Can the Centenary of the First World War Bring Us All Together?

Can the centenary of the First World War bring us all together? asks Matthew Rhodes from British Future …

This year’s centenary of the First World War is by definition a historic event. 100 years since the “War to end all wars” didn’t manage to – a conflict which took the lives of 16 million people across the globe – it is an appropriate time to remember and commemorate the tragedies and triumphs of this epochal and seminal event.

The impact on the United Kingdom was huge – nearly a million men killed in action and 6 million injured – mostly maimed for life. The conflict caused irreversible social changes on the Home Front, technological advances, pioneering medical procedures (including the development of plastic surgery as we know it) and of course the contribution of women to the war effort which ineluctably led to their partial enfranchisement by 1918.

Of course, Britain fought the war alongside its Commonwealth allies and dominions and arguably the war would not have been won without the massive contribution of troops from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and Kenya. And of course there was India. Still pre-partition the Indian Army was the largest volunteer army of all time – 1.5 million brave men came to the service of the “mother country” and nearly 100,000 sacrificed their lives in service for their King.

But why does this matter to us in 2014 – if at all? At British Future we have been working on understanding the importance of the centenary to modern Britain for the last couple of years and we published our report “Do Mention the War – will 1914 matter in 2014?”.

Well ahead of the start of the centenary commemorations we conducted deliberative work across the country followed by a national poll to find out what themes people thought should be emphasised during the four years. The winning message was peace and other majority messages included learning, sacrifice, reconciliation and the importance of Europe. Interestingly there was little appetite for a triumphalist celebration or concern that the centenary would be used jingoistically.

Whilst only 4 out of 10 actually know about the contribution of Commonwealth soldiers, 80% of the British public think that it’s important for integration today that “all of our children are taught about the shared history of a multi-ethnic Britain”. We cannot understand how modern Britain came into being if we don’t understand why we have become the diverse country we are today. In fact the British and Empire Army which fought the First World War a century ago has more in common, demographically, with the Britain of 2014 than that of 1914. This should give us all pause for thought, as contemporary debates about integration and social cohesion continue, especially against the backdrop of high public concern about immigration.

On 7 June three expert speakers will be discussing whether or not the centenary can bring us together at Leeds BigBookend and I would encourage you to come and take part in the debate. With the death of Harry Patch – the last Tommy – in 2009, the First World War is now passing from living memory to history. But it is only just beyond our grasp. May the next four years be the opportunity for us all to learn something more about our country and its role in the world – at the beginning of the 20th Century and even today.

Matthew Rhodes is Director of Strategy at the non-partisan think tank British Future, which focuses on identity and integration and will be chairing the event at Bookend.