Although it does not have an RSL, Westbrook nevertheless ensures that days such as Remembrance Day are honored.

Last Saturday, at 11 am on the 11th of November, people gathered at the Westbrook War Memorial, next to the Westbrook Hall, for the annual service.

105 years ago the guns on the Western Front fell silent as an end came mercifully to the most destructive war in human history… at that stage.

Remembrance Day: a time to pause and reflect

Remembrance Day is a time of reflection for the millions of lives lost in a terrible war that lasted longer, claimed more lives, was more destructive and caused even greater problems for the future than any of the kings, politicians or army generals of the time had envisioned.

Given the passage of time we no longer have close personal contact with the people who died in that “war to end wars.”

However, we do knowthe suffering they experienced and the legacies of war as many “survived” the fighting only to return home scared and mentally affected for the remainder of their life.

Remembrance Day is time to reflect on the horrors of war and the amazing capacity of brave and loyal members of the armed forces to endure the horrific conditions of war they encounter.

Remembrance Day is also time to reflect on the failures of the political leaders of Europe in 1914.

Nicholas II of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, Prime Minister Asquith of Britain and France’s Prime Minister Raymond Poincare all had their reasons for engaging in war.

Not one of those countries gained anything from the war and if given the chance today, knowing the consequences, they would no doubt find a way not to take their country to war.

Remembrance Day is time to reflect on the lessons we learn, or should learn, from history.

The idea that the First World War was the war to end wars now lies in ruin as we have suffered a Second World War, the Korean and Vietnam wars and recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Were any of these wars avoidable and did they achieve the result they were fought over?

Today we are experiencing the human misery resulting from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

At 11.00am on Saturday we paused to remember the sacrifices of those who served in armed forces around the world.

We can only hope our current crop of world leaders have learnt the lessons of history from past conflicts and they find a solution to today’s political problems without resorting to any further armed conflict.

This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 16 November 2023.