Nottingham City Council will be working with a range of local groups and partners to create a variety of events across the city to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War on 11 November 1918.
This range of events and commemorations includes Games of Remembrance football matches on Thursday through to the official commemorative ceremony at 11am on 11 November. Events will conclude with a series of readings and performances at the Battle’s Over tribute which will take place on the evening of Armistice Day itself where falling poppies will be projected on to the Victoria Embankment War Memorial along with a scrolling list of Nottinghamshire’s fallen.
On Thursday 8 November, football will take centre stage as Meadow Lane and The City Ground host the Games of Remembrance.
Marking the centenary of the Armistice, troops from the British Army Football Association will take on the German Bundeswehr to commemorate soldiers from both sides who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War.
A women’s game will be staged at Meadow Lane (kick-off 12pm) and the men meet at the City Ground (kick-off 7pm). A number of football legends will be in attendance at both matches.
Tickets provide entry into a family friendly fan zone which will open at the grounds two hours before kick-off, featuring displays of equipment, military bands to create a very special commemorative atmosphere.
Tickets are priced at £5 (two adults and up to two children) for the women’s match. £10 (two adults and up to two children) for the men’s game. There is a £2.50 concession price to both matches for any uniformed services, under 16s, students and seniors.
On Sunday – Armistice Day itself, Victoria Embankment will once again be the city’s focal point for commemoration. The traditional two minute silence and wreath laying will take place at 11am, with a larger and enhanced viewing area created to ensure that more people can be accommodated at the ceremony.
Further Armistice Day parades and services are held across the city, including the South Notts Hussars who march from St Mary’s Church to the Council House.
The events for the day culminate in Battle’s Over – A Nation’s Tribute. Nottinghamshire is invited to gather at Victoria Embankment from 6.30pm where a programme of music and poetry will take place to commemorate the 14,000 men and women who lost their lives in the First World War.
Battle’s Over is a nationwide day of commemorative events marking the centenary of the end of the First World War and paying tribute to the millions killed or wounded in battle, and those on the home front who struggled amidst pain and loss to help ensure freedom survived.
John Holmes from BBC Radio Nottingham will host this tribute. Following this, the beacon will be lit at 7pm followed by bells ringing out just as they would have done 100 years ago.
This event supports the fundraising effort across the city and the county to build the new Memorial. There will be volunteers collecting on the night. Those wishing to contribute but are unable to attend can donate at the appeal’s Just Giving page nosf.org.uk/roll-of-honour.
The full Battle’s Over programme is as follows:
From 6.30pm
- War memorial lit up for event
– Short blast of the Fanfare for Hope
Welcome from John Holmes – explanation of Battle’s Over commemoration. He will talk about Britain specifically with reference made to the Nottinghamshire regiments/battalions and the part they played in the war. He will also highlight the contribution made by Commonwealth troops and those of other nationalities to the winning of the war. - Dr Malik’s images of Indian Army in WW1 and acknowledgement of other countries’ sacrifice
- Reading of the Tribute to Millions
- Overview of the war – 1914 – 1916 with reference to Nottinghamshire where applicable
- South Notts Men’s Chorus – singing was an important element in maintaining morale in often appalling conditions.
- Medley of songs:
- It’s a long way to Tipperary
- Roses of Picardy
- Over there
- Keep the home fires burning
- Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
- Resume overview of the War – 1917 – 18 with references to Nottinghamshire where applicable
- John Holmes to talk about casualty figures for the war as a whole
- Soldiers returned from the front and civilians across the world hoped it was the war to end all wars and peace would be lasting
- Fanfare for Hope for five trumpets played
- John Holmes to introduce the Battle’s Over element of the evening and reprises new war memorial project and links to the roll of honour
6.55pm – Last Post is played in front of the memorial
7.00pm – Beacon of light shone upwards into the sky from the memorial gardens
7.05pm – Bells ring out (PA system)
7.07pm – Cry of Peace around the world read by Tom Huggen
- Names of the 13,429 Nottinghamshire casualties begin to scroll on the big screen.
- Falling poppy projection onto the surface of the war memorial.
- Names and projection left to cycle through as people depart
Cllr Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Localities said: “We hope as many people from Nottingham as possible will be able to attend our commemoration events where we remember and pay our respects and thanks to the 14,000 men and women who lost their lives in the First World War. We are proud to be working with a range of partners to provide tributes that will speak to people of all ages and tell some of the most compelling stories of the war.”