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| First world war commemorations 'will be like Titanic anniversary' – minister | First world war commemorations 'will be like Titanic anniversary' – minister |
| (10 days later) | |
| The commemorations for the first world war will involve sombre reflection, proper consideration for the millions who died, and opportunities for a new generation to explore what happened and why. | The commemorations for the first world war will involve sombre reflection, proper consideration for the millions who died, and opportunities for a new generation to explore what happened and why. |
| But focusing the world's attention on a conflict that was supposed to have ended all wars is unlikely to pass off without controversy, as new generations question the decisions that led to millions being slaughtered. | But focusing the world's attention on a conflict that was supposed to have ended all wars is unlikely to pass off without controversy, as new generations question the decisions that led to millions being slaughtered. |
| It will also stir emotions in the countries of the former British empire. Curiously, and for the purposes of the commemoration, ministers have begun to call them part of the British "family", rather than the colonies or the Commonwealth. | It will also stir emotions in the countries of the former British empire. Curiously, and for the purposes of the commemoration, ministers have begun to call them part of the British "family", rather than the colonies or the Commonwealth. |
| First and foremost, the government has to get the tone right, and meet people's expectations. | First and foremost, the government has to get the tone right, and meet people's expectations. |
| Andrew Murrison, the minister appointed by David Cameron to take charge of the commemorations, is anticipating unprecedented public interest. | Andrew Murrison, the minister appointed by David Cameron to take charge of the commemorations, is anticipating unprecedented public interest. |
| He said the fascination shown over the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic last April would be nothing to the hunger for information and explanation about the 1914-18 war. | He said the fascination shown over the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic last April would be nothing to the hunger for information and explanation about the 1914-18 war. |
| "What has struck me is the amount of interest in this subject. We got some inkling during the Titanic weekend. If you multiply that up, you get a feel for the appetite there will be in the Great War. The war is still contemporary, even those of us who could not possibly remember it. | "What has struck me is the amount of interest in this subject. We got some inkling during the Titanic weekend. If you multiply that up, you get a feel for the appetite there will be in the Great War. The war is still contemporary, even those of us who could not possibly remember it. |
| "We still remember accounts of from our grandparents. Clearly with time it is going to fade, which is why it is important to use centenaries to underscore the legacy and to hand over the torch, which is why it is right to make young people front and centre in all of this." | "We still remember accounts of from our grandparents. Clearly with time it is going to fade, which is why it is important to use centenaries to underscore the legacy and to hand over the torch, which is why it is right to make young people front and centre in all of this." |
| Between 2014 and 2018, Murrison said, "It would be remarkable if the Great War wasn't woven into practically everything that goes on," from exhibitions to questions in school exams, from programmes on TV to academic debates. | Between 2014 and 2018, Murrison said, "It would be remarkable if the Great War wasn't woven into practically everything that goes on," from exhibitions to questions in school exams, from programmes on TV to academic debates. |
| With money from the National Lottery, funding will be available for local history projects all over the country. | With money from the National Lottery, funding will be available for local history projects all over the country. |
| The Imperial War Museum, which was established in 1917 – before the war ended – will have a pivotal role. It is organising a new digital archive that promises to be the most comprehensive collection of documents and memorabilia ever assembled. | The Imperial War Museum, which was established in 1917 – before the war ended – will have a pivotal role. It is organising a new digital archive that promises to be the most comprehensive collection of documents and memorabilia ever assembled. |
| It will open new galleries on the first world war, part of a £35m refurbishment that will be completed by next year, and is also playing a leading role in developing a new film on the Battle of the Somme. One of the bloodiest military engagements in history, there were more than one million casualties in all and some 300,000 deaths. | It will open new galleries on the first world war, part of a £35m refurbishment that will be completed by next year, and is also playing a leading role in developing a new film on the Battle of the Somme. One of the bloodiest military engagements in history, there were more than one million casualties in all and some 300,000 deaths. |
| Murrison said he imagined all the UK's great museums and cultural institutions would reflect the Great War centenary. | Murrison said he imagined all the UK's great museums and cultural institutions would reflect the Great War centenary. |
| "This is an opportunity for scholarly institutions and great museums to lead the exploration of the Great War both at a popular level but also at a scholarly level. Think of any cultural institution in this country and ask 'what is your take going to be on the Great War?' | "This is an opportunity for scholarly institutions and great museums to lead the exploration of the Great War both at a popular level but also at a scholarly level. Think of any cultural institution in this country and ask 'what is your take going to be on the Great War?' |
| "If you ask that question you get a feel for an extraordinary tapestry of things. To make this sing it needs to have the involvement of individuals and institutions and communities at every level. And every indication so far is that people really are inspired by this." | "If you ask that question you get a feel for an extraordinary tapestry of things. To make this sing it needs to have the involvement of individuals and institutions and communities at every level. And every indication so far is that people really are inspired by this." |
| The government has also been working with the BBC. | The government has also been working with the BBC. |
