The BBC’s Democracy Live service has provided coverage of a debate by British Members of Parliament about the First World War Centenary commemorations.
The debate took place on the 10th September 2013.
Gareth Johnson – Conservative MP for Dartford in England – led the debate, which took place in Westminster Hall. In his opening statement, Mr. Johnson stated:
“Few wars in history have been as tragic, bloody and devastating as that war; it is perhaps strange, therefore, to commemorate the outbreak of something so awful”.
“It is right, however, that the date is marked and lessons learned from a conflict that left 16 million dead and almost every community in this country severely affected”.
“The pain and suffering that we experience from the first world war is mirrored throughout the Commonwealth, where thousands lost their lives supporting the allied forces”.
MPs shared plans to mark the conflict in their own constituencies, and discussed the recent failure of a national poppy planting scheme for the Centenary to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Educating young people during the Centenary was raised in the debate, as well as encouraging people to visit heritage sites within the UK related to the conflict.
To watch the debate, visit the BBC Democracy Live website here.
To read a transcript of the debate, click here.
Images courtesy of the BBC Democracy Live website
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News