Remembrance service in Centenary Square in 2014, and in Victoria Square in 2017.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Broad Street - Remembrance parade - 11th November 2012

dndimg alt="Remembrance parade 2012" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Broad St Remembrance Parade 11112012 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance parade 2012" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Broad St Remembrance Parade 11112012 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance parade 2012" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Broad St Remembrance Parade 11112012 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance parade 2012" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Broad St Remembrance Parade 11112012 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance parade 2012" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Broad St Remembrance Parade 11112012 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance parade 2012" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Broad St Remembrance Parade 11112012 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Remembrance Sunday service in Centenary Square on 9th November 2014

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 09112014 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 09112014 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 09112014 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 09112014 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 09112014 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Centenary Square 09112014 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Remembrance Sunday service in Victoria Square on 12th November 2017

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday in Victoria Square 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Victoria Square 12112017 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday in Victoria Square 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Victoria Square 12112017 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday in Victoria Square 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Victoria Square 12112017 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday in Victoria Square 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Victoria Square 12112017 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday in Victoria Square 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Victoria Square 12112017 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Remembrance Sunday in Victoria Square 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Remembrance Sunday Victoria Square 12112017 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown in November 2012, 2014 and 2017.