Remembrance

Today is Remembrance Sunday in the UK (and other countries), which this year coincides with Remembrance Day itself, when at 11 a.m. we stand for two minutes in silence to remember and honour the war dead of all conflicts.

We wear the Poppy as a symbol of our respect and to help service men and women who need our support. One of my favourite commentators, Matthew Parris, has written movingly about the symbolism here.

We mark it at this time because at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the armistice marking the end of World War I was signed near Compiegne in France. Twenty million soldiers and civilians had died.

My grandfather was one of them. I have the telegram sent to my grandmother. The first time I opened it and realised what it was, my hands shook and tears ran down my face uncontrollably. This 90-year-old piece of paper seems to harbour the shockwaves and fear from my grandmother’s hands.

What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

Wilfred Owen

And still we go to war. Still human beings all over the world come home in body bags, come home physically and emotionally ruined, or don’t come home at all. Still civilians, including children, are killed and maimed.

I happen to believe that there are some just wars. I believe that World War Two was a just war. Iraq? The voices of dissent before the invasion told us there were no weapons of mass destruction. They told us what would happen in the longer term.

And many political commentators say it is now inevitable that the US will soon declare war on Iran. Dear God, someone has to be the first to stop fighting.

But although today is inevitably about politics, it is mostly for remembrance. The questions must take second place to the bravery and sacrifice of the fallen. To mark Remembrance Day 2007, I have made this short video commemorating all those who have given their lives for their countries.