Concerns from British Pacifist Group that Remembrance Day gestures do not go far enough
South Western Rail are offering free travel for veterans and serving soldiers travelling to Remembrance Sunday events, but there have been requests for this offer to be extended to a wider range of groups.
Remembrance Sunday Events will take place on the 10th November
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The Peace Pledge Union (PPU), one of the UK’s oldest pacifist organisations, has requested that South Western Railway extend their offer of free public transport for veterans and serving soldiers coming to Remembrance Sunday events, to other groups affected by war.
Whilst the group thanked the Department for Transport for offering support to veterans, Geoff Tibbs, the Remembrance Project Manager for the PPU, wants the focus of schemes like this to be on all of those affected by war. He requested that the offer of free transport be extended to “refugees from conflict zones and conscientious objectors to military service”.
The Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said “it’s only right that the rail industry pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and those who continue to protect our country.”
The Royal British Legion also supported the scheme. Lucy Inskip, the Director of the Poppy Appeal, said “The Royal British Legion is immensely grateful that the UK’s train companies continue to recognise the significance of Remembrance” through the offer of free transport for veterans and service personnel. She talked further of the benefit of enabling the Armed Forces community to “commemorate without worrying about additional personal cost”.
On Thursday, volunteers collecting for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal will also be given free travel into and out of London.
Collections take place for both red and white poppies every year in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday
The PPU wants this to also include those collecting money for white poppies, rather than just the traditional red colour. White poppies are still symbols of remembrance for all war victims, but they have a particular focus on the commitment to peace and challenging the justification for war.
This highlights the desire among pacifist groups to encourage the public to rethink Remembrance Day events. Tibbs talks about wanting to ensure that Remembrance Day is used as an “opportunity to reflect on the full human cost of war and to reaffirm a commitment to working for peace today”, rather than “celebrating armed force or glorifying war”.
White poppy wreaths will be laid in Tavistock Square, London, at the National Alternative Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday 10th November, as part of attempts to expand the pacifist message surrounding this day.
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HeadlineConcerns from British Pacifist Group that Remembrance Day gestures do not go far enough
Short HeadlineConcerns that Remembrance Day Gestures are falling short
StandfirstSouth Western Rail are offering free travel for veterans and serving soldiers travelling to Remembrance Sunday events, but there have been requests for this offer to be extended to a wider range of groups.
The Peace Pledge Union (PPU), one of the UK’s oldest pacifist organisations, has requested that South Western Railway extend their offer of free public transport for veterans and serving soldiers coming to Remembrance Sunday events, to other groups affected by war.
Whilst the group thanked the Department for Transport for offering support to veterans, Geoff Tibbs, the Remembrance Project Manager for the PPU, wants the focus of schemes like this to be on all of those affected by war. He requested that the offer of free transport be extended to “refugees from conflict zones and conscientious objectors to military service”.
The Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said “it’s only right that the rail industry pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and those who continue to protect our country.”
The Royal British Legion also supported the scheme. Lucy Inskip, the Director of the Poppy Appeal, said “The Royal British Legion is immensely grateful that the UK’s train companies continue to recognise the significance of Remembrance” through the offer of free transport for veterans and service personnel. She talked further of the benefit of enabling the Armed Forces community to “commemorate without worrying about additional personal cost”.
On Thursday, volunteers collecting for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal will also be given free travel into and out of London.
Collections take place for both red and white poppies every year in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday
The PPU wants this to also include those collecting money for white poppies, rather than just the traditional red colour. White poppies are still symbols of remembrance for all war victims, but they have a particular focus on the commitment to peace and challenging the justification for war.
This highlights the desire among pacifist groups to encourage the public to rethink Remembrance Day events. Tibbs talks about wanting to ensure that Remembrance Day is used as an “opportunity to reflect on the full human cost of war and to reaffirm a commitment to working for peace today”, rather than “celebrating armed force or glorifying war”.
White poppy wreaths will be laid in Tavistock Square, London, at the National Alternative Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday 10th November, as part of attempts to expand the pacifist message surrounding this day.
