Communities across Surrey held remembrance services on Monday (November 11) to mark Armistice Day 2019.

At 11am the two minutes' silence was widely observed across the county as families, businesses and those attending special remembrance services paused to remember British service men and women who died in conflicts since the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

In Epsom, students from seven different schools and one nursery in the borough joined Revd Russell Dewhurst for a special service, with readings by Epsom and Ewell Mayor Councillor John Beckett, Captain Robinson (QM 135 Geo Squadron RE) and Mary Dixon (Royal British Legion).

Your Local Guardian: Memorial Service at RSG veterans' home. Image: RSGMemorial Service at RSG veterans' home. Image: RSG

Several events were held in Kingston, including a Saturday ceremony held in anticipation of Armistice Day at Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS).

The service remembered the two world wars, the 81st anniversary of Kristallnacht, and the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Of particular importance to Kingston Jewish residents were the memories of three Czech communities lost in the Holocaust.

Three of KLS’s Torah scrolls – which are read each Saturday morning in synagogues – were presented.

KLS is the trustee of scrolls from the Czech Jewish communities of Tabor, Rychnov and Blatna living before World War Two.

Your Local Guardian: Kingston Liberal Synagogue Remembrance Weekend service. Image: KLSKingston Liberal Synagogue Remembrance Weekend service. Image: KLS

Meanwhile, New Malden resident and veteran Marie Scott visited the beaches of Normandy where the Allied liberation of Western Europe was launched on D-Day.

Marie just 17 years old when she spent D-Day (June 6, 1944) relaying coded messages to Allied troops.

The Royal Star and Garter (RSG) veterans' care homes in the region also took part in Monday's remembrance events.

Veteran residents at RSG homes in Surbiton and Solihull laid poppy wreaths, and listened to renditions of the Last Post ahead of the two minutes' silence.

Some of the residents from the Surbiton team attended the National Service of Remembrance on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, while others made paper poppies and wreaths with children from nearby St Matthew’s Primary School.

Your Local Guardian: Image via EEBCImage via EEBC

There were daily readings of First World War poems at the Surbiton home in the week leading up to Monday.

RSG Chairman, Major General Tim Tyler, said: "Our residents have served, and many have loved ones and friends who served or are serving in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.

"So Remembrance has special significance for them and they take pride and comfort in participating in the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, local parades and the services in our three Homes.

"We all have a duty never to forget the sacrifices made by servicemen and women and their families who have served this country."