Modernise Remembrance or it will all be forgotten.
Garrath Williams
Veterans Can… Co-founder & Dir of JobOppO. Veteran Advocate | Former Expert Adviser to Min VA | Adviser to VTRN RESET | Convener | Dual Veteran
In 2010 while on a two week patrol in Uruzgan Province we paused to mark Anzac Day, and a LCPL, who'd seen his mate killed in an IED blast less than a year before, asked me "are we just going to talk about the old stuff as usual?". While Anzac Day differs from Remembrance, that question, from that bloke, has stayed with me and resonates every November.
The older I get the more I think, the more I think, the more conflicted I am. Every year for the last 13 years I have met Regimental brothers at Fenchurch St Station to swap poppies for money for London Poppy Day – proudly so, because Remembrance is important. However, while the RBL and others in their space do considerable good, I can’t help but also see the damage they do to Veterans through wastage, enabling unhelpful and incorrect perceptions, failing to challenge false narratives and peddling (or profiting from) pity.
For me it’s time for Remembrance to be brought into the 21st century. The very concept of Remembrance, who owns it, what we remember, who we remember, how and why needs to change as we move, societally, further and further away from the World War I and II; and today's Veterans are responsible for driving it forwards.
Service personnel have served, fought or died around the world, continuously, for well over 100 years, yet Remembrance echoes the names lost in 1915, still. I know why, I am an avid historian and recognise how vital it is we, and our children, understand the bearing these huge periods of conflict had – but I believe relevance, candour and relatability are critical. Remembrance must be tangible, and that requires a connection with those who survived as well as those who were killed in action. Today, Remembrance should be as much about thinking and thanking as remembering. ?
There are Veterans alive today who suffered frostbite in the mountains of Korea, who dealt with casualties in Aden, who were ambushed in Northern Ireland or buried oppos in the Falklands. There are Veteran alive today who unearthed mass graves in the Balkans, prepared and flew fighters over Iraq or picked up parts of their mates in Afghanistan. The are Veterans alive today who saw or did none of the above, but without their graft, nothing would have happened. While these people don’t want or need to be remembered, and acknowledging there are those who would rather forget the reasons they fought, we must use Remembrance to ensure these people remain in our minds.
This year, on London Poppy Day, I will be at Fenchurch St Station once again, trying not to over think it. I will do my bit, support the cause and have a beer with my mates afterwards. That said, I urge those in a position to consider the future of Remembrance to do so, quickly.
It will take more to modernise Remembrance than a paper poppy, and modernise it we must, or it will all be forgotten.
Crisis Management and Crisis Communications Response
1 年An insightful look at Remembrance and relevance to younger generations. Many thanks for the post Garrath.
I help people keep more of their hard won money by significantly reducing their Utility bills
1 年I tend to understand and also disagree. It’s time to better recognise the sacrifices of modern warfare.WW1 is multiple generations past - or perhaps we should still be focussing on the Napoleonic Wars, or the much longer 7 years war. Increasingly I feel we need to let go of WW1 as a time of national grief
Environmental Health and Occupational Health
1 年A very thought provoking and well written article. I struggle with Remembrance as I remember most days and I do see the perceptions mentioned that; the act is primarily about the world wars. A few houses on my street are decked with 19th century images of a Tommy and spitfires. They are understandable images to the public and too me but they have no real relevance or resonance with me. They don’t represent my “wars” and I understand the historical connection with the Christian service but again I always felt this did not mirror my beliefs or wishes on how to remember. I am meeting this month with the team with whom I deployed with to Iraq with some 20 years ago. We will remember then in a manner familiar with service personnel the world over. We share common bonds and experiences, will will take the piss, we will hug each other and we will miss those who are not there. Whilst I remember those who were lost to combat and those who became “lost” as a consequence of service my remembrance is also with the living and absolutely within my own historical footprint.
Executive Assistant | Personal Assistant | Senior Office Manager
1 年So very true. As much as we must remember and learn from our history. We must also be relevant and support the living and pay our thanks to those who served and support their needs. As a wife of veteran I fully understand the sacrifice each military member makes but more awareness for those living with the memories and trauma than laying a wreath.