AROUND 100 veterans, servicemen and families from Petersfield bowed their heads and stood in silence to commemorate the end of the First World War.

Armistice Day on November 11 commemorates the day the war ended in 1918, when British, French and German generals met in a railway carriage on a line near the Palace of Versailles in France to agree the terms of peace.

The Armistice Treaty was signed at the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month, and has been commemorated on November 11 at war memorials around the country every year since then.

Petersfield vicar Will Hughes led the short service at Petersfield War Memorial in the High Street; Petersfield Royal British Legion standard bearer Jeff Williams led the two minute silence, lowering the Union Flag.

One of the oldest veterans at the ceremony was 95-year-old Ron Evans, who fought in Africa, Italy and France during the Second World War.

The former gunner with the 56th Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery said: “The Sunday after war was declared I was a server in church, and the air raid sirens went off – the vicar finished the service at a terrific pace.”