Remembrance Day 2018: Breath-taking archive images brought to life in colour to mark armistice centenary

Katy Clifton6 November 2018

Breath-taking archive images which show Britain celebrating the end of the First World War have been brought to life in vivid colour for the 100-year anniversary of the Armistice.

The historic pictures offer a rare glimpse at what it would have been like to take part in the nationwide celebrations after Germany signed an armistice in November 1918.

After being painstakingly transformed from black and white by the Press Association, the handful of stunning pictures have been released for the first time five days ahead of the centenary.

The video above will take you through the pictures as they transform from black and white into full colour.

Servicemen and civilians celebrating together outside Buckingham Palace
PA

One picture brought to life captures the Royal Family celebrating with elated members of the public outside Buckingham Palace, as thousands of people gathered and flags were held high.

Crowd gathered outside the Stock Exchange and the Bank of England
PA Wire/PA Images

Another shows the moment a German submarine was surrendered to the Royal Navy at Harwich Port, while others show German prisoners of war mending a road in Bethune, in France.

The pictures also offer colourful insight into what King George V would have seen as Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig saluted him during the victory parade in London.

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig saluting the King
PA

Another shows the British tanks joining the victory parade celebrations in Whitehall in November 1919.

Victory Parade passing down Whitehall
PA

The fascinating pictures were released five days before Remembrance Day, when people across the country will be commemorating those who died in the First World War.

German prisoners of war, under British guard, mending the road in Bethune
PA Wire/PA Images

The armistice took place on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, which is why the UK holds two minutes of silence at 11am every November 11.

It was signed in Compiegne in Northern France and forced Germans to evacuate invaded countries within a two-week period. The remembrance is a tradition first started by King George V in 1919.

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