THOUSANDS of people across the region remembered the nation's war dead yesterday by pausing to observe the Armistice Day silence.

The two-minute silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the moment the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War in 1918.

But it is those who have fallen in recent months, in the ongoing operation in Iraq, who have brought so sharply into focus the ultimate sacrifice made by so many down the years.

One of the most poignant ceremonies came at Wolsingham School and Community College in Weardale, County Durham, where 58 former pupils perished during both world wars.

Yesterday, students and staff planted an oak sapling in memory of the latest former pupil to fall, Colin Wall.

The 34-year-old company Sergeant Major, of Middleton One Row, near Darlington, died in August after being ambushed in the Iraqi city of Basra.

His parents, Barry and Joan, of Crook, were touched by the tribute to their only son, who was a father-of-three.

Mr Wall said: "The whole service was very moving. We're grateful the school made this touching tribute in memory of Colin."

The silence was observed in shopping centres, stores and workplaces across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

Hundreds gathered in Durham Market Place as Ian Bannister, County Durham chairman of the Royal British Legion, read the exaltation and buglers sounded the Last Post.

"I was quite surprised to see how many young people were here. I think the conflict in Iraq has freshened minds a little bit," he said.

In Chester-le-Street, a parade wound its way through from the civic centre to St Mary's and St Cuthbert's Parish Church, where a service was held.

In Darlington, people gathered on the steps of High Row to pay their tribute, led by town Mayor Ron Lewis.

Crowds, including many ex-railway workers, paused in York at the Station Rise Memorial, as bugler David Ventress, 53, a former member of the Railway Institute Band, played the Last Post for his 39th year.

Pupils at a Teesside school remembered former pupils who died in the two world wars.

Youngsters playing cornets performed the Last Post at Nunthorpe Comprehensive, Middlesbrough, and 1,230 pupils and staff observed a two-minute silence.

The musicians aged 12 to 16 years were stationed at strategic points throughout the school.

Deputy head teacher Kathy Kirkbright said: "We had a week of assemblies leading up to Remembrance Day to raise their awareness.

"We thought, as well as having a two-minute silence, it would make sense if they listened to that rather emotional music.''

She said the echoing notes of the cornets and the intensity of the silence heightened everyone's experience.

Meanwhile, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh led the nation in its act of remembrance as they honoured Australian troops who died fighting alongside the British in the two world wars.

With Australia's Prime Minister John Howard, the Queen unveiled a new Australian War Memorial sited at London's Hyde Park Corner.

And thousands of British forces around the world, mindful of new losses in the past year, paused in their duties to honour those who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

From the Falkland Islands to Sierra Leone, from the Balkans to Iraq, they stopped what they were doing to remember those who had fallen while serving their country.

More than 15,000 British servicemen and women are currently involved in overseas operations and deployments.