By Nangamso Mabindla
14 November 2005

THE dark clouds that gathered over East London on Sunday suited the sombre Remembrance Day mood. Dignitaries gathered at the city's World War monument in Oxford Street under the threatening sky to remember East Londoners who lost their lives during the two world wars, and those who died in other battles.

Every year, on the Sunday closest to Armistice Day, 11 November, people around the world take time to reflect on those who have died in various struggles across the globe. In South Africa this includes those who died in the struggle against apartheid.

Armistice Day commemorates the end of World War One, also known as the Great War.

Pipers remember those who fell

It was on Sunday, 13 November at 11am that the commemoration began. Buffalo City Municipality was represented by Acting Mayor John Badenhorst and Acting City Manager Peter King.

In keeping with tradition, the acting mayor was first to lay a wreath, followed by the SS Port Rex, the Buffalo City Rifle Volunteers Association, the South African Legion First Brigade in World War One, the British Consul and the US armed forces.

The Hudson Park School band played softly as the wreathes were laid.

Before the proceedings, a group of world war veterans, accompanied by a small group of youngsters, paraded up Oxford Street.