WWI commemoration ?

Why disastrous CD? I think we have debated this in another thread several weeks ago…..

In my local primary school when they study World War Two they invite the local pensioners into the school to drink tea and eat the, wartime recipe, carrot-cake that the children have made.

I was talking to an eight year old girl a few days ago about how she had ‘interviewed’ one of the pensioners who had been her age during the war but this is the last year the school will be able to do it because of the changes in the history curriculum.

In my opinion these changes are disastrous; anyway by the time the curriculum changes again (as it is sure to) there will not be anybody left for the children to interview.

I accept all of that and my grandson has had considerable exposure. The question is how much does it mean to them and are the experiences meaningful and retained? In the case of him and his peers a great deal less than WW2, as I suggested above.

If children have an interest in the history of WWI (or WWII come to that), there are regularly documentaries telling us of
various aspects of both World Wars. They could even read any of the thousands of books on the subject.
I suspect that the vast majority of children nowadays have little or no interest in War, and will probably not watch any
programmes about the start of WWI. .

They do IF they are encouraged by their peers .Our school ,both my children went to the WW1 trenches as part of a school trip,they have both seen the trenches and the Menin gate amongst other things.I have to say it is more than i have done but hopefully it will change this year.

So we shouldn’t bother then?

The 100 year anniversary is a great away educating and re-educating everyone into the causes and circumstances that lead to war. We should be embracing the opportunity to do so.

And of course unless you understand the complex European relationships in the years preceding July/August 1914 you cannot begin to understand the start of the war.

If children have an interest in the history of WWI (or WWII come to that), there are regularly documentaries telling us of
various aspects of both World Wars. They could even read any of the thousands of books on the subject.
I suspect that the vast majority of children nowadays have little or no interest in War, and will probably not watch any
programmes about the start of WWI. Especially if they clash with their favourite soap or unreality show.

My Grandfather was wounded twice on the Somme, and taken prisoner. I don’t recall him ever talking about his experiences, not many did.

Ah, that’s interesting, Dave.

I suppose it is inevitable that the further we move away from it the more difficult it will be to maintain its interest or significance other than as an historical war. I cannot speak for my grandson’s generation, only him and his immediate contemporaries, but WW2 is for them of great interest and some immediacy and significance, compared to to a general knowledge of WW1. He greatly enjoyed the stage production of Warhorse, for example, and has read the book, but for them it does not have the same resonance as it does for those of us old enough to have had relatives just a generation older who fought and lived or fought and died.

I suspect that the amount of publicity will indeed subsume some of the other anniversaries you have mentioned.

I am unaware of there being any remembrance in1959 , 1969 or even 1989.

The 50th Anniversary of the start of WWII was certainly marked in this country (New Zealand) in 1989. I recall clearly for two weeks each evening TVNZ played war films covering various different aspects of the Second World War, and also there were documentaries on too. I think that was the first time I ever saw Battle of Britain. I’m sure there were also official wreath layings, etc too.

I think it’s a great idea to mark the 100th Anniversary and bring the Great War back to the public eye, otherwise it will fade away and become as obscure as the Napoleanic Wars in another generation or two, only of interest to specific small interest groups.

I just hope that all the massive publicity that WWI is to get round the world does not mean other important anniversaries get forgotten – this year is the 75th Anniversary of WWII being declared, and the 70th Anniversary of Normandy, Cassino, Anzio, Arnhem, Battle of the Bulge, Saipan, Leyte, and so, so many more important battles.

Creaking Door I would say they would be, as the village, who puts the memorial up, would probably follow the rules of the CWGC. their dates are

First World War

4 August 1914 to 31 August 1921.

Second World War.

3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947.

Have certainly came up with some surprising results, for example the first one on the list did not die in the war.

Archibald Henry Brasnett Royal Navy. Petty Officer stoker K/5384, died 22/02/1919. aged 29.

