Approaching WW1 100TH ANNIVERSARY (3 Viewers)

[Rob]

Our PM David Cameron (speaking at the Imperial War Museum) has just announced the UK's plans for the commemoration of the coming WW1 Anniversaries . As we already knew the newly refurbished IWM will not only be the center piece of British commemorations but is the focal point of five hundred world wide organizations in remembering the Great War. There will be national remembering and service for the 100th anniversaries of outbreak, first day of the Somme, Gallipoli, Jutland, Passchendaele and of course Armistice. The country has four years of remembering starting in 2014. Its going to be huge, emotional and solemn (not celebratory). Can't wait, I'll be at as many as poss.

Rob

 

[Rob]

There is even talk (but only talk at the moment) that they may even cancel all premiership football on the 100th anniversary..........FINALLY the country's obsession with this sport will take a back seat to something that actually is important and means something, remembering our heroes now all gone who we will never forget{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

Just warned the wife she should expect an avalanche of WW1 books, tv docs, films etc in 2014:wink2:^&grin

Rob

 

[jazzeum]

Unlike WW II which was a war to resist aggression and the extermination of people, WW I seems to me a monument to stupidity for which all nations in Europe bear responsibility. I don't mean to rain on your parade Rob and pardon me if I've done so but honoring bad decisions seems odd to me. If anything we should honor those who gave up their lives needlessly.

 

[Rob]

Unlike WW II which was a war to resist aggression and the extermination of people, WW I seems to me a monument to stupidity for which all nations in Europe bear responsibility. I don't mean to rain on your parade Rob and pardon me if I've done so but honoring bad decisions seems odd to me. If anything we should honor those who gave up their lives needlessly.

Brad, I see what you mean but I've used the ' Remembering WW1' umbrella, but of course I mean as did David Cameron , remembering all those we lost in that awful War. It will be all about their sacrifice, not a celebration.

Rob

 

[The Military Workshop]

The Gallipoli 100th will be huge for Australia but causing problems. Due to space problems at Gallipoli
only 8,000 Australians will be able to attend the event. Some tour groups already taken bookings but
now found out there will be some sort of Govt lucky draw to decide who can go. Newspaper yesterday
indicated 1 million Australians could be descended from a Gallipoli veteran !!!

 

[Rob]

Going to be a great year of paying tribute Brett, starting with the outbreak , the Somme, Passchendaele, Gallipoli, Jutland, Armistice will all see tributes over the following four years as nations remember. The IWM looks like its going to be the mutts nuts with its new WW1 Gallery, can't wait (HAVE SEEN THE PLANS!^&cool^&cool). On top of all this 2014 will also be the 70th Anniversary of D Day. As its my 50th in 2014 my wonderfully understanding missus as agreed we can go to Belgium and France for WW1 visits and then to Normandy as well. I'll be cutting back a bit on my collecting in 2014 to make a contribution for all these visits, but my god its going to be worth it!^&grin{bravo}}{bravo}}

Guys, as someone who has been visiting the Battlefields for twenty years now I cannot recommend highly enough the guide books from Major and Mrs Holts, they are just superb and all come with an excellent map that covers just about anything you may want to see on the battlefields. They are available for Somme, Western front South, Western front North, Normandy,Arnhem, and here is the Ypres issue.Even if you are not visiting they are still very good to read;

Rob

 

[Jack]

Brad, I see what you mean but I've used the ' Remembering WW1' umbrella, but of course I mean as did David Cameron , remembering all those we lost in that awful War. It will be all about their sacrifice, not a celebration.

Rob

Though it is quite right to see WW1 differently than WW2, although is some repects they were both about ensuring a balance of power in Europe, there were some practical reasons for Australians to fight in 1914. Had Britain been defeated we would have been left with the Germans in New Guinea and the RN removed even as a potential threat. Though it could not save us in 1942 it did at least pose a threat in the 20s and 30s. Who is to say what Japan might have done earlier than 1941 had the Germans been a force in the Pacific rather than the Brits and the isolationist US? Would (perhaps even should) the US have intervened had there been no Pearl Harbour? It still does not justify the slaughter of the Western Front but as a small nation who has traditionally relied on its larger friends, when they have a fight, it does make some sense to back them.

