CLOUDS gathered over George Square on Sunday as hundreds of bodies filled the streets to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

A sea of poppies accompanied by rows of shining medals surrounded the Cenotaph as the city prepared to mirror the events of 100 years before when the guns fell silent on the Western Front.

While military personnel, former servicemen and proud veterans lined the edges of the square, uplifting music performed by The Lowland Band carried the parade of people which flooded in from the left hand side of the City Chambers.

Watching on in admiration, generations young and old joined the military parade in poignant tribute to the 886,000 British soldiers who gave their lives fighting in the trenches. Memories of the sacrifice given by so many accompanied an atmosphere of both pride and sadness as the people of Glasgow remembered all that had been lost in the Great War and in other conflicts that followed.

Among those gathered in the square was ex-serviceman Rodrick Aitken from Glasgow, who's father fought in the First World War.

Rodrick, who served in various regiments, donned his maroon beret as he reflected on the last time he attended the remembrance commemorations.

He said: "The last time I was here was in 1957 when I was in charge of the cadets. I served in the military for 10 years and took up arms in several different regiments including the Special Air Service."

When asked about his reason for attending the memorial, tears began to fill the 77-year-old's eyes.

"Today I'm here with my wife Morag to remember my three uncles who were killed [in conflict]," he continued. "My dad torpedoed twice, once in 1916 and once in 1917 but he survived both times."

The same emotions felt by the veteran could be seen in the faces of so many others around the square when the city fell silent in what was a particularly moving reflection of the silence that echoed through the trenches in 1918.

A prayer which touched on all of those affected by war, reminded everyone in attendance that although they all may not have lost someone in conflict, they "all know an empty place at the table, a photo in an album, a name softly spoken".

Wreaths were then placed on the Cenotaph's Stone of Remembrance by military representatives and were quickly covered in droplets of rain as the skies opened giving way to torrential downpour. Despite this, the crowds remained, servicemen stood proud and commemorations continued.

Shoulder to shoulder, the veterans, military personnel, official representatives and people of Glasgow watched as the Guard of Honour led each regiment out onto the streets.

Through the showers, ex-parachuter George Pullim made his way to the Cenotaph to lay his own wreath in memory of all his fallen comrades.

The 66-year-old from Springburn said: "It means a lot to be here remembering all the friends that I have lost and I have lost many but still have the memory of all of them."

77-year-old James McGowan was left looking deep in thought in the square at the end of the service with his uncle's medal proudly on his chest.

He said: "I'm not a veteran, that's why I am wearing my uncle James McGee's medal on the opposite side. I'm here today to remember him. I've been coming to this every year since I was 12 years old, I think I've only missed six.

"This means a lot to be here today for the centenary, it's never going to happen again."

The commemoration in George Square was just the beginning of a series of Armistice events which took place across the city as Glasgow joined the entire nation in marking 100 years since the final day of one of the worst conflicts of our time.