We Will Remember Them
by fortytwo6x7
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is currently responsible for taking care of war graves in 23,000 locations in more than 150 Countries and Territories, this is a colossal burden but let us consider why it is necessary. The world is littered with graveyards that are only in existence due to battle, the practicalities of life and war mean that those lost in conflict are normally buried where they fall. Families of men killed in battle would be informed of an approximate place of burial, and if that happened to be in a different continent the probability is that the family would have no grave to visit and tend.
This absence lead to communal memorials being erected across Great Britain which would serve as a graveside to visit for the families of the fallen.
Then came The Great War, the first war to become industrial, and with it the vastly inflated numbers of dead. The Commission was set up in order to centralise and organise the graveyards, and provide a memorial worthy of the sacrifice. While nothing could indeed do justice to the level of sacrifice, the sight row upon row of pristine Portland Stone grave markers stretching into the distance is indeed humbling. Then as you walk the rows you come across many carved not with a name but the words “Known Unto God”. This is the inscription used when a soldier can not be identified. This became so common that a decision was taken to bring one such soldier home. On 11th November 1920 the body of an Unknown Warrior was drawn in procession to the Cenotaph, a two minute silence was observed then he was taken to Westminster Abby.
To be buried among the Kings, because he had done good toward God, and toward his house.
To the surprise of the organisers, within a week an estimated 1,250,000 people visited this grave. However this should not have been a surprise as those that previously had no grave to visit, had somewhere they could visit, pay respects to and grieve. These memorials now dotted around the country and the National Act of Remembrance on the 11th November need to be considered in their proper context. They are a grave to those without one to visit and a funeral they were never permitted to attend for family members that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This is the social function of those places and events.
When the monuments were built, they were designed to be accessible to the public, it was never considered they would be damaged or need protection.
In 2020 Black Lives Matter Activist Astrophel Sang attempted to set fire to the Union Banner on the Cenotaph in London during a demonstration. Last week Police had to guard a War Memorial in Rochdale following Poppy Wreaths being damaged and a few days later it being desecrated and panted with the words Free Palestine. This year many marches were scheduled in Great Britain on the 11th November supporting Palestine. The organisers of these protests claim they are embodying a British Tradition and value of “free speech”. However I believe something has been lost in translation. While free speech is a British tradition and value it does not come without responsibilities and is not a stand alone value. It comes attached to decorum and the ability to know when it should be invoked.
To be clear, when the nation is involved in an act of remembrance, you really ought to know that is the wrong time to protest, if you want to graffiti, you ought to know the skate park or gable wall is the place, not the war memorial. That is why, we are not the same.
Suggested Poem (Eleventh hour, Eleventh day, Eleventh month)
Source :
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7df6bbed915d74e622336c/war-memorial-guidance.pdf
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
https://www.cwgc.org/who-we-are/our-story/
Unknown Warrior
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/unknown_warrior.shtml
Black Lives Matter Activist
Police Guard War Memorial
fortytwowrites 