Appeal for bells to ring out to mark Armistice centenary

The Government has put out an appeal for bells across the country to ring out at 12.30pm on Sunday 11 November 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice which signalled the end of the First World War.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) wants bells – of any sort and in any location – across Shropshire and across the country – to join in to mark this historic occasion.

This will be a symbolic way to give thanks for the end of war 100 years ago and will replicate the national outpouring of relief that took place at the end of the war as news of the Armistice filtered through, and bells which had long been silent rang out.

Bells ringing out at 12.30pm will help mark the shift in emphasis from Remembrance in the morning to thanksgiving in the afternoon for the end of war and for peace. This will coincide with the start of the People’s Procession, as 10,000 members of the public march past the Cenotaph in London in a nation’s ‘thank you’.

The DCMS would be interested in hearing about any bell ringing plans to mark this historic occasion and have developed a webmap so that people can quickly and easily add their bell ringing and Armistice day events. Go to https://armistice100.org.uk/events/.

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