Quite a few World War One memorials carry the dates 1914 – 1919 and I often wondered why; I’ve always assumed that the campaign to support the Tsarist Russian forces following the Russian Revolution that went on into 1919 was the reason.

Would a soldier wounded before Armistice Day 1918, but that died after that, be commemorated on a village war memorial; I know many memorials were not erected until years after 1918.

Being 68 I remember the survivors of the “Great War” as relatively young men (50’s) and the stories they told me.Some funny,most horrific and tragic. Think they all went through it again in WW2 in some guise or another. ARP, Rescue, Home Guard and so the list goes on. They have now passed but we must never forget them and the toll it took on all concerned.
The more the message is hammered home about their sacrifice for us the better and perhaps just perhaps those in power will not be so quick to add to the names on war memorials.

A personal recollection from when I was 7-8. I said to my Granddad “why did they call it the Great War not WW1?” he said to me “Paul after seeing what we saw we never thought anyone would be so stupid to do it all again!”

In loving memory of my Grandfather 1895-1966 Royal Artillery RIP.

I maybe wrong but I thought that these commemorations are going to go on till 2018. Each year depicting the same war years.

To me WW2 has always been my favourite subject. Now I am gaining an interest in WW1.
“We will Remember them”. but do we remember them or a they just names on a memorial or plaque?
I have often wondered that so, I decided that I would find out who some of these men were and what they lives were like before the war.
I choose a plaque in the church in a small local village with 10 names on.
When I started I assumed that it would be a simple task as all the men would have been all local farm workers and joined the same regiment. (How wrong can one be)

See here http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=203856&hl=

Have certainly came up with some surprising results, for example the first one on the list did not die in the war.

Archibald Henry Brasnett Royal Navy. Petty Officer stoker K/5384, died 22/02/1919. aged 29.
Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Panel 32., Barney Church Norfolk and Runhall Norfolk his home village.
Then I found his Brother, John Clarke Brasnett on the Runhall church plaque. Died 27th September 1916. Aged 24.
(They had lost both their parents before 1909) Archibald was 20 and John 17.

Now this is the bit, where in my opinion is why we should commemorate all the sacrifices that our men gave
and understand that those two men did not give up on life when they parents died.
If it helps just one youngster of today, to keep on the straight and narrow, it will be worth all the commemorations.

John Clarke Brasnett.
Private 12820 Canadian Infantry 5th Battalion. (Saskatchewan Regiment).
Died 27th September 1916. Aged 24.
Grave I. E. 4. Contay British Cemetery.

On 16th of March 1911, a J. Brasnett aged 21, born about 1890, occupation farming, left Liverpool, England on the ship Montrose, (Capt A E Moscap) to St John Canada.
This may or may not have been John Clarke Brasnett, however we know that he went to Canada. Where it seems that he joined the Canadian Army the 16th Light horse.
Possibly in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Then he was attested to the Canadian expeditionary force in Valcartier (nr Quebec) on 18th Sept 1914.
Died at Thiepval ridge.

Absolutely. But, there’s no denying that anniversaries grab attention, and this is a subject that seriously needs more attention from the young. Many on this forum will have known a WW1 veteran during their lives, children these days do not have that privilege.

The fallen are commemorated every year. And we shouldn’t have to wait 100 years to “inform people of the facts”. And it’s the interpretation of the facts which is what matters. And there will be more than one interpretation.

Yup. We should use these opportunities to inform people of the facts, and commemorate our fallen. It should NOT be used as an excuse for the Left and Right to bicker over the motives and outcomes.

Absolutely right j_jza80. I don’t see how there can be any justifiable complaint against remembering or commemorating one of the most important wars in mankind’s history.

We should use every opportunity we can to educate people about the World Wars, anniversaries are a good way of doing this.

I have thought the same ever since it became clear that 2014 was to become a year of anniversary events. Quite bizarre. I am unaware of there being any remembrance in1959 , 1969 or even 1989. I am sure it has to do with the obsession for anniversaries as much as anything else.