ON Sunday, Sussex recalled the millions who died in the First World War and all the wars since. BEN JAMES looks back at the history.

ON the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the Armistice was signed, bringing an end to a bloody four-year war.

Representatives of both the Allies and Germany met in the forest of Compeigne to end hostilities.

Millions had died and millions more returned home injured in the war supposed to end all wars.

From that date on, November 11 has become Remembrance Day across the Commonwealth.

Remembrance Sunday, the date of formal parades and events, is held on the second Sunday in November.

The day was originally to remember those who died in the Great War.

However, just two decades later the world was at war again. Millions more died before peace in 1945.

Since then, the war dead of the Second World War have also been remembered in November – plus those killed in conflicts since.

Each year millions of us wear poppies – a tradition that started in 1921.

Inspired by the poem In Flanders’ Fields by John McCrae, Commonwealth countries adopted the flower as a sign of remembrance.

The poem was penned during the Battle of Ypres in 1915.

Mr McCrae, in charge of a first aid post, wrote the immortal lines:

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below."

Poppies are now sold by the British Legion with money raised going to forces veterans.

The county is also home to some of the finest war memorials in the country. Lewes has a particularly fine example in the centre of town.

As the incredible photo, shows from circa 1938, practically the whole town would turn out.

Other fine examples of memorials include Hove, which was designed by celebrated architect Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1921 and Eastbourne’s, unveiled in 1920.

With each year that goes by the world wars and conflicts such as the Falklands and Gulf War grow more distant. Yet, remembrance is more important than ever. Lest we forget.