How long are we likely to commemorate the world war events?

[SprigatitoYouAndIKnow]

Seeing the footage of the D Day today made me wonder how long this will go on for. My generation had grandparents who fought and some parents who were young children in WW2. I remember grandparents saying about their parents experienceof WW1 too. I feel lucky to grow up in a free country, but my kids don't have the same links or memories.

We don't still commemorate ancient battles that were won, or any infighting between the nations of our island. The world wars were on a much larger scale and had a very clear and evil enemy, so I would expect more collective remembering. I very much hope we don't have an equally big, or bigger, conflict in the future, so I assume that these things will go on for many years to come. Is there precedence from history?

This. My Grandfather fought (and lost his right leg) in the battle of Arras in 1917. He was 28. I’m now 53. I never met him but I think of him and what he went through for his country every year. If he hadn’t survived the war I wouldn’t be here.

For doubters he was born in 1889, my Mum was born in 1928 when he was 39 and I was born in 1971 when my mum was 43.

Three generations, 135 years. I think we’ll be remembering the wars for a while yet.

I agree with this. And I think the OP has asked a very valid question. I was considering asking it myself. How long can we keep commemorating the World Wars? It seems like ever since I've been born - almost 60 years - there has been a commemoration around 5 or 6 years out of every 10. (To do with the first and second world wars.)

The beginning of the First World War, the end of the First World War, the beginning of the 2nd World War, the end of the 2nd World War, VE day. VJ. Day D-day. The Battle of the Somme, Battle of Dunkirk etc etc. Yes, we know there were really tragic and massive events - and millions of people died/gave their lives, and we have a lot of respect and admiration for them, and feel deeply for them and their families and what they went through.

But there's only so long that we can keep commemorating them. And as a number of people have said, the youngest people now that served in the second world war are around 100. (All that served in the first world war have passed already.) So certainly in a decade, none of the people from the world wars will be alive.

We had a supper to commemorate D day in my village tonight. There were 150 free tickets. (Approximately 300 people in the village,) and there was a free buffet. Only 57 people attended. The last time there was something similar (2019, when it was 80 years since the beginning of the second world war,) there was 150 free tickets - and 140 people attended.

In 2015 (70 years since the end of the Second World War,) there were 200 free tickets.. 200 attended. Now it's dropped down into the middle 2 figures. Less than 60. I just don't think people are that interested anymore, and as has been said, the vast VAST majority of the war veterans have now passed. Another decade and these events will not raise much interest from many people. (IMHO.)

Considering kids still do Shakespeare there is no doubt it will continue and was a deadly war. It would be interesting to also go much further back.

However in a thousand years etc then I what will be taught etc? Or 5000 years?

Well I am not saying the first and second world wars won't ever be mentioned after 2034, (or shouldn't be) but I don't think the commemorations will be as big and vast. As I said, as time goes on, more and more of the veterans are passing, and people are becoming less interested. So the scale of the events will be much smaller - and less often I think. (In the coming years...)

The lesson is to not let bullies and inhuman ideology prevail. Would you rather the uk be in the appeasement and ‘turn a blind eye’ camp?

I suppose as time goes on it will be consigned to the history books as other conflicts have. It will be sad though when it is not acknowledged apart from in passing. Had the war been lost I would not be here typing this and neither would any of my family. I will always be grateful for the intervention of our forces and those of our allies.

You have a minimum of 20 more years as there will undoubtably be a big and ongoing rolling centenary. This will raise awareness, so it will then carry on capturing public attention for quite some time afterward (cf. WW1 and now).

As a pp said, Anzac Day commemorations are growing every year in Australia (and I think New Zealand), particularly among young people. It is quite something to catch the train into the city at a chilly 5 am on a public holiday and see it absolutely packed with families and young people going to attend a dawn service.

I think the ‘big birthday’ celebrations will be celebrated/remembered, hence it such a big event this year. Normally d- day isn’t remembered as much.

