'Regardless of your view on how they should be remembered, these are sobering for us all.'

This week is the time of remembrance for those whose lives were lost in the world wars. What's the history of this tradition?
By Andrew Chapman

In Britain, of course, the most famous ceremony sees royalty and heads of church and state in rare harmony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

The monument was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. This ceremony has taken place every year since the stone memorial was unveiled in 1920. ('Cenotaph', incidentally, literally means 'empty tomb'.)

The ceremony actually takes place on Remembrance Sunday, now a well-established part of the church calendar, and founded in 1921.

The date was chosen as the closest Sunday to Armistice Day (or Remembrance Day) - the actual date of the end of the First World War - 11am on the 11th November, 1918.

Many places hold two minutes' silence at 11am, either on the Sunday or, if different, Armistice Day itself.

In America, the day is known as Veterans' Day. In all cases, the events commemorate the Second World War, too - and provide an opportunity to honour all victims of conflict.

In Britain, these occasions are also marked by an annual Poppy Appeal by the Royal British Legion, a charity looking after present and former members of the Armed Forces.

The red Flanders poppy was chosen as a symbol because it grew in the field of France and Belgium where so many people lost their lives.

Wearing poppies has become a controversial issue in recent years - although, in fact, the peace movement's tradition of wearing alternative poppies (such as white ones) actually goes all the way back to the 1920s.

Many countries display a Roll of Honour in commemoration of those who have died in global conflicts.

Some of them are now online, including those for Britain, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Regardless of your view on how they should be remembered, these are sobering for us all.