100 Years Since The Great War Was Declared

[grahamw48]

I'm saying nowt.

[Dedworth]

There's been all sorts of anniversaries commemorated 60th & 70th anniversaries of D Day, 60th anniversary of the end of WW2, Holland has a liberation day holiday in May. None are political

Lordna, the French have a socialist President was he making a political statement by attending their commemorations of the 100th anniversary?

[Terpe]

Everyone's entitled to express an opinion.
In my opinion lordna's comments are out of sync and outside of reason.

Now I'll say nowt more.

[lordna]

Correct Les

Remembrance Day 11am 11/11 & Remembrance Sunday has been held every November since 1919 to remember those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today

Nothing political about it whatsoever (except those vermin burning poppies a couple of years ago)

Not Correct actually, as the 11am, 11/11 commemorates the END of the first world war. Which is actually the point I am trying to make.

Although we do very rightly commemorate this event every year, the 100th anniversary should have also been planned for 11/11 and NOT the start of war.

What actually triggered the start of war was the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28th 1914 and NOT August 4th when Britain declared war on Germany. So it seems Britain declaring war is the event being commemorated and not the deaths of millions from all countries involved following that event. Before August 4th Serbia, Russia, France, Austria/Hungary and Belgium were already involved in the war.

This particular commemoration is only being held around Britain and Cameron last year allotted 50 billion to mark the event. Let's not forget there are still 4 years of battles to commemorate and that perhaps marking the "sabre rattling" of just Britain becoming involved may not be the most appropriate. The other countries involved in the conflict are NOT involved in this commemoration and my opinion is that the 50 billion would have been far better saved for the 11/11 2018 AND be a joint event with the other countries involved.

Let's make it clear that I AM NOT SAYING THE WAR SHOULD NOT BE COMMEMORATED.

[grahamw48]

.

This particular commemoration is only being held around Britain and Cameron last year allotted 50 billion to mark the event.


. The other countries involved in the conflict are NOT involved in this commemoration and my opinion is that the 50 billion would have been far better saved for the 11/11 2018 AND be a joint event with the other countries involved.

Let's make it clear that I AM NOT SAYING THE WAR SHOULD NOT BE COMMEMORATED.

Where on earth do you get that figure from ?

[Dedworth]

This particular commemoration is only being held around Britain and Cameron last year allotted 50 billion to mark the event. .

Gauck and Hollande commemorate 100th anniversary of World War One

On August 3, 1914, the German Empire declared war on France. One-hundred years later, the German and French presidents commemorated the event that irreversibly changed not only their countries, but the entire world.

http://www.dw.de/gauck-and-hollande-...one/a-17828582

Royals attend moving twilight ceremony to mark WW1 centenary

Members of the Belgian and British royal families, as well as other heads of state, have attended a number of events today to mark 100 years since the German invasion of Belgium, which triggered World War One.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at L'Abbaye Saint-Laurent in Liege this morning where they were received by King Philippe of the Belgians.

They then walked to the Cointe Inter-allied Memorial for a service which included wreath laying and a minute's silence. Prince William along with French President Francois Hollande, German President Joachim Gauck, Belgian Prime Minister Elio du Rupo and the King of Belgium gave short speeches

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/w...centenary.html

[les_taxi]

50 billion?

C'mon Lordna please correct such an obvious error

[lordna]

Where on earth do you get that figure from ?

Ooops! ....you're right it was 50 million, Sorry folks!

[les_taxi]

Here you go Lordna, done it for you:

In Britain, £50 million has so far been committed by the Government and National Lottery to support centenary events, although £35 million of it is for refurbishing the Imperial War Museum.

The Australian government, meanwhile, has already pledged to spend £72 million.

[lordna]

Gauck and Hollande commemorate 100th anniversary of World War One

On August 3, 1914, the German Empire declared war on France. One-hundred years later, the German and French presidents commemorated the event that irreversibly changed not only their countries, but the entire world.

http://www.dw.de/gauck-and-hollande-...one/a-17828582

Royals attend moving twilight ceremony to mark WW1 centenary

Members of the Belgian and British royal families, as well as other heads of state, have attended a number of events today to mark 100 years since the German invasion of Belgium, which triggered World War One.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at L'Abbaye Saint-Laurent in Liege this morning where they were received by King Philippe of the Belgians.

They then walked to the Cointe Inter-allied Memorial for a service which included wreath laying and a minute's silence. Prince William along with French President Francois Hollande, German President Joachim Gauck, Belgian Prime Minister Elio du Rupo and the King of Belgium gave short speeches

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/w...centenary.html

Oh blast!...looks like I got the facts wrong here too!

Still, this is interesting!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/w...-spending.html

[lordna]

This particular commemoration is only being held around Britain and Cameron last year allotted 50 billion to mark the event. Let's not forget there are still 4 years of battles to commemorate and that perhaps marking the "sabre rattling" of just Britain becoming involved may not be the most appropriate. The other countries involved in the conflict are NOT involved in this commemoration and my opinion is that the 50 billion would have been far better saved for the 11/11 2018 AND be a joint event with the other countries involved.

I must apologise for my comment above stating other countries were not involved, but this was based on a comment taken from Cameron's speech from the Imperial War Museum:-

"Our ambition is a truly national commemoration, worth of this historic centenary. I want a commemoration that captures our national spirit, in every corner of the country, from our schools to our workplaces, to our Town Halls and local communities. A commemoration that, like the Diamond Jubilee, celebrated this year, says something about who we are as a people."

Thee was no mention of the other countries partaking in this "NATIONAL" commemoration and I wrongly assumed this was the case.

I also apologise for saying 50 billion had been allocated and not 50 million and thanks to those who promptly pointed it out.

However, I have nothing more to say on this subject (Hooray you're probably all saying!)

Although I still have the opinion we should be marking the END of hostilities and not the start.

[grahamw48]

Hooray.

You just need to watch more TV.

There were multiple reports about the commemoration in other countries.

[Arthur Little]

Surprisingly - rather like the War itself - this thread has " rumbled on " ... so I'd respectfully suggest it's time to call a truce, as it would appear that the essential difference between commemoration and celebration has since been firmly established.