World War One Remembered from the Battlefield

of 4th August 1914, the Prime Minister and his colleagues gathered

here in the Cabinet room at Number Ten Downing Street. Earlier that

day, Germany had invaded Belgium, Britain had responded with an

ultimatum back down by 11pm on face a declaration of war. The Minutes

ticked by, there was no response from bore main, with the first chime

of Big Ben, Britain, in the Prime Minister's words, was on the eve of

horrible things. Good evening from West Minster

Abbey, where later tonight, a be held to remember the millions who

lost their lives in the First World War, the conflict which began

exactly a century ago, at 11 o'clock This evening,

there will be other services and commemorations, some large, some

small, here in the UK and abroad. And we'll be joining some of them

live, as the nation comes together and lights go out across the

country to mark this anniversary. This was a conflict which claimed

more than one million British and Commonwealth lives, which created

200,000 widows, which deprived While it's true that the Great War

is now beyond living memory, the scale of the losses

and the depth of the suffering still have the power to resonate

in our lives a century later. much, the contribution of so many

Commonwealth forces. Representatives there of dozens of

Commonwealth nations and territories in the service and the cathedral.

Also this morning, in Kent, in the south-east of England, Prince Harry

unveiling the new Memorial Arch there. There was a military parade,

which followed the route of millions of soldiers who came through

Folkestone. That was their route, on their way to France, a century ago.

And across the Channel, in Belgium, this morning the duek and duch Duke

and Duchess of Cambridge. Prince William was at a service. The peace

we here enjoy together, as Allies and partners, does not simply mean

no more bloodshed. It means something deeper than that.

The fact that the presence of Germany and Austria are here today

and that other nations, then enemies, are here too, bears

testimony to reconciliation. We salute those who died to give us

their freedom. We will remember them.

A short while ago William and Catherine travelled to the military

cemetery. In a short while, the Duke

and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will make their way to

the St Symphorien Military Cemetery us, in a short while, the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will make their way to the

cemetery. They recommended the cemetery at St Symphorien for very

good reasons - historically very important. It is though, the resting

place of British Commonwealth and notably German soldiers.

It does have a special quality to it and of course it is a strikingly

tranquil place. If you have ever visited, it is really one of the

most special places you could experience. Among those taking place

th there this evening Gareth Malone and his children's choir.

Well, later this evening, we will be live here at Westminster Abbey.

The Abbey will gradually move from light into darkness until just

one candle remains at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, which will be

extinguished at 11 o'clock, marking the exact moment war was declared.

My colleague Sian Williams is in the Abbey, as final preparations

member will hold a candle. They will all be extinguished, just one flame

will remain by the graif of The Grave of the Unknown Warrior. This

is a serviceman, whose name we never knew and whose remains were brought

back here to rest alongside monarchs and poets and politicians. Normally

the stone is surrounded by poppies. Today, it is surrounded by fresh

flowers because this will be a service of reflection. These flowers

are what you would have seen in British gardens in 1914. This has

been a place and a source of comfort for people who have lost those they

love in war. Tonight, and at 11pm, it will be a national and

international focus for contemplation, as we see the single

flame extinguished and we all remember the start of war, a century

ago. It does promise to be a memorable

and a moving service. I should say, the evening not exclusively devoted

to these big official events. This evening is not exclusively

devoted to official events. The First World War affected every

town, village and workplace in the United Kingdom, and today people

are gathering at war memorials in churches and in town and village

squares around the country. In Burnley, they will be remembering

more than 4,000 men and women from that one town who died, a quarter

of all men eligible to serve. local schoolchildren have been

laying crosses. I know about Alfred Smith. I felt

sad, but a different feeling that I can't describe because he jumped on

a grenade to save everyone else. Just a sense what have children in

Burnley have been saying. They've been part of a special project. It's

nice to be able to see them taking part. Of course, many more taking

part in events as well. We'll also be joining people in

Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff and also in Glasgow for their candlelit

commemorations and services. The distinguished historian

Professor Margaret MacMillan, an Her great-grandfather was

David Lloyd George, who became Author Sebastian Faulks,

whose novel Birdsong has, for many people, brought alive

the individual sacrifices and tragedies

of the First World War. And historian and film maker

David Olusoga. the evening - what are we looking

ahead to here? I mentioned the abbey and the very special ceremony too in

Belgium. They have been carefully planned, these events, they are

meant to deliver a very strong message. For you, what is that

message? Is it remembrance, is it respect? A mix of remembrance,

respect and great sadness because you look back at the First World War

and think what a waste it all was and how it could have been easily

avoided. I think the mood is very much of reflection, sadness, a sense

that it's something we ought to remember. For you? All of those

things and tonight in Westminster Abbey the word the pen any tans.

