David Cameron is set to reveal plans to commemorate the centenary of the start of World War I. The PM will use a talk in London to underline why young people should be more aware of the sacrifices made by past generations. It comes as a survey for a think tank suggests 69% of people want Remembrance Day 2014 to be a special national day. British Future is calling for shops to close and flags to fly at half-mast out of respect for the fallen soldiers. It also wants sporting fixtures such as Premier League football matches to be postponed and a longer period of silence to be observed. Contemporary significance BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says that while Mr Cameron wants to use his speech to talk to young people about commemorating the past, the year 2014 also has a contemporary significance. It is when the referendum on Scottish independence will be held, so a reminder of what the nations of the UK have achieved together is seen as not unhelpful to the unionist cause, our correspondent says. The YouGov online poll on behalf of the think tank British Future asked more than 1,700 British adults whether they believed Remembrance Sunday 2014 should be commemorated differently. More than 80% of respondents thought bells should be rung across the UK and flags should fly at half-mast, and just over half thought major sports events should be moved to another day. But the survey showed people were divided over whether shops should be closed - with 45% for and 45% against the proposal. source: BBC
Millions of pounds to be pledged to mark centenary of First World War, David Cameron to announce - Telegraph
There are calls for shops to be closed and major sporting fixtures to be postponed on the hundred-year anniversary of the First World War. In a letter to The Times, several public figures also say that flags should be flown at half-mast from every town hall in the country on Remembrance Day 2014, as well as extending the traditional silence at the Cenotaph. Read more Remembrance Day 2014: Calls To Close Shops - Yahoo! News UK
Seems remiss not to have a thread for the 2014 commemorations, now it's been declared as an official national project. BBC News - WWI centenary remembrance plans given £50m by government CWGC just put this appeal on their Friendface feed - might be of interest to some:Commonwealth War Graves Commission Does anybody know of anyone who intends to attend commemorations during the centenary period because of family connections? Please reply via our inbox, thank you Wonder if the story of a running FT17 being built from scratch for 2014 is moving on. There were some references earlier this year to a well-respected restorer taking some measurements. Definitely a handful being mocked up internationally, but I hear tell off-line of a 'correct' replica in the UK.
They have an FT17 at the Old Reinebeck Airdrome, in Reinebeck NY They've been putting on the same great show every weekend since the fifties [YOUTUBE]FHv-hoYCy5Q[/YOUTUBE]
My thoughts here: Great War Centenary Plans Announced « Great War Photos Very nice site. Great job. Dave
My thoughts here: Great War Centenary Plans Announced « Great War Photos Great article! I am so pleased that there will be such commemorations. My Dad is a lot older than me (I'm in my 20s, he's in his 70s). He always had instilled in him, I believe by his Grandfather, a total respect for those who fought in the Great War and he instilled that in me and my sister. I am desperate to get out to where I believe my Great, Great Uncle is buried (I have a news article from the time stating where he died, alongside his brother, and where he is buried, but he now has no known grave). I haven't been out to the battlefields since I was 14 on a school trip, and my husband (serving soldier) has never been, I would really like to take him. I may only have been 14 when I visited, but it really did have a profound effect on me. We went to Tyne Cot and it literally stopped me in my tracks. I hope my daughters, although only young, will grow up with the respect that so many have for all those who fought (including their Dad, although he has been in such different wars!). If they don't, then I will have done something very wrong!
Chaps at work taking piss out of me when they heard this story on the news. Asking me if I'd bought my kids shovels ready to dig trenches in the garden & have I bought my daughter a ' German spikey hat' to wear as I made her stand in for Rommel in a 'then & now' photo once.
Thank you for that link Paul. I have recognised my Uncle in a photo we have not seen before, of the 5th King's Liverpool at camp. Regards Gill
Chaps at work taking piss out of me when they heard this story on the news. Asking me if I'd bought my kids shovels ready to dig trenches in the garden & have I bought my daughter a ' German spikey hat' to wear as I made her stand in for Rommel in a 'then & now' photo once. Have you though? (And have you seen the price of even dodgy Pickelhaubes? Find a plastic one I say.) Oh, and sorry for the repeat thread, seems to be contagious
Have you though? Battlefields and war-stuff off the itinerary for awhile now. I think they've suffered enough over the years, I mean been shown various historic locations. If I suggest anymore we'll see a rerun of the Mutiny at Etaples.
My thoughts here: Great War Centenary Plans Announced « Great War Photos Been following the Great War photos site for some time. Well worth a look, great photos with researched comments.
I don't mean to belittle the sacrifice and relevance of the event - I just have too much respect for all of those that served in WWI/WWII, including family members that made the ultimate sacrifice, those that were wounded (one very bad) and those that 'served' unscathed physically. However, in these times when the three services are being cut back drastically (and wronly in my opinion) I think the money could be better spent... no need to spell it out. What's best, £50 million on a 'National Reflection', or £50 million on making sure our troops of today are best equipped for their role? I'll be at my local memorial on the reflection date - that's enough for me and my now deceased relatives! The whole event smacks of self serving politics. Best, Steve.
£35 million of it is for the IWM, to me that is money worth spent and a good legacy. Much of the rest is for education relating to the Great War; paying for school kids to visit the battlefields and funding for local projects, renovation of war memorials etc. I've never voted for this government and never will, but for once this seems a good spend.
Or £35m might just cover its rebranding as the Post-Imperial Guilt Resource Centre or somesuch. Interesting to see what happens.
Yes, I hope they don't change the name. I went for a job at the IWM after I left Uni. One of the questions they asked me was what I would call it if the name changed, so this debate has been going on for a while.
I'd rather the money was spent on today's forces, so that they are funded appropriately. If it saved one more service man or woman's life or meant they came home without a disability - which affects their whole remaining life - then that is money well spent! Best, Steve.