First World War: Commemorations

Lord Stevenson of Balmacara Excerpts

Thursday 20th June 2013 Grand Committee

[Lord Stevenson of Balmacara]

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Young, of Hornsey, and all who have spoken in this debate for making it a very special moment. It has been a wonderful short debate, dealing with very important issues and it has been very moving to listen to all the points that have been made. I also thank the Library for a very good research note, which has obviously influenced a number of people’s contributions and indeed has worked into mine as well.

When the British Government declared war in 1914, they did so on behalf of the empire and not just of the UK. It is right that the forthcoming World War I celebrations recognise the voluntary participation of so many people then living in the empire and the considerable sacrifices that were made throughout the war. In the words of the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, “Our boys weren’t just Tommies—they were Tariqs and Tajinders too”. Of course, they were not just boys either, although that is another story.

As many noble Lords have said, the figures are not well enough known. As my noble friend Lady Howells said, some contributions are still not being properly acknowledged. There were some 1.5 million men from the Indian subcontinent. It is worth pointing out, as has been mentioned, that participants from the Indian subcontinent won 13,000 medals, including 12 Victoria Crosses. The Caribbean supplied 15,000 soldiers who made up the British West Indies Regiment and there were around 55,000 soldiers from Africa who mainly fought in that continent. As the right reverend Prelate reminded us, there were Gurkhas, as always. When people go to the major war graves in the Low Countries, the lasting memory that we have in these endless fields, beautifully maintained as they should be, is the moving sight of the rows of crosses, but search harder and you can find the memorials to the 47,000 troops from the Indian subcontinent who died on the Western Front. There are Sikh memorials, Jewish and Muslim graves, as well as the grave markers of members of the Chinese Labour Corps.

The centenary that we are commemorating must engage with many national and international levels. It is hoped that—as the noble Lord, Lord Parekh, said—there will be activity in many places around the Commonwealth. In our own country, given the diversity and the challenges that exist in the moment, we should use this commemoration to bring every one of Britain’s communities into some form of discussion and knowledge about the event because so many of their forebears were involved in the First World War.

Having said that, it is important that the First World War be remembered for more than the industrialisation of death that it caused. I hope that the Minister will accept that it will be important to ensure that the commemoration of the centenary is respectful, thoughtful and reflective, without in any way glorifying the nature of the war and the appalling human sacrifice that took place; a commemoration, not a celebration.

There is a huge opportunity here if we can but grasp it. The Imperial War Museum will play a pivotal role; the National Army Museum and local museums will play their parts. In addition, the Heritage Lottery Fund will give £6 million to projects marking the centenary. So it would be really good if the majority of those funds could be reserved to help local areas and communities explore their history and heritage so as to better understand the war’s impact on their communities—to create a truthful narrative, as suggested by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of London.

The Government have laid out three themes for the commemoration: remembrance, youth and education. That seems to be about right, but I hope there will also be an opportunity to reflect on why the war was waged and to recognise, as the noble Lord, Lord Bilimoria, said, that we would not have freedom today had it not been for the courageous sacrifice and service of those brave individuals then. It is important that we understand why so many Tariqs and Tajinders, as well as Tommies, were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for that ideal, and what the significance of that coming together of the empire means today and in the future.

As the noble Baroness, Lady Young, reminded us, much has been achieved in terms of knowledge and understanding of the contribution made by people from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean to the British effort in the First World War. As she also reminded us, there is much more to discover and understand about the impact of all this not only in the trenches and on the battlefields but in the outposts of empire. The human and political strands must be woven into the commemoration. I look forward to hearing how that will happen from the Minister.