Nov
9
Reflections on Remembrance
Filed Under Messages
As I was watching this year’s Remembrance Sunday service, I inevitably got into a discussion with my housemate over whether it really means anything anymore to the majority of young people (including ourselves) who have never had anything to do with war, whether this be from having relatives serving in the Armed Forces or even serving themselves. A statistic on the BBC website showed that during WW1, 1 in 3 families were directly affected by war, by having either a friend or a relative injured or killed in action. This shocking figure is far from where we stand today.
However, the importance of remembering war and the efforts of our troops to safeguard the way of life we so often take for granted, can never be underestimated. So how can we ensure that the work of our soldiers, alive or deceased, is never forgotten?
I passionately believe that all pupils studying for their GCSEs ought to study history as mandatory subject, and that the curriculum for GCSE history should be heavily focussed on British history. It is only by teaching people that we ensure that the efforts of our Armed Forces are not forgotten.
But how can we ensure that future generations truly appreciate the sacrifices made for the good of our nation? This is a more difficult question as it requires people not to simply learn, but to engage. I remember myself as GCSE history student not too long ago, on a school trip to Belgium and France. We were taken to one of the largest war memorials in the country, with thousands upon thousands of white crosses. An incredible sight, though I have to admit it did not bring me to tears as I felt it should. Why was this? Whilst I understood the sacrifice people had made for my generation, and generations to come, I could not fully comprehend nor appreciate it, as it seemed so distant from where society stood now. Young people have to have some sort of practical experiences- these are the activities that remain in the memory, as it is highly unlikely that the majority of people will ever feel the effects of war personally. Why not have members of the Armed Forces brought into schools to give talks to pupils about their own experiences (on full pay of course)? Why not have more school trips to war memorials and museums, led by army veterans, so that people can see what was done and hear a firsthand account of what life was like in war?
My step-grandfather flew spitfire planes during WW2- he, like many veterans, enjoys telling their story and their accounts. There are hundreds of veterans from across the country who would relish the opportunity to tell young people what life was really like, in a time with no ‘Wiis’ or McDonalds. Sadly, these brave men and women cannot be around forever and soon we will lose the firsthand accounts of the world wars. That is why it is imperative that we act now, so all is not lost for future generations. Historians can only play a small part- it is up to the people of Britain to actively understand what it is that remembrance is all about.