A CALL to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War next year has been criticised as “inappropriate”.
MSP Liz Smith had written to councils across her constituency asking what plans were being developed to commemorate the start of the conflict in 1914.
She also called on the Scottish Government to make funds available to allow schoolchildren to visit battlefields in France.
Her requests failed to impress Alastair McLean, from Crieff, who asked: “Is it truly correct to recognise the failure of many countries to resolve issues through dialogue and enter into a war that cost millions of lives over its four-year period?
“The commencement of war is not a thing to be celebrated. Yes, remember those who were to go on and die, and the millions who were to suffer for a great many years thereafter, only to have it all repeated 21 years later on an even greater scale.
“I don’t think there is any need for taxpayers’ money to be allocated or used to form any type of action plan, but it would be better suited if schools, councils and the public concentrated on a period of information as to why and the consequences of this war and then held a national two minutes silence on the day of commencement of hostilities, 100 years on.
“This is all that is needed, not politicians looking to spend our money on fact-finding holidays, meetings or any other matter.
“Better waiting until 1918, when the country did have something to celebrate the end of hostilities but remember the suffering that followed, and the work of the services’ charities and support them now as then. I am ex-service and fully support all aspects of remembrance, not just on Remembrance Sunday, but at other times of the year.”
Ms Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, countered: “Earlier this year, when I was privileged to visit the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, not only did I learn about the organisation’s year-round preparations to provide the five million poppies and many thousands of wreaths for Remembrance services, but also about the war service given by the poppy factory’s 40 ex-servicemen, the large majority of whom are registered disabled.
“I also saw the work of children who had returned from a battlefields trip and who had subsequently written about their visit.
“Their poems, essays and drawings were very moving. Perhaps this is another reason why the Scottish Poppy Appeal continues to go from strength to strength and why recent surveys show such overwhelming support for the annual act of Remembrance.
“One of these surveys indicated that 70% of people want Remembrance Day in 2014 to include a special commemoration for the centenary of the Great War. They recognise that while 2014 will be a significant year for making decisions about our country’s future, it will also be important to look back on our past, on our shared history, and mark the anniversary of what was supposed to be the war to end all wars.”
Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for culture and external affairs, wrote to Ms Smith saying that the Scottish Government placed great importance on future generations learning the lessons of war and said they would give “full consideration” to her battlefield visit suggestion.
rburdge@thecourier.co.uk