AN LGBT group will today commemorate the thousands of refugees who have died trying to reach Europe by laying wreaths of orange poppies — in the same shade as lifejackets — on the Cenotaph.

Campaign group Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants will march down Whitehall dressed in black with pink veils to conduct a remembrance ceremony at the war memorial.

More than 4,200 people have drowned this year in the Mediterranean Sea. The tragedy is directly linked to conflicts involving British forces and weapons, group member Sam Smith said. Meanwhile, an alternative remembrance ceremony will be held tomorrow to commemorate all victims of war, including refugees fleeing combat fuelled by British weapons sold to the Saudi regime.

The ceremony staged by the Peace Pledge Union (PPU) will take place at 12 noon in Tavistock Square, London, only a short walk from the official ceremony at the Cenotaph.

PPU co-ordinator Symon Hill said: “There will be no jingoistic flag-waving but rather a commemoration of all victims of war — refugees, other civilians, conscientious objectors and members of armed forces — of all nationalities. We will commit ourselves to working with people around the world to build peace.”