ROME – Silence fell at the eleventh hour in the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Testaccio, as veterans and embassy representatives gathered to mark Remembrance Day.

 Wreaths were laid at the tomb of the unknown soldier in the centre of the cemetery by envoys and military personnel from a host of countries, principally members of the Commonwealth, but also former allies the U.S and former enemy Germany.

 The cemetery in Testaccio is the final resting place of 426 Allied soldiers of the Second World War, four of whom are unidentified.

 The multi-faith service was led by the Reverend Willie McCulloch of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Rome. Readings from the Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic and Christian faiths were accompanied by a prayer read by schoolchildren of St George’s International School.

 McCulloch noted the particular importance of Remembrance Day Services in this, the centenary year of the outbreak of WWI. It should be noted that 2014 also marks the 70^th anniversary of the D-day landings as well as being the year that British troops left Afghanistan.

  The service was followed by a reception at Villa Wolkonsky, the British Ambassador to Italy’s official residence.