The Armistice was signed at 05:00 on Monday 11 November 1918 and the agreement took effect at 11:00 on that Monday 11 November 1918 – “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” and is remembered as a turning point in world history when peace was restored after years of devastating conflict.
Each year this day is commemorated on the Sunday nearest to the 11th or on the 11th of November by the military, military veterans, schools, churches and the community. The focus has changed from the First World War to encompass the fallen of all wars, right up to the present.
Sir Percy FitzPatrick in South Africa suggested the 2-minute silence as a way for people to honour the soldiers who had died in the war. On 7 November 1919, King George V sent a message to the people of the British Empire requesting them to observe the two minutes silence - the first minute is a time of thanksgiving for those who have survived. The second minute is to remember the fallen.
Tomorrow, 9 November 2025 the Annual Remembrance Day Service on Amateur Radio Today will be led by Hannes Enslin, ZS6JDE. The SARL transmitted the first Remembrance Day service in 1961 when the Service was broadcast simultaneously on the amateur bands and by the Afrikaans and English services of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. As a mark of respect radio amateurs are requested to observe radio silence during the Service. The Service will be broadcast at approximately 10:30 CAT.
