This year, Remembrance Sunday will be marked on 8th November, with Armistice Day on Wednesday 11^th November 2026.  

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning , we will remember them.” Laurence Binyon

To help schools mark the occasion and link it to developing literacy in the classroom, here is my annual Remembrance Day thoughts, filmed this year from Sourton, Dartmoor, Devon
And these might resources might also be of use …

• “The Barnbow Lasses” – a  FREE 3 part readaloud story with resources.  Download from here. 
• a great blog from Amy McKinlay, P1-3 teacher at Kettins Primary School …  How to make Remembrance Day memorable in the classroom – Scottish Book Trust
• Signed certificate to present to pupils for their reading for pleasure or any achievements relating to Remembrance Day.  Download here

Keep up to date with reminders about next year’s plans here

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Please send me *

• An e-newsletter about Remembrance Day 2025

School Name (if applicable)

First Line of address

Postcode

Any additional message

Submit

Please be patient.  Our replies are not automated so you will get a personal reply.  See T&Cs.  Thank you

My books about various sections of the Armed Forces:

• Royal Navy Arctic Star War Dog
• Army Over the Line, Armistice Runner and The Last Try
• RAF Flyboy, Spitfire, Typhoon and Rugby Academy
• the Reserves and Paratroopers D-Day Dog
• Prisoners of War War Dog
• Auxillary Forces If the Invader Comes

Since 2019 the red poppy has paid tribute to civilian victims of war and “acts of terrorism”, alongside the armed forces.

Angel of Grasmere is set at the start of the Second World War in Britain featuring the chaos of the British retreat at Dunkirk and the fear of Nazi invasion for a group of three village and evacuee children in the Lake District.

Resist is my historical story for children about the impact on a home front civilian occupation in WW2, based on the real Dutch Resistance experiences of Audrey Hepburn.

My books about both World Wars and children of today’s serving members of the Armed Forces :  

• First World War – Read  Over the Line,  Flyboy and Armistice Runner
• Second World War – Read Resist, Spitfire, D-Day Dog, Arctic Star, After the War ,  Angel of Grasmere and War Dog
• 21^st century Armed Forces – Typhoon, D-Day Dog

More WW1 Literacy Resources are available from here: tompalmer.co.uk/first-world-war-literacy-resources/

• First chapters of all my historical fiction books.
• Be a Trench Runner memory challenge game for the school hall.
• Black out poetry sheets with instructions and certificates.
• 10 discussion points about war for Y5 to Y9.
• Book cover prediction sheets with questions encouraging the children to think about what a book might be about.

More WW2 Literacy Resources are available from here: tompalmer.co.uk/second-world-war-literacy-resources/

• Downloadable posters.
• First chapters of all my historical fiction books.
• Videos about the settings of my books, filmed at the Somme and on the D-Day beaches.

• D-Day Dog Blackout Poem Challenge Introduction and how to guide to create your own Blackout Poems, including suggested texts, examples and a certificate. Download here

Here’s a recap of materials from previous years …

Signed certificate to present to pupils for their reading for pleasure or any achievements relating to Remembrance Day.

Download here

My 2024 Remembrance Day film was recorded at the site of an aircrash of one of the hundreds of Allied planes that crashed in the countryside during the defence of Britain during the Second World War, some miles away from villages and roads, many hundreds of feet high up mountains and fells. Thousands of airmen were killed and severely injured. Many sites have memorials to those lost. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning , we will remember them.” Laurence Binyon
Remembrance virtual event

• With a two-minute silence to mark the Armistice
• Art, music, poetry, veteran interviews creating a unique, interactive, live-streamed experience
• Upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3
• Live Zoom webinar with National Literacy Trust and the Royal British Legion

Catch up now here …

My 2023 assembly message was about the real First and Second World War soldiers, airmen and women and sailors that have inspired the characters in my books.  It is for use in the hall or for schools to stream throughout classrooms.

My 2022 Remembrance message was about the First and Second World War soldiers, airmen and women and sailors – from across the Commonwealth – that have inspired the characters in my books, particularly from India and Canada :
My 2021 Remembrance message was filmed from the Arctic Convoy War Memorial at Liverpool Parish Church

My 2020 Remembrance message was filmed from my local war memorial about the real soldiers, sailors and airman who inspired my books:

Thank you