There was a sombre hush over Helston, Porthleven and Lizard Peninsula at the weekend as silences were observed on both days in tribute to the area's war fallen.

The way the dates fell this year meant that Armistice Day on November 11 was followed immediately by Remembrance Sunday the following day.

A two-minute silence was observed on Saturday in both Helston and Porthleven, where brief services were held at the Garden of Remembrance and the port's war memorial at 11am.

In Porthleven, the Union Flag was lowered as a group of around 20 residents, town councillors and mayor Andrew Wallis bowed their heads in silence.

This year’s short service was taken by Elsie Balme of Porthleven Methodist Chapel, who told those assembled: “We are not here to glorify war but to honour those residents of Porthleven who gave their lives.”

In particular this year, the soldiers of the First World War were remembered as the centenary commemorations of the conflict near their end.

Mrs Balme spoke of the “young boys” had played in Porthleven’s streets, swam on its beach and then went away, never to return.

A similar tribute was played out at Helston’s Garden of Remembrance, in front of the Grylls Monument.

The following day, both towns hosted larger Remembrance Sunday parades and held services in their parish churches.

In Helston the parade gathered in the Trengrouse Way car park to march through the town at 2.30pm for a short service at St Michael's Church, followed by a wreath laying at the war memorial.

The parade then continued on to the Garden of Remembrance, where more wreaths were laid.

A large number of groups and organisations joined the mayor and town council for the parade, including RNAS Culdrose personnel of HMS Seahawk, Helston Town Band, Helston Fire Station, the town's air cadets, brownies, guides and beavers, and pupils from St Michael's Primary School, which has a large number of children with parents in the armed forces.

In Porthleven councillors met at the Public Hall at 2pm to march to St Bartholomew's Church for a service, led by Porthleven Town Band.

Mayor Andrew Wallis said: "The church was standing room only and it was amazing to see so many at the war memorial. Thank you to the volunteers who managed the traffic as we marched to and from the church."

Other ceremonies took place all over the Lizard Peninsula, including at St Keverne where the parish council and other organisations gathered at the statute at the top of the village to march to the war memorial for 11am, led by St Keverne Band.

There was a huge turnout from the village, where all four sides of the square were lined with spectators as wreaths were laid at the war memorial in the centre, including by parish council chairman Roger Richards and a representative of RNAS Culdrose.

A similar tribute took place in Mawgan, where more than 100 people from across the Meneage parishes gathered at village war memorial.

They included the chairmen of Mawgan and St Martin parish councils - Kevin Roberts and Phillip Jenkin, the police, Mawgan Luncheon Club, the recreation hall, Garras Owlets Pre-school and the village primary school, Mawgan Friendship Club, the church and bellringers, the Royal British Legion, St Elvan Scouts, the Royal Naval Association and Parc Vro Residential Home opposite, where residents could be seen watching from the windows.

A representative from Mawgan Church said: "The high attendance in a freezing wind, including babies to 93 year-old Peter Waterfield, demonstrates the continuing importance, to a wide range of people, of remembering those who have given their lives in conflicts."

The service of remembrance was led by Rev John Ough and the hymns were accompanied on the cornet by Anthony Hoskin, who also sounded the Last Post and Reveille either side of the two minute silence. More than £270 was raised on the day for the Royal British Legion.

Helston was also represented in Falmouth, where the Hellys Bocka Explorers Scouts invited the District Explorers Scouts from Redruth and Camborne to join in a youth lead service at Pendennis Castle.

Ian Mallows, who leads the group, said: "The explorer scouts wish to thank English Heritage and all the staff at Pendennis Castle who help make all this possible, not forgetting a kind donation of some food for the event from Helston Sainsbury’s."