Today Britain buries the last of its veterans of the Great War. It’s the end of an era – another link with the past has gone forever. But will we ever learn from the past?
Harry Patch died last month at the age of 111. A remarkable feat in itself. But Harry had been in the British Army during the horrors of the Great War and had fought at Passchendaele. He was a hero. All the men who suffered that war, whether volunteer or conscript, should be remembered with great honour and Harry symbolised the last of these men.
It seems that Harry had asked for his funeral to symbolise peace and reconcilliation – the unification of soldiers from the UK, France, Belgium and Germany stands as recognition of his wishes. All these countries that in Harry’s life time were at war not once, but twice, are now peaceful friends. But there is still war and fighting in the world. Perhaps we can all learn from an old man to live in peace. We owe him, and so many who have died before him, the peaceful lives we now live in our country.
We will remember them – it’s all we can do now.
