The City will never forget the lessons and sacrifices of the First World War
Today marks the 100th anniversary of Britain entering World War One. At a time when geopolitical flashpoints in the Middle East, eastern Europe and elsewhere are in the news, this seems like an apt moment to reflect on the lessons of the past.
The Great War resulted in the tragic deaths of an estimated 17m soldiers and civilians. It also led to the map of Europe being redrawn. The sacrifices made by people across the globe during this conflict should never be forgotten.
The Square Mile will be playing its part in commemorating the centenary. A fascinating exhibition – Emergency! 1914 – is already open to the public at the London Metropolitan Archives, with another focusing on personal stories from the war opening today at the Guildhall Library. Programmes at the Barbican Centre and the Museum of London are also still to come.
Tonight, Tower Bridge, The Monument, Mansion House and other buildings across the City will be turning off their lights from 10pm until 11pm to mark the outbreak of war. I urge businesses and residents to join in the national Lights Out event by leaving on a single light or candle for this shared moment of reflection – echoing the famous words of the then foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey in 1914: “The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”
I will be paying my own tribute this morning at Glasgow Cathedral – at a service following the end of the Commonwealth Games – and at a candlelit vigil at Westminster Abbey later tonight. In a few weeks, I will also travel with members of the City’s Livery Companies to Ypres – a Belgian town, but a British national shrine.
Of course, the world has changed immeasurably since the beginning of the twentieth century. As David Cameron outlined in his speech on the subject last year, the development of the European Union – alongside Nato – has helped to secure the longest period of sustained peace in the continent’s history, notwithstanding recent tensions. This has meant that the nature of the threats facing London and the UK has changed considerably over the past century. Cyber security is an increasingly significant challenge.
The armed forces will, however, always be on the front line, and the City is incredibly proud of its links with all three branches of service. We cherish the historic connections between Livery Companies and individual units, as well as the partnerships between City employers and reservists. Last month, we were fortunate to celebrate our founding ties with the Royal Marines – first recruited in the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company in 1664 – when they marched through the Square Mile on their 350th anniversary. They truly are a credit to the forces and this nation.
On this momentous anniversary, therefore, we should remember those who gave their lives in the defence of this country and who, in doing so, brought about our present. After all, as the famous maxim states, “those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it”.