Commemorating those who lost their lives in war
On Remembrance Sunday (10 November) and Remembrance Day (11 November), we commemorate those who served in the Armed Forces, their families, and civilians who lost their lives in times of conflict.
What is Remembrance Day?
Remembrance Day is honoured on 11 November, marking the anniversary of the end of the First World War at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918. Millions of people around the world join together to remember those who were lost in this conflict, and wars since. Poppies were the first flowers to grow on the battlefields of France and Belgium after the devastation of the First World War, so are worn as a symbol of this Remembrance. You can donate to the poppy appeal in many shops across the district, including the Winchester Visitor Information Centre.
Winchester Remembrance Parade
A parade of representatives from the armed forces will form up in The Broadway at approximately 9:30am, followed by a civic procession following the same route at approximately 9:40am. The parade will end at Winchester Cathedral for the Remembrance Service. Visitors to the city on this day are encouraged to be mindful of road closures on the morning of 10 November, including The Broadway, Colebrook Street, Market Street and High Street.
On 11 November, Members of the Royal British Legion will join the Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith at the Winchester Guildhall steps at 11am. Members of the public are invited to the Broadway to join in paying their respects.
Winchester Remembrance Sunday Service
Winchester Cathedral will be commemorating those who lost their lives in war and honouring the service of the armed forces and their families, past and present on Sunday 10 November. The service is led by Dean Catherine Ogle and Bishop Hugh Nelson, Bishop to the Armed Forces, will preach. The service begins at 10am and a two minutes’ silence will be marked at 11am.
This service is expected to be very busy with many invited guests, military, veterans, uniformed organisations, schools and colleges, civic leaders and representatives of other faiths. It is recommended that you come early for a seat, as seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis. You may also join online via the Cathedral Channel. Find out more.
Winchester at War
Winchester City Museum invites you to meet their visiting WW2 reenactors and learn more about the vital roles people carried out during the conflict. On 10 November, Pte. Dunn of the Hampshire Regiment will walk you through the various pieces of kit that a British soldier would carry with him, from personal items to weapons, and discuss how such objects were used. Meanwhile, Sister Newell, a member of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, will display the various medical equipment used by the British Army during WW2, and discuss the nurse's experiences and those of the other women's services during the conflict.
There will also be a variety of activities available, including a WW2 Poster Trail, and the returning Community Poppy Wreath Project, where you are encouraged to add the name of your family member who served in the armed forces to their wreath. All activities are included in the standard admission price. Find out more.
A Weekend of Remembrance
At Fort Nelson, The Garrison Artillery Volunteers will fire the 18-pounder at 11am on Saturday 9 November. On Remembrance Sunday the national two-minutes silence will be observed at 11am, followed by a bugler playing The Last Post and a firing of the 25-pounder. There will also be performances of a specially commissioned First World War themed play, Our Little Fort, at 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm on both days.
You can also visit the D-Day 80 exhibition, which marks the 80th anniversary year of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. The exhibition looks at the stories of Portsmouth and the surrounding areas in the lead-up to D-Day, featuring contemporary images and accounts from local people, both military and civilian. Both the weekend of Remembrance and the exhibition are free to book. Find out more.
Remembrance in Winchester’s market towns
Bishop’s Waltham is hosting a Dedication of the Garden of Remembrance on Wednesday 6 November. There is also a Remembrance Day parade through the High Street and a church service at St Peter’s Church on 10 November. This is followed by a two minutes’ silence and air raid siren on 11 November on the High Street.
On Sunday 10 November, Alresford will see church services at St Peter's, St Mary's, All Saints and St John's, Weeke is hosting a Remembrance Day Service at St Barnabas Church, and Denmead will have a Parade followed by the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial.
Winchester's Military Museums
Winchester's Military Museums are a grouping of five engaging museums situated in the historic site of Peninsula Barracks, and a sixth Museum located just outside the city. Each museum offers a unique experience and has its own story to tell. There are fantastic collections of medals, paintings and military objects on display across the whole site, making a trip to Winchesters Military Museums worth a visit this Remembrance weekend.
Winchester Military Trail
Winchester has a rich and varied military history. From Iron Age forts, to Civil War sites, through two World Wars to the completion of a Nuclear bunker sited at Twyford - the district’s military stories span centuries of history. If you are interested in finding out more about the military history of Winchester, ancient and modern, then follow these two informative trails – one based in the city and one taking you further afield. Find out more.