| "The media sets the agenda in many ways, so their advice on what will be the best way of getting the message and theme across is extremely important. It really isn't for me to second-guess BBC's programming, but I would be very surprised if it and other outlets do not feature the Great War in a major way during the four-year period. But I suspect it will be very much focused around personal human interest stories." | "The media sets the agenda in many ways, so their advice on what will be the best way of getting the message and theme across is extremely important. It really isn't for me to second-guess BBC's programming, but I would be very surprised if it and other outlets do not feature the Great War in a major way during the four-year period. But I suspect it will be very much focused around personal human interest stories." |
| However, there are bound to be differences of opinion about how the Great War is remembered, and old academic wounds will reopen as historians square up to debate the causes and conduct of the conflict. | However, there are bound to be differences of opinion about how the Great War is remembered, and old academic wounds will reopen as historians square up to debate the causes and conduct of the conflict. |
| Which is why Cameron appointed a committee to help the government navigate its way through the commemorations. | Which is why Cameron appointed a committee to help the government navigate its way through the commemorations. |
| Known as the First World War centenary advisory board, its members include the author Sebastian Faulks, historians Professor Michael Burleigh and Hew Strachan, and military grandees Air Chief Marshall Jock Stirrup and Lord Guthrie, both former chiefs of the defence staff. | Known as the First World War centenary advisory board, its members include the author Sebastian Faulks, historians Professor Michael Burleigh and Hew Strachan, and military grandees Air Chief Marshall Jock Stirrup and Lord Guthrie, both former chiefs of the defence staff. |
| Reports have suggested tensions over whether to celebrate or commemorate certain occasions, and how much sensitivity the UK should show towards Germany. Murrison said nobody should be surprised that there were disagreements. | Reports have suggested tensions over whether to celebrate or commemorate certain occasions, and how much sensitivity the UK should show towards Germany. Murrison said nobody should be surprised that there were disagreements. |
| "The advisory group was set up with a large number of people who are experts and have a great deal to bring to this. They are a very diverse and disparate group. We want them to be creative and they were deliberately chosen for that purpose. | "The advisory group was set up with a large number of people who are experts and have a great deal to bring to this. They are a very diverse and disparate group. We want them to be creative and they were deliberately chosen for that purpose. |
| "I hope there will be debate over what we should do and how it should look. It would be pretty pointless if we didn't have that sort of dialogue. I am looking for ideas, windows on to this that we had previously missed. I am not sure there is a great deal of dispute." | "I hope there will be debate over what we should do and how it should look. It would be pretty pointless if we didn't have that sort of dialogue. I am looking for ideas, windows on to this that we had previously missed. I am not sure there is a great deal of dispute." |
| The first of six state occasions will take place on 4 August next year with a commemoration service that will include delegations from Germany, and all the Commonwealth countries involved in the conflict. | The first of six state occasions will take place on 4 August next year with a commemoration service that will include delegations from Germany, and all the Commonwealth countries involved in the conflict. |
| "It seems to us appropriate we should mark exceptionally, and unusually, the beginning of the conflict. We like to commemorate the end of the conflict but the Great War is different and unique in modern history and it is appropriate that we should give some thought as to why Britain and her family went to war." | "It seems to us appropriate we should mark exceptionally, and unusually, the beginning of the conflict. We like to commemorate the end of the conflict but the Great War is different and unique in modern history and it is appropriate that we should give some thought as to why Britain and her family went to war." |
| But that is not a debate in which ministers intend to play a direct role. Murrison believes that should be left to the academics who, he predicts, "will want to explore the counter-intuitive, or perhaps some of the mythology" around, for instance, the idea that the war was prosecuted by bungling generals leading brave soldiers, as in the phrase "lions led by donkeys". | But that is not a debate in which ministers intend to play a direct role. Murrison believes that should be left to the academics who, he predicts, "will want to explore the counter-intuitive, or perhaps some of the mythology" around, for instance, the idea that the war was prosecuted by bungling generals leading brave soldiers, as in the phrase "lions led by donkeys". |
| "It is for historians and academics to do a great deal of the heavy lifting in terms of debating the background to the war. It would be wrong for the government to insist on a particular narrative." | "It is for historians and academics to do a great deal of the heavy lifting in terms of debating the background to the war. It would be wrong for the government to insist on a particular narrative." |
| Strachan agrees ministers should not be asked to give answers, but he believes it would be wrong for government to exempt itself from the debate. | Strachan agrees ministers should not be asked to give answers, but he believes it would be wrong for government to exempt itself from the debate. |
| A foretaste of the arguments likely to erupt came from Guthrie, who told the Guardian: "It was a totally unnecessary war. We slid into it unnecessarily. There were horrifying casualties. It was not the soldiers' fault, it was the politicians." The way that Europe was "carved up" in the Treaty of Versailles at the end of war, he said, was "disgraceful". | A foretaste of the arguments likely to erupt came from Guthrie, who told the Guardian: "It was a totally unnecessary war. We slid into it unnecessarily. There were horrifying casualties. It was not the soldiers' fault, it was the politicians." The way that Europe was "carved up" in the Treaty of Versailles at the end of war, he said, was "disgraceful". |
| However, Murrison insists the public will be less engaged with the big questions, and will prefer to focus on the local. "What really interests people is human interest stories. It is going to be the history of the Great War played out at that intimate level. It is going to provide the hallmark of the anniversary." | However, Murrison insists the public will be less engaged with the big questions, and will prefer to focus on the local. "What really interests people is human interest stories. It is going to be the history of the Great War played out at that intimate level. It is going to provide the hallmark of the anniversary." |
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