Honouring Service and Sacrifice on Remembrance Weekend 2026
Army Cadets joined veterans and families in London to remember those who lost their lives in service. Cadets from Middlesex & North West London Sector helped lay poppy tributes at Westminster Abbey, and Suffolk Army Cadet Force (ACF) represented the Army Cadets at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph.
Campo da Memória na Abadia de Westminster
On Thursday 5 November, Army Cadets from LONDIST helped lay tributes and paid their respects alongside veterans, families and members of the Armed Forces community at the Field of Remembrance. The Duchess of Gloucester attended the event.
The tradition began in 1928, when a small group of veterans placed poppies around a single cross. Nearly a century later, thousands of poppy tributes filled the grounds beside Westminster Abbey, giving visitors a place to remember loved ones, friends and those they served alongside.
Festival of Remembrance no Royal Albert Hall
Cadet Corporal Cameron Osborne from Suffolk ACF had the honour of serving as national banner bearer at the Royal British Legion’s Festa da Memória on Saturday 7 November. The annual event honoured the service and sacrifice of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces community.
Cdt Cpl Osborne joined the Army Cadet Force at 12 and has been a cadet for just over five years. One of his proudest achievements was leading his detachment to victory at the annual Inter-Company Competition Weekend two years running. He particularly enjoys fieldcraft and encouraging other cadets to build their confidence outdoors. He takes pride in his drill and turnout, and his interest in fitness extends beyond cadets to boxing, which helped him develop discipline, determination and self-control.
Alongside his time with the cadets, Cdt Cpl Osborne is studying economics, politics and business studies at Kesgrave Sixth Form. He aims to commission as an officer in the Coldstream Guards. His father served as an officer in the Blues and Royals, and his grandfather and great-grandfather also served in the British Army. Carrying the banner gave Cameron the chance to represent his fellow cadets at a ceremony that also held meaning for his family.
National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph
On Remembrance Sunday, veterans, serving personnel and members of the public gathered on Whitehall for the National Service of Remembrance. At 11 am, a two-minute silence was observed, followed by the laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph. Veterans then took part in the Royal British Legion’s march past.
A cadet from Suffolk ACF commented on his attendance at the Remembrance parade:
For me, it is more of an honour than a privilege. To parade in London for Remembrance means something bigger than myself, and it is an opportunity to show my respect and gratitude for those who have served and sacrificed themselves for our freedom today. It’s the chance to represent my organisation and stand alongside others with the same values and play a part in keeping remembrance alive. I feel incredibly proud to be a part of such an important occasion.
Another cadet whose one grandparent was part of the D-Day landings, another was a Japanese prisoner of war, and the other was a London firefighter in the Blitz, commented that participating in Remembrance gives her “the chance to be part of something I am proud of, to honour my great-grandparents and my cousin who is currently in the Army and has spent two tours in Afghanistan.”