Soldiers of war: Gone, but not forgotten?

Allied troops approaching Omaha Beach on "D-Day", 1944

As the two Great Wars of the 20th century fall further into the past, we can’t help but feel that Remembrance Day has, perhaps, lost some of its personal value. This year marks the 89th anniversary of the end of World War I, and as each year goes by, the number of remaining survivors of the wars is only further diminishing.

It will only a matter of time before there are no living survivors of these two tragic, historic events. When this is the case, then people’s connections to the wars will no doubt become faded.

It used to be the case that a family was remembering their lost father, brother or son who fought in the war. In future years relatives will be honouring these people as great grandfathers whom they never met. Hopefully this won’t lead to a less solemn observation of the silence, as Remembrance Day serves for us to think of all those who fought for our freedom.

Remembrance Day, previously referred to as Armistice Day, has been modernised. The commemorations now extend to include those who have served in other conflicts too, so there is no reason why we shouldn’t continue to pay our respects appropriately.

However, bracketing more recent events like the Falklands War and the war on Iraq with The Great War of 1914-1918 and World War II brings up subjective complications. Some may argue that the war currently being fought is for very different reasons than that of the two World Wars, but that is for politicians to quarrel over.

Armistice Day in Canada, 1918

Others cite that the war of today is fought in vastly different circumstances. This is a valid point: not to take anything away from the troops that are in Iraq and Afghanistan, but conditions during the Great War were far worse. And whilst the war today is fought by men who have joined the army as a career, yesterday’s war was fought by men and boys who dropped their jobs and signed up because their country needed them.

Unfortunately there is a lack of activities taking place on campus to commemorate the day. York RAG carried out collections and poppy sales on Wednesday and Friday to help the cause.

The Officer Training Corps (OTC) will honour the day with their own tribute. Simon Hallet of the OTC said: “We’re in the fields over the weekend and we’ll have a parade on Sunday, but there’ll be no parade on campus.”

We’re in the fields over the weekend and we’ll have a parade on Sunday, but there’ll be no parade on campus.
Simon Hallet, Officer Training Corps

Hallet expressed his disappointment at the poor show of respect. He said: “It’s not well honoured by the university and I think it should be. The OTC honours it well and if we weren’t away I think we’d do a parade in York.”

One York student acknowledged the importance of the remembrance, but added: “When it’s extended to other conflicts as well it takes something away from the original purpose of the day.” A valid point considering the previous name of Armistice Day applies to the end of World War I.

Another student, Joanne Rea, recalled: “I remember doing two minutes silence in school every year but I don’t think I did it last year when I was at uni.”

Perhaps this shows that the importance of the day is being lost more on the younger people of today; those of our generation are unlikely to know someone who actually fought in the war. Compare that with our grandparents, who could well have suffered the loss of immediate relatives: Remembrance Day is not so lost on them.

Gone, but not forgotten

The magnitude of the wars and what they gained for the people of today should not be taken for granted. But as long as we all take a moment to reflect on that sacrifice, we can appreciate it in our own way.

Despite the worry that the occasion is declining in participation, it is encouraging to see year on year the sight of poppy wreaths adorning memorials up and down the country. Hopefully what the memorials say rings true: Gone, but not forgotten.

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