Remembrance Day will be particularly poignant this year. The anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1918 falls on a Sunday.

It occurs while Britain, the USA and other allies are engaged in a war against terrorism which may well produce new casualties.

The date of November 11 will also be exactly two months since the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York which cost about 5,000 innocent lives.

More people than ever will be buying poppies or attending services on Sunday.

They will have many different reasons to pause for reflection. Some want to plead for an end to the current conflict. Others want to pay their respects to the millions who died in wars over the last century.

Whatever those reasons, as many people as possible should spend two minutes in silence on Sunday.