WWI Centenary years 2014-2018

Adult Staff The Staff Mess
1

i’m not sure if this is in the right place but cant work out where else to put it.

through my RBL links (i am an RBL Parade Marshall and sit on a Branch as the Ceremonial Officer and Branch Member, i have recieved through the County’s monthly news discussion on the WWI commemoration now 100 years on

it indicates that the Government is taking the lead on the National Activities (PM has allocated £50milllion) with “The Legion is determined that the tone will be one of commemoration, not celebration;”

i am just wondering if the Regions/Wings or Squadrons out there (or even HQAC) are considering any plans in recognition of the milestone over the next 5 years - below i list the dates passed to me

Key dates forming the basis of Government-led commemorations:

  1. 4 August 2014: National services to mark 100th Anniversary of Britain declaring war on Germany
  2. 25 April 2015: Events to mark commencement of Battle of Gallipoli
  3. 1 July 2016: Events to mark the first day of the Battle of the Somme
  4. 31 May - 01 June 2016: Events to mark the naval Battle of Jutland
  5. June - November 2017: Events to mark the Battle of Passchendaele (The Third Battle of Ypres)
  6. 08 August - 11 November 2018: The last 100 days from the commencement of the Battle of Amiens to the Armistice on 11 November will be a period of national commemoration.
    Also, while not a part of the official Government agenda, we are likely to see significant activity surrounding:
  7. 24-25 December 2014: Christmas truce football matches in Flanders

in addition it is also the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings so next year will be quite busy for commemoration!

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I’m very surprised that there’s to be such an extended commemoration, but I feel that’s a good thing, in many ways.

WW1 tends to be overshadowed (in the minds of many of the current British public) by WW2. In the USA (but certainly not in Canada) the Great War is an almost a totally-unknown part of history.

Apparently Steven Speilberg had to argue with the backers to allow the film Warhorse to be properly set during 1914-18, as there were concerns that most Americans would become confused by the non-Nazi German soldiers and lack of GIs. However, I was shocked to recently discover that not a single Cadet in our squadron had even heard of the Korean War, so ignorance of history can be widespread.

The loss of the last of the Tommies was very sad, and it’s worth remembering that Florence Green, the last surviving veteran (just) of WW1, and a member of the original WRAF, died only 2 months ago, at the age of 110yrs.

Two LACWs…

I’ll check to see if RBLS are following the same commemoration strategy as RBL: our squadron is very closely allied to our local Legion, so we’ll need to support their plans.

wilf_san

ps So…1918…2018. It’s 5 years away, but that’ll pass in a blink. How will the RAF celebrate it’s centenary?
pps must add another RAF cake as a footnote…an appropriate one for the RAF Air Cadet Organisation :wink:

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How will the RAF celebrate 100 years… by disbanding, we all know its only a 100 year experiment.

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Dear Flago: I’d’ve expected more originality from an Officer of the Senior Service…and better target recognition :wink:

Steady boy…

wilf_san