Every year, on this day, we get a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and the terrible price humanity pays for conflict.
At 11am on November 11, 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent, bringing an end to more than four years of continuous warfare.
The Western Front, the main theatre of World War I, stretched from the North Sea to the Swiss border. It was established after Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg in August 1914, in an attempt to defeat France quickly.
The front became known for trench warfare, where soldiers on both sides endured appalling conditions and suffered enormous casualties.
Battles such as Verdun in 1916 claimed an estimated 700,000 casualties. The Somme, also in 1916, resulted in more than one million casualties, while Passchendaele in 1917 saw another 487,000 casualties.
Germany eventually sought an armistice to bring the fighting to an end and secure a peace settlement. The Germans accepted the Allied terms, paving the way for the guns to fall silent.
The conflict had mobilised more than 70 million people and left between nine and 13 million dead. Many never received a proper burial or grave. That is the terrible reality of warfare.
So, when dawn breaks today, ceremonies will take place in many parts of the world. It happens every year on this day, reminding us of the suffering, the courage and the ultimate sacrifice.
Too many of us, sadly, may never appreciate the significance of this occasion.
But at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, millions remember the men and women who fought for what they believed in. We remain indebted to them.
We remember the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who perished in a conflict that exposed humanity’s capacity for cruelty.
Sadly, many young people know little about World War I. Some may not even know where the Great War was fought or understand what Remembrance Day represents.
As the years pass, the number of survivors who experienced that terrible conflict continues to diminish.
Modern wars seem distant. We read about them online, in newspapers, or watch developments unfold on television from the safety of our homes.
Journalists who risk their lives bring the realities of conflict into our living rooms. We witness death and destruction, including the continuing tensions in the Middle East and around the Strait of Hormuz, with consequences reaching our region.
Flanders in Belgium remains one of the places forever associated with the huge loss of life during World War I.
Today, we mark the anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting in 1918.
As we reflect, there is an important lesson. We must be kinder to one another, appreciate the sacrifices made for future generations and value peaceful coexistence.
We live in a great country. Despite our differences in ethnicity, culture and religion, we have much to celebrate in our ability to live alongside one another.
There are countless lessons in this important day. It keeps alive the memories of those whose sacrifices helped shape the freedoms we enjoy today. So, let us reflect on life, the values we uphold and the precious gift of peace. We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Let us never forget their courage. Lest we forget!
