THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
During the ‘War to end Wars’ armies on both sides experienced the horrors of modern, industrial warfare,the tanks,poisoned gas and barbed wire. British dead numbered 800,000, with 20,000 losing their lives on the first day of the Somme offensive in July 1916. Thousands more returned home with bodies and minds badly harmed, and the youth, talents and promise of a whole generation were lost.
There was barely a family untouched by the conflict in some way, by the loss of father, husband, brother, friend, but at first, authorities were reluctant to create a permanent memorial to the fallen. However,public pressure was strong-there should be some memorial, some focus for the nation’s prayers and remembrance.
An army chaplain, the Rev David Railton had been moved to see a grave in France bearing a rough wooden cross and the pencilled message…An Unknown British Soldier. The idea grew that some anonymous man should symbolise and represent all the dead and the missing of the war, and an elaborate procedure was devised to ensure a body was chosen at random.No one would ever know who it was, or which regiment they served in.
Working parties were sent to the 4 main battlefields and a body exhumed at each place. The 4 soldiers were taken to British HQ and Brigadier General LJ Wyatt chosen one of them at random.The coffin was carried through the packed yet silent steets of London and laid in Westminster Abbey. The very anonymity of the Unknown Soldier meant that he belonged to no one and to everyone. He was a beloved brother, husband, friend.He fulfilled a loss and a need in so many ordinary people.
As Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon walked up tht aisle of Westminster Abbey to marry the future King George V1, she gently placed her bouquet on the tomb, a tribute to her brother, killed in 1915. Who knows-she may have been laying flowers on his grave, that is why the idea of the Unknown Soldier was so powerful. The tradition has been followed by every royal bride since. The tomb of the unknown soldier will play an important role in the nation’s viigil tonight, the centenary of the outbreak of World War One.
In memory of the men who marched away and never came home.
In memory of the 5 young men of the Gorman family who enlisted in 1914.
The USa also has an unknown soldier and this is the first time I have heard of a British one. USA is like that; take credit wherever. Also, for Americans the war was “over there” as a famous song says.
Also in America, we move on and that to a great extent is a mistake. It is also interesting to look at the numbers of civilian deaths and Russia had a horrible number of military and civilian and military deaths.
Interesting post,Rose.Thanks for your comments
I wonder how many are taking part in the “lights out” tonight?
I think there will be a great many, way. This commemoration seems to have touched something deep within people.
We have an unknown solder tomb as well and we had our ceremony this morning.my granddaughter has been selected to march with the navy next week as they hold ceremonies next week,she is very excited going to be with the PM lol
Such a terrible waste of men, w.w.1 however all wars are terrible things Maize, we lost thousands of Australian young men, who fought at Gallipoli,Egypt and France helping the imperial forces, we were part of the British Empire in those days, and we also have a tomb of the unknown soldier ….
The memoriams were held all over Australia today in every cenotaph ,to commemorate those brave warriors. to Honor the hundred years since those terrible days .. a sad but Honerable memory of those poor unfortunate men who lost their lives and came back wounded in terrible ways as my 2 great uncles did,one was killed in France and another seriously injured , never to recover, as a great many were ..
When you go home,tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today.
We will remember them. xxx