Members of Commonwealth countries observe Remembrance Day annually as a mark of respect to members of the armed forces who have died in military conflicts. The tradition was introduced by King George V in 1919 after the end of World War One as a thank you to the estimated 19 million people who lost their lives. Theresa May today join other European leaders in laying wreaths on the graves of British soldiers killed in the global conflict in St Symphorien Military Cemetery, Mons.
Her visit comes two days before the Armistice Centenary on Sunday.
When did World War One end? What is Armistice Day?
Remembrance Day, held annually on November 11, originated as day of commemoration from Armistice Day, held on the same date.
Fighting in World War One formally stopped at 11am on November 11, 1918 when an armistice was signed by the Allies and Germans in France.
The peace agreement took effect at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”.
That means this Sunday at 11am it will be exactly 100 years since the end of the World War One.
To mark the centenary, a National Service of Remembrance will be held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.
Starting at 11am, the service will pay tribute to British Commonwealth military and civilians who have died in both World Wars and other conflicts.
A Royal British Legion detachment will march out from Wellington Barracks at 10am.
The two-minute silence at 11am will start after the firing of guns for King’s Troop on Horse Guards Parade.
Where else observes Armistice Day?
Armistice Day is a national holiday in France and Belgium.
For many countries, like Britain, Armistice Day coincides with Remembrance Day.
Germany does celebrate the national memorial day but observes its own day of mourning called Volkstrauertage on the Sunday nearest to November 16.
Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and Norway do not commemorate Armistice Day as they remained neutral during World War One.
In the United States, American have their own day for veterans called Memorial Day.
This takes place on the last Monday of May every year.