 

[Mitch]

Best leave the football alone!!!
Mitch

There is even talk (but only talk at the moment) that they may even cancel all premiership football on the 100th anniversary..........FINALLY the country's obsession with this sport will take a back seat to something that actually is important and means something, remembering our heroes now all gone who we will never forget{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

Just warned the wife she should expect an avalanche of WW1 books, tv docs, films etc in 2014:wink2:^&grin

Rob

 

[Jack]

Interestingly during WW1 Rugby Union (the amateur game) collapsed in Australia given the view of the upper classes that it would be inappropriate for competition to continue. Rugby League (the professional game) continued. I have always wondered why the working class took the more pragmatic view and whether they saw war as just another of life's struggles. I am not sure what happened with soccer in 1914. I am not even sure if we played it much then.

 

[Mitch]

I have seen the twisted reasoning for cancelling various things because of these anniveraries. However, I must say that they don't really interest me. People seem eager to jump on a number bandwagon 25, 50, 75 100. Its as if its eases their consciences to remember those who fell. They should be remembered equally every year and the remembrances should be the same every year not, just because a number is involved. Cancelling events for this is strange to me why this occasion why not cancel everything on the 11th November every year to pay respect to those who died?

I read an interesting piece the other day debating celebration or remembrance. It seems the conclusion was that many will make substantial income for many from the vast amount of memorabilia that will swamp the anniversary and, that very few of the ceremonies will truly be about remembering the millions who gave their lives. I think along the lines of some european countries where things like the last post (to name one) is sounded every day as a true mark of respect.

Its similar to those who when England play football at a major tournament suddenly display the st Georges flag!!! Either be patriotic all the time or not at all!! rant over.
Mitch

 

[Rob]

Best leave the football alone!!!
Mitch

I'm sure the country will cope with one day without the antics of some of the morons who infest the sport Mitch:wink2:

Rob

 

[Mitch]

Rob..

I just revert you back to my previous post. Its nothing to do with respect its bandwagoning and self hype on the part of some of the suited morons making up these ideas. Also after seeing the last numpty we had in charge of this country not even bowing in respect at the cenotaph what any politician has to say on these matters is of no importance.
Mitch

I'm sure the country will cope with one day without the antics of some of the morons who infest the sport Mitch:wink2:

Rob

 

[lancer]

There is even talk (but only talk at the moment) that they may even cancel all premiership football on the 100th anniversary..........FINALLY the country's obsession with this sport will take a back seat to something that actually is important and means something, remembering our heroes now all gone who we will never forget{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

Just warned the wife she should expect an avalanche of WW1 books, tv docs, films etc in 2014:wink2:^&grin

Rob

It should be an absolutely fascinating time to be in Great Britain or Europe. I would expect very little on this side of the pond, even when we reach 2017. The First World War is all but forgotten over here, much the pity. I will eagerly follow what is taking place 'over there' by whatever means I can. Also, I am much looking forward to the avalanche of publications, of all sorts, that is sure to take place. Rob, rest assured that there are a few of us Yanks that do remember and appreciate. -- Al

 

[Rob]

Rob..

I just revert you back to my previous post. Its nothing to do with respect its bandwagoning and self hype on the part of some of the suited morons making up these ideas. Also after seeing the last numpty we had in charge of this country not even bowing in respect at the cenotaph what any politician has to say on these matters is of no importance.
Mitch

So what about the the millions of descendents of the lost who want to remember, the schools and children who are discovering their history and the price paid for how they live now.They are not showing respect????? Are you saying that because a politician announced it the country shouldn't remember the loss this country suffered ? I don't give a toss who announced it, I'll be joining the millions of others to remember. Now I see you as you said went into a right old rant back there, but I'm afraid if it came to a choice between remembering our lost ancestors including my own or watching some tedious, inflated ego over paid ***** participating in a sport tainted for decades by racism , drunkeness, violence etc etc then I know what I'll be doing. (do you know research shows that assaults on women ACTUALLY RISE when England play whether they win or lose, unfrickking believable)I think your rant is perhaps a reflection of how much you love the sport and I understand that,but it rather underlines my point. The obsession with the sport in this country seems to blind some to the fact that however many hundreds of thousands of people watch it every Saturday like it really matters, millions and millions more don't give a toss about it and ignore it like the plague.

