Why Remember ?
For many of us, war is an event seen through the lens of a television camera in some distance part of the world, far removed from our daily lives. But wars like the First World War and the Second World War touched the lives of every family.
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Numbers of War Dead 1914 -1918
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Germany
Russia
France
Austria-Hungary
British Empire
Italy
Romania
Turkey
Bulgaria
Serbia
Belgium
USA
Portugal
Montenegro
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1,770,000
1,700,000
1,360,000
1,200,000
910,000
460,000
450,000
330,000
240,000
190,000
60,000
50,000
13,000
13,000
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Everyone knew someone who had been killed and wounded. People everywhere of all ages and social classes were killed or wounded, and thousands returned to live with the physical and mental trauma of war for the rest of their lives. This still happens today, although of course the numbers are much fewer and therefore not noticed so much.
“The First World War killed fewer victims than the Second World War, destroyed fewer buildings, and uprooted millions instead of tens of millions – but in many ways it left even deeper scars both on the mind and on the map of Europe. The old world never recovered from the shock” (Edmund Taylor, in “The Fossil Monarchies”)
We often take for granted our British values, our freedom to participate in cultural and political events, and our right to live under a government of our choice. The British who went to off to war in distant lands went in the belief that the values and beliefs enjoyed in Britain were being threatened. They believed that “without freedom there can be no ensuring peace and with no peace no enduring freedom” (King George IV).
By remembering the service and the sacrifice, of all those who have given their lives over the years, we recognise the tradition of freedom these men and women fight to preserve. They believed and still believe that their actions make a huge difference for the future, but it is up to us to ensure that their dream of peace, freedom and justice for all those who live in our world is realised.
On Remembrance Day, we acknowledge the bravery courage and sacrifice of those who served their country, and we acknowledge our responsibility to work for those values they gave so much to achieve for us all.
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