On the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month, 1918,
The First World War ended. By this point, there were over 37 million casualties
(both military personnel and civilians) worldwide; making World War I one of
the deadliest conflicts in history. Now, on the 11th hour of the 11th day on
the 11th month, people come together for two minutes of silence in respect of
those that have fallen. What would the world have been like without those
soldiers? Why is it important to remember our fallen heroes? And why, do we
only take the time to remember them once a year?
Remembrance Day
The First World War ended at 11am on the 11th of November in
1918, with the last shot being fired at 10:57am. Over 4 years of bloody battle
had ensued between some of the world’s greatest economic powers, including, of
course, the United Kingdom. Over 1.63 million military personnel from the UK
were wounded during these 4 years, with a further estimated 800,000 killed. It
was one of the deadliest wars in history and it shook the entire world. Now,
every 11th of November we hold a Remembrance Day, for all of those who lost
their lives or were injured. Poppies are
generally worn in the lead up to Armistice Day, another name for Remembrance
Day, in support of the fallen troops and The Royal British Legion charity.
Crowds then gather at memorials all over the country on the 11th of November,
with the most popular being at The Tower of London. People wait with bated
breath as a cannon or gun signifies the beginning of the two minute silence.
For those two minutes, we’re encouraged to think about those who lost their
lives in order to fight for our freedom. When the two minutes are up, people
begin to chatter away again, and life seems to resume as normal.
What would life be
like now?
What would life have been like without the courage of all
those who fought in World War I? Would you even be reading this blog post? It’s
doubtful. If Germany had won World War I then life would be very different now.
Experts believe that many of our rights as British citizens would have been
stripped away, along with the public lives of our country being demoralised.
There is even talk of the British economy collapsing completely, meaning that
we could have become an impoverished country. Perhaps even third world. There’s
no doubt in my mind that you certainly wouldn’t be sitting here and reading
this, if it wasn’t for those brave soldiers.
The Importance of
Remembering
So, why is Remembrance Day so important in the UK? Many
people throughout the years have tried to sabotage the day, believing it
promotes war and the suchlike. However, I don’t believe that this is the case.
We can’t change the fact that World War I happened, but we can respect and
remember those who fought for our freedom. It is vitally important that we show
our gratitude to the families of those who were lost in the war, whilst also
raising much needed funds for those who are injured in combat; this is what
your money goes towards when buying a poppy from the Royal British Legion. I do
also believe, however, that we should remember our fallen heroes for more than
just two minutes once a year. After all, these brave men and women battled for
more than two minutes in their lifetime. They should be remembered throughout
the year, for their courage and determination. Without them, there’s just no
knowing what life would be like now; although chances are, you would not have
the freedom you have today.
Please remember to give thought to our fallen heroes as
often as you can, whether that be on Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, or any day
when you have a few moments to spare.