Rob

 

[Poppo]

There is even talk (but only talk at the moment) that they may even cancel all premiership football on the 100th anniversary..........FINALLY the country's obsession with this sport will take a back seat to something that actually is important and means something, remembering our heroes now all gone who we will never forget{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

Just warned the wife she should expect an avalanche of WW1 books, tv docs, films etc in 2014:wink2:^&grin

Rob

Rob, I agree with you about the football obsession, and I can tell you that it is not only a problem in England but in all Europe!
I also wonder why people can get so excited about a sport played by a bunch of millioneers running behind a balloon...

Better to learn something more about history...I am also very interested in WW1 even if I see it just in historic terms.

 

[Rob]

Rob, I agree with you about the football obsession, and I can tell you that it is not only a problem in England but in all Europe!
I also wonder why people can get so excited about a sport played by a bunch of millioneers running behind a balloon...

Better to learn something more about history...I am also very interested in WW1 even if I see it just in historic terms.

Hey Poppo, I agree. Its a great game it really is, and I'm glad its the national game. But sometimes when compared to things of real importance like, freedom, sacrifice, and loyalty to our heroes, football is simply not important.

Rob

 

[jazzeum]

Why is it necessary that football be cancelled for the day. Why can't you have both.

Let's face it: there are many who are interested in history but many who are not. By cancelling football, you are trying to force feed people. As I (and sure many others have found out), forcing our children to do something never works.

In a modern society, you should have the option.

 

[Rob]

Why is it necessary that football be cancelled for the day. Why can't you have both.

Let's face it: there are many who are interested in history but many who are not. By cancelling football, you are trying to force feed people. As I (and sure many others have found out), forcing our children to do something never works.

In a modern society, you should have the option.

I think its to allow thousands more people to attend the rememberance. The government is also being lobbied to make armistice Sunday 2014 a ' special' day as they were seen to be years back. This not only means cancelling football but closing shops and ringing of church bells across the country. Whatever the arguments, I don't think it would hurt anyone for the country to stop as a whole on this 100th anniversay, Brad we have shopping to our hearts content and a tedious amount of football on tv, it wouldn't hurt the country this once mate. If people don't want to remember they don't have to, but each week millions have to put up with football on tv they never watch but dominates the schedule, so turning the tables this once is fine by me (if it indeed happens)

Most importantly polls are showing the majority want this (the rememberance)

Rob

 

[Mitch]

Rob...

Your missing the point of what I said with the passion and emotion you have for WWI etc. Its not the fact that I like football at all that I think its wrong to cancel it (I would have said the same if it were rugby or cricket though they are talking of cancelling a variety of events though, why not have a closed national holiday?) and, I have read who said what and why about this. Why this anniversary? is my question and point. why is this so special in terms of remembering them? its not any more important than last year or the year before with sporting and, similar events never being cancelled. If its so important to cancel events for the anniversary of the start of WWI in that it shows the respect of the country in greater terms why never before? Thats what I am against and, it has nothing to do at all with the descendants of people who served in WWI who will show their respect each year and at other times in their own way.

This part of it, an almost forced gratitude on the country, is what is not right. If its going to be done it should have been done many years ago and became part of the countries fabric. You talk of school children etc I know schools that don't even acknowledge the two minute silence when it falls on weekdays. When I was at school we assembled in the main hall no matter what for the two minute silence and, I am not at all old. It does not help many thouisands pay their respects at all really. They can do that any other year again, why this year? Thats why I mentioned things like the last post played each day elsewhere. Thats a continual respect and remembrance not, lets stop some events one year as its the 100th. For me, that shows less respect than if they were allowed to continue alongside these events.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

Rob,

I don't live in the UK so I have no idea of national or local sentiment but I can't imagine something like this happening in the United States. About the only days the country is shut down is Christmas and Easter.

If thousands want to go to the National Remembrance, what is stopping them from doing so, unless they are somehow involved with working at the stadiums, involved in concessions at the stadiums or transportation to the stadiums.

Also, just because polls show that a majority want it, what about the rights of the minority who do not.

Let's also not forget that in these difficult economic times, businesses (and individuals) would be losing money by closing for a day and, as the saying goes, money talks.

Forget me for butting in, but I think there are two sides to every question.