I think D-Day will next have a major rememberace in 20 years, 100 years then

Remembrance Day ie 11th November will go on indefinitely. There are always wars and people fighting for us. It's not that long since Afghanistan and young men and women being killed almost daily. There is hardly a year goes by without the military being in action somewhere.

Also, I think these celebrations have almost become bigger over time. I don’t remember celebrations as a kid, apart from amongst the military.

I didn’t even learn about WWIi at school - it was an o-level history subject (and do feel ignorant about key events). I think this was because it was near history - our parents were children in the WWii etc. . Guess it be like senior school kids learning about the late 80s/ 1990s at school.

Seriously, how does it affect you? It's not a communist state were you are forced to remember.

I think you should remember people's bravery that has given you freedom regardless if its 1 year or 123 years. Whether you chose to it's up to you but don't think you can erase history because it was "ages ago" 🙄

Yes, lots of young people at the dawn commemorations where I live (NZ), and many young people who travel to Europe make the effort to actually go to Gallipoli on ANZAC Day.

It is interesting. When I was young there seemed to be a cultural push to move on and put this in the past. It has been in the last 20 years there has been a greater commemoration of the world wars.
I think before those directly affected wore poppies and went to services, but it seemed a more private individual occasion in many ways. Sorry hard to explain.

What a strange and unnecessary hostile response to OP beginning a discussion about the nature of public memory and commemoration. She's not even griping about commemorative events; she's asking other how long they think that the UK as a whole will actively and frequently commemorate them, beyond the general occasional remembrance given to other key battles and events that happened longer ago.

Would you like a timeline? Funny opinions, as that sounds odd to me.

I may have found this here and I have never read a book by Terry Pratchett but I think it says it well.

Agreed.

@AlwaysGinPlease I think remembering is one thing and no doubt we will remember DDay but commemorate? Have politicians suspend campaigning to attend events? Gather together in parades? Have flags up entering villages?

Don't get me wrong, I'd quite enjoy them pausing to remember the Peasants' Revolt or the brave Saxons who tried to stop the brutal Norman invasion but were brutally cut down so much that, it is said, the ground was soggy with blood, but it is too far back now. Surely, logically, the same thing will happen to other major events that we see as important now.

Well, we've a PM who doesn't take them seriously.

Its vital we remember but more importantly, learn the lessons from these conflicts.

atm we are rapidly forgetting and repeating the mistakes of the 1930s.

International organisations set up to either keep our defence or to aid cooperation are being weakened, UN, NATO, EU.

D-Day I think there will be a huge, official centenary celebration as a kind of grand finale, and after that it will be only be any locally organised things if people want to arrange them.

Remembrance Day will rightly go on for all the foreseeable future; unless such a happy time comes that we have World Peace for so long that there is no one left with living memories of any wars or war veterans.

I hope it is still remembered and honoured. However, I think time will erase some of the personal side and it will become ‘history’ in the way other events and battles have become.

I still have a personal link, my grandparents met in the war and I heard their tales. I have cared for elderly people who have told me their memories. For me it is still living history because I have heard those first hand accounts.

My children will have had some degree of influence from the older generation. If I have grandchildren though it’s likely they will never know a living person born in those times.

I think my generation in particular has quite an important part in keeping this alive and passing it down as we are the last generation who will have been given first hand accounts of people’s experiences.

I think that November 11th and Remembrance Sunday will continue, even long after the last WW2 veterans have died. Not so sure about any large scale commemorations of other dates such as D-Day.

Well, ww2 and ww1 to a certain extent are seen as modern wars as there is recorded media from then . So people don't need to be able to physically remember.

They are also a lesson in caution too.

Remberance day in November is for all subsequent conflicts too.

Remembrance isn't just about the two world wars they are about men and women who have fought in all conflicts.
Northern Ireland, Falklands, Gulf wars, peace keeping in Bosnia, Afghanistan, are a few that come to mind.
I'm sure there are many others. While men rule this world they'll always be wars.
Old powerful men sending other people's children to war. You can guarantee their own children are nowhere near the front line.