Nearly 90 years ago, three words were carved into the side
of a striking new Portland stone memorial. They read ‘The Glorious Dead.’ For
decades to come, these words would stand as a permanent reminder of the
devastation that World War I brought upon the nation.
That stone construction became known as the Cenotaph. Today,
it still stands as a national focal point of remembrance, but its significance
has, arguably, evolved further than anyone would have imagined.
While the annual Remembrance Sunday service still takes
place at the Whitehall-based memorial, changes in society, and the impact of
post-1918 conflicts, mean that its relevance is very different today as to when
it was first unveiled in 1920.
Today, the concept of remembrance is such a complex issue
that it has become a hot topic for academics all over the world. Dr Maggie
Andrews, who is the senior lecturer in Popular and Modern History at the
University of Staffordshire, says: “Nowadays, there is almost an industry of
people writing about remembrance, and it’s become much more of an issue for
studies and universities. In the past it tended to be focused on World War I,
but now it’s interesting to look at how we move on from that.”
To address this matter further, Maggie has been working with
the Legion and the National Memorial Arboretum to organise a series of
remembrance seminars.
The aim of the seminar series is to understand more about
the meaning of remembrance, by exploring not only the traditions and history
surrounding it, but also by looking at how other cultures remember their war
dead.
Three of the four planned seminars have already taken place.
Around 40 people, from a variety of different professions and backgrounds, are
now attending each seminar, and each has their own clear view on the concept of
remembrance.
“There’s a wide
academic approach,” Maggie says. “We have got people who’ve studied psychology
who have been talking about the emotional side of remembrance, and historians
who have spoken about what remembrance was like prior to World War I. There are
also people who work in tourism – such as representatives from Poppy Travel –
because many remembrance sites are now points of pilgrimage.
“We’ve also asked people from different countries to come
and speak to us, because remembrance is handled in significantly different ways
by other countries.”
An overall aim of the seminars is also to look at what will
make remembrance relevant to future generations. Warwickshire RBL County
Chairman Philip Wilson was among those attending the most recent seminar, which
took place in September. He said: “Remembrance is personal. It can take many
shapes and forms, and can occur when we least expect it.”
These different forms of remembrance are changing all the
time. New traditions – such as the Wootton Bassett repatriation ceremony – are
gradually becoming established alongside older customs.
“There seems to have been a switch from formal to informal
forms of remembrance in recent years,” Maggie explains. “Remembrance
is changing and operating in very different parts of society.”
One of the reasons for this shift has been the increase in
new media and technology. This is a topic that Maggie has discussed in detail.
“I think the media offers space for different groups, who are slightly unrepresented
in official remembrance sometimes.” She cites the internet, in particular, as a
key player in the step towards more informal remembrance traditions.
“The internet opens up all sorts of different ways where
people can actually become the creators of remembrance and do something which
speaks quite differently to different groups of people. All you’ve got to do is
type the word ‘remembrance’ into the search bar on the YouTube website
(pictured, right) and all these different kinds of videos that have been made
by young people – generally about people who have died – pop up on your
screen.”
As the way in which we remember continues to evolve, so too
will the debate. A website has been launched for academics to publish papers on
the subject and engage in further discussion about remembrance.
There is also the possibility of holding an annual
remembrance conference in the future. From what has been learned so far, two
publications are planned. One will be a submission to an academic research
journal, and the other will a more mainstream publication – possibly a
coffee-table book filled with imagery and anecdotes that will convey the
complexity of remembrance.
Most importantly, these seminars are leading the debate
about what remembrance is and how it can be made more relevant for generations
to come.
Equally
important is that the Legion is at the forefront when it comes to educating
people about remembrance and what it means. As Philip Wilson pointed out at the
September seminar: “We’re all part of the continuum of history. The Legion is
the guardian of remembrance, and it informs people of all ages about the
importance of remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and those
who have fought and still fight for the freedoms that we enjoy today.”