-- penitance. Had it been handled better by the can British diplomats

and all the other competing powers, these terrible four years might have

been avoided. That is a controversial note to start off on.

One of the things we may talk about is the origins - which people cannot

agree on. We'll come back to that in a moment. This evening is about what

for you? The beginning of four years in which we can contemplate and

debate among ourselves the biggest event of the 20th century. The event

that made the modern world and that cost this country the servicemen. It

is a pivotal moment that changed us on a family level and international

level. There was a lovely moment, well there were lots in the service

in Glasgow. I would like to show viewers this. They may not have seen

it earlier on. This is where a candle of peace and

hope was passed on to a new generation. What we had was a series

of gifts, if you like, candles given to children of the local Glasgow

boy's and girl's brigade and to the Sunday school.

There was a very powerful symbolism to it. Indeed, one of the clergy men

who took part and David Cameron was watch - one of the great themes was

about this happening over of responsibility to a younger

generation to remember. Making sure that the youth of today realises

fully what The Great War was all about and of course n this context,

David, you especially because of your expertise here, the

Commonwealth element was very strong in this service. It was devised to

tell people and to remind people of the sacrifice of Commonwealth forces

in that war. And that's been the wonderful thing about today. We

began the commemorations of the First World War on day one -

remembering the Commonwealth. Not adding it on as an afterthought.

With the Commonwealth, the people from all over the world, to help

fight against Germany and her Allies. I don't think that would

have happened 50 years ago. It is fair to say that. It is a theme

which has always been there for studenteds of The Great War --

students of The Great War, but maybe not as predominantly as it is today.

They should be complimentary to one and other. Glasgow was always going

to have a Commonwealth focus. And to make sure that no Commonwealth

country who gave so much - I mean think of Newfoundland, which was

almost defined by what happened and this should be complimented by what

happens this evening about those who met in war, now meet in peace. It is

about young people, which is why it is so wonderful that Prince William

and Kate will be there and then this evening, Westminster Abbey, the

vigil, as I say and a degree of breast-beating as well as

commemoration and winding the clock back to the country we were 100

years ago. From the historian's perspective - why is it important

and we look back to lessons - why is it important that we today part of

this major series of events and that people are clearly thinking this is

something that must absolutely be remembered and must be noted? I

think the First World War is a defining moment in the history of

the #209 century and our own -- of century. Things are different after

1918. Europe has spent itself down. It has torn itself to pieces. It has

depleted its wealth. The hold on the empires is beginning to slip. New

empires are arising. The roots of fash sism are laid in this period.

We look back and we can see that it creates conditions for so much that

thenment co-s and so much that still -- that comes and so much that still

affects our lives. Are those lessons clearly taught in schools today? Do

history lessons reflect the lessons of the First World War or not?

Historians never think they do enough. What is so good about this

discussion is it will move beyond just particular impressions of the

battlefields, for example, which are strong among school children in

Great Britain, to exploring the war, to encourage others to understand

that the great debates about the war, as it should be. The more we

learn, the more we can have a sense of how there may be parallels with

our own world. You mention St Symphorien and mention that the

services today are all complimentary. Why don't we pay a

visit to Belgium, because Sophie Raworth is there. She has kept an

eye on people who have been arriving and she will tell us more about the

event itself. The graves of both German and

Commonwealth soldiers, in almost equal numbers here.

The tall trees that dominate their final resting place, normally it is

so quiet here that the only sound is birdsong. This evening St Symphorien

will be filled with music of another kind - 500 guests are here tonight.

They are being joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, David

Cameron t king and Queen of the Belgians and the Irish President.

They are here to commemorate this centenary. 100 years on, this is

very much about reconciliation. It is a shared Anglo--German event.

Music, readings, poetry. All in English and in German. Among those

performing here this evening is the actor Eddie Redmayne. Good evening.

Welcome. It is an extraordinary cemetery

this, isn't it? There's a wonderful atmosphere. It is completely unique.

I have been to war cemeteries and it's much more sort of fluid and

incredibly beautiful and something about today when we have been

rehearsing and the sun has been shining. It feels so at odds with

the images we are used to hearing about from the war. And the guests

are starting to take their seats here behind us. You are the first to

be reading tonight. Tell us about the poem. I am reading from a cycle

of poems by A Houseman. Called a Shropshire Lad. The poems were

popular in the accept onned world war and into -- in the Second World

War. They talk about a youth and then mortality and, I suppose the

idea that we only have one life and, as the First World War showed, it

can be cut short very quickly. It is about living that life to the full.

