Political leaders, active troops and veterans, health workers and sports players in Britain and France paused Wednesday to remember the sacrifice of soldiers killed in World War I.

President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the fallen of France at a ceremony at which the names of 19 soldiers killed in the line of duty over the last year were read out
President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the fallen of France at a ceremony at which the names of 19 soldiers killed in the line of duty over the last year were read out POOL / Yoan VALAT

In London and Paris, President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Boris Johnson attended Armistice Day ceremonies to mark 100 years since the memorial interment of two unknown warriors -- one from each country -- in honour of the fallen.

"November 11, 1918. At 11.00 am, throughout France, bells and bugles sounded the ceasefire. Millions of soldiers died for France. For our freedom. For our values. Let us never forget," Macron tweeted after a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe.

IMAGES French President Emmanuel Macron lays a wreath and observes a minute's silence in front of the statue of former French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau during a ceremony to mark the 102nd anniversary of Armistice Day. Clemenceau was and remains a
IMAGES French President Emmanuel Macron lays a wreath and observes a minute's silence in front of the statue of former French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau during a ceremony to mark the 102nd anniversary of Armistice Day. Clemenceau was and remains a popular figure for France, playing a key role in the politics of the Third Republic when he successfully led the country through the end of the First World War, succeeding in returning Alsace-Lorraine to France. AGENCY POOL

The Paris ceremony was also attended by ex-presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: 'Today we remember all our servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget.'
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: 'Today we remember all our servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget.' POOL / Jeremy Selwyn

Johnson said on Twitter: "Today we remember all our servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget."

This year marks 102 years since the armistice signed by Germany and Allied countries to end World War I.

England players observed two minutes of silence ahead of a training session at The Lensbury hotel in London
England players observed two minutes of silence ahead of a training session at The Lensbury hotel in London POOL / Andrew Matthews
Soldiers observed two minutes of silence on Armistice day at a coronavirus rapid testing centre in the Liverpool exhibition centre in Liverpool
Soldiers observed two minutes of silence on Armistice day at a coronavirus rapid testing centre in the Liverpool exhibition centre in Liverpool AFP / Paul ELLIS

It is also 100 years since the remains of two nameless soldiers -- one French and one British -- were taken from the Western Front to be honoured in memorial graves at the Arc de Triomphe and in London's Westminster Abbey.

Genevoix died in 1980 at the age of 89
Genevoix died in 1980 at the age of 89 AFP / Georges BENDRIHEM

Britain's Prince Charles laid a wreath at the abbey, while England rugby players training in London and soldiers deployed to a coronavirus rapid-testing facility in Liverpool took time out to observe two minutes' silence for the fallen war heroes.

Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attended a service to commemorate the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey
Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attended a service to commemorate the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey POOL / Jeremy Selwyn

Commemorations were also held in Kosovo, Belgrade, Edinburgh and Brussels.

As Europe paid its respects, a bomb struck a World War I commemoration attended by Western diplomats in the Saudi city of Jeddah, leaving at least two people wounded.

The attack came amid widespread Muslim anger at Macron's vow to tackle radical Islam in the aftermath of a string of terror attacks which have claimed 250 lives on French soil since 2015.

Last month, a Saudi citizen with a knife wounded a guard at the French consulate in Jeddah on the same day a knife-wielding man killed three people in a church in Nice in southern France.

Macron did not address the Paris memorial, which was sparsely attended and socially-distanced amid a second nationwide lockdown to curtail the coronavirus outbreak.

After laying a wreath, he greeted military officials one by one, thanking them for their service.

Later Wednesday, Macron was to preside over a ceremony to reinter the remains of World War I writer Maurice Genevoix at the Pantheon of national heroes in Paris.

Macron has championed the honour to encourage remembrance of the conflict.

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