I am very privileged to be here. It with us a poem that was familiar,

wasn't it, to very many of the men who came and went to war? It was. It

has moments of great hope and moments of high energy. It's been -

I suppose the song-like nature has been popular among composures. My

piece specifically, the part we have chosen is about a man sitting on a

hill in the summer loorksic the one behind -- in the summer looking at

what is behind. There is a battle and it is very

simple and beautiful. You will read it right here in front of these

grave stones. A lot of people will remember you because you played in

Birdsong. You were the lead part. You did a lot of work, a lot of

research. You are very familiar. You know a lot about it already. The

great thing about my job is you get to immerse yourself in the world and

what you are playing and particularly with Birdsong, it was a

major moment in our history that I knew embarrassingly little about. It

was an extraordinary lesson for mesmt asking soldiers what they know

about the First World War relates what it is like for them. It was an

amazing experience. When we shot in the heat, a lot was fought in the

baking heat anded that, when we were shooting, I remember we were hot.

Seeing these guys in this extraordinary heat. It has been, I

don't know how they did it. It will be an extraordinary evening.

What does it mean to you personally? Do you know what - it is a great

privilege. One of the pieces being read by one of the soldiers is about

a man who fought in the war coming back a year later and he came back

and he was at the unknown grave and these white butterflies were flying.

He talked about how he felt it was the souls of the dead soldiers. It

was extraordinary. As I watched the rehearsal today, three white

butterflies went. It is the most... I hope it will be a wonderful

evening. I am sure it will be. Thank you for having me. Many of the

member buried here were among the earliest casualties of the war.

The town of Mons is just a few miles from here, and it was

there on the 23rd August ? just 19 days after the declaration of war -

that British and German troops fought the first major battle.

Dan Snow has been retracing the Battle of Mons through

They still kept marching over their dead.

We just cut 'em to grass, cut 'em to pieces.

When the British soldier George Singleton caught sight of German

troops massing outside the town of Mons in Belgium, he couldn't believe

He was looking at just a portion of a large German army, well over

100,000 strong, outnumbering the British two to one.

The Germans had invaded Belgium on the 4th of August.

In response, the British made their way to

They reached the town of Mons on the 22nd August.

The job of the British battalions was to hold the line

So four divisions of the British Expeditionary Force

In 1914, the British Expeditionary Force consisted of hardened

They were confident they could take on the German threat.

But senior British commanders appeared to misunderstand

There were reports coming in that the German army

approaching them was much, much larger than had been expected,

but the British generals didn't appear to fully appreciate this.

Few of them can have imagined that in less than 24 hours

their men would be caught up in a full-scale battle right

along here in which many hundreds of them would be killed or wounded.

The British inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans.

But the huge numbers of enemy troops quickly began to overwhelm them.

At the Nimy railway bridge Lieutenant Maurice Dease,

of the 4th Royal Fusiliers, had just two machine guns

to hold off the massive German advance.

The machine gun units were an obvious target

for enemy fire, and Dease's men were all killed or wounded.

He was hit several times but managed to crawl to

a second machine gun and opened fire with that until he too was killed.

The British fought on desperately, but they were forced to retreat.

As the battalions left, Private Sidney Godley

Godley knew manning the machine gun would almost certainly lead to his

own death, or his capture, because the Germans were taking prisoner as

they advanced, and yet he continued to put down covering fire for his

friends for as long as he possibly could.

As a tribute to their courage on that day both Lieutenant Dease

and Private Godley were awarded the first Victoria Crosses of

relatives of men who are buried here.

Andes and he is buried here. The war was over so quickly. Some of the

first casualties of the British in World War I. And also there's

Germans here that were fighting on the other side.

There is a man who won the Iron Cross. Extraordinary bravery he

showed. He swam across the riff tore try and get the -- across the river.

What is interesting, different to other events I have covered, because

it is a long time ago, we are not talking about the British, what the

British achieved, perhaps like we do at D-Day. We are talking about all

of them and what is fighting. They were fighting for those around them.

And it is now we are far enough away, we are not talking about the

politics that got them there. The extraordinary thing about this

cemetery, there is a British and German soldier buried side by side.

Tell us about your uncle who is buried here. You have never been

here have you? I have never been here before. I was aware he was

killed on the very first day of the war. I knew he was buried somewhere

around here I was not until this celebration was announced that I

discovered it was at this really beautiful cemetery. It is simply

glorious and it's been so well looked after. He was your uncle. He

was my uncle. It is remarkable for me, because I had been aware that he

had died, but I hadn't been aware that my grandmother was not told,

not known that he had died until September, 1916 because his body

wasn't found and he was not a prisoner of war. And it wasn't until

a prisoner who came out of a prisoner of war camp and went to

Switzerland wrote her a letter that she then... Read me the words then.

It is so moving what is said. "From prisoner of war camp in German... He

was to brave and exposed himself too much, he received a rifle shot in

the head, which injured his brain. He lived but a few moments, in which

he said, "carry on and then dropped his head and died." I buried his

sword, revolver, maps, et cetera, after ascertaining that life was

extinct. Amazing to have much extraordinary letters written at

that time. You have wonderful medals, don't you? They belonged to

my brother, who is a proud keeper of them. My mother left them to him.

And... And they belonged to your great, great uncle? Yes, they were

both in World War I. My grandfather always told me that his brother was

lost in Flanders and never had a grave. I was pretty amazed, about

eight years ago, having discovered the Commonwealth war grave. Your

grandfather was so upset? Talking about him, tears would well in his

eyes. He didn't keep his own medals, but kept his own brother's. What a

shame he didn't keep them! You have been here a few times? I am amazed

what a beautiful place it is. It will be an amazing evening this

evening. Dan Snow, you have a key role in it all. I am overseeing it.

I have a small role. I am introducing all the other amazing -

we have actors. We saw Eddie Redmayne earlier. We have military

music, of course and we have descendants of the people buried

right here, reading out letters, with a personal link to those

people. The key focus here is it is both British and German. It is very

exciting. You hear a lot of German being spoken this evening. It adds

something quite different. Thank you for coming in and talking to me this

evening. Let's give you an idea of what will come up shortly because

this is the scene - now this is the entrance to St Symphorien Military

Cemetery. And here they are, waiting for the arrival of the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge and David Cameron, who will be arriving here

shortly. They will be here to greet the guests as they come. The young,

little girl, who we cannot see in shot, but will present the Duchess

with flowers. She is a daughter of a gardener. A tribute to the hard work

of the gardeners who work here. And, shortly after that, many of the

other dignitaries will be arriving and taking their places. The stands

here, behind me, are already filling up. Very many dignitaries and local

people, local Belgians, who have been invited here tonight and guests

from Germany, Britain and descendants who are waiting for the

event, which will start at 7. 30pm. 100 descendants, who are both

British and German. Although it has proved to be harder to track down

some of the German relatives. As many as they could find they invited

here. The German President will arrive and the King and Queen of the

Belgians and the President of Ireland.

It is inevitable that commemorations of war - and this is certainly true

of the First World War - tend to focus on those who fought,

the men and women on the frontline, and those who never returned.

The army of civilians who supported the war effort - performing vital

And the impact of the war on civilians, the disruption

When the Germans invaded Belgium, some 1.5 million Belgians fled

200,000 found themselves refugees in Britain.

Dr Leon Le Dune is the son of one of those who were welcomed here.

Britain, when he was young, was a very happy one. The day that my

family found that they had to flee from their home because it was as

abrupt as that, was etched on their minds and my grandmother and my

father, in particular, would speak of it to me.

On the morning of the 24th August 1914,

And they kept hearing what they thought was thunder.

And this thunder was really becoming quite alarming and they didn't

know what to make of it, when suddenly there was

was confronted with the surreal sight

of a Scottish soldier in a kilt standing in the doorway

and saying "Get out, get out, you're in the front line."

As the war continued, thousands of Belgian refugees,

including the Le Dunes, found sanctuary in Britain.

Wounded soldiers from the Belgian army worked in factories across

the UK producing ammunition for the British soldiers on the front line.

Dr Leon's uncle, Edmund, was ordered to come

to oversee the work of the munitions factory in Birtley, County Durham,

in the purpose-built town of Elisabethville, named

Elisabethville consisted of a closed space that was protected

by a high fence, large enough to house 6,000 Belgians.

Wooden bungalows had been constructed,

They had coke stoves, they had flush toilets, which were unheard of in

The colony - for that is what it was - had its own police force.

It had its own hospital, it had its own school.

It was an entirely self-contained community.

It was a phenomenon, really, in the midst of completely

When Armistice was declared, the majority of Belgians returned home.

Going home was not easy - the villages

and towns they had left behind were ravaged by the four years of war.

In Birtley, only a handful of Elisabethville residents

Edmund Le Dune had suffered a fatal accident in the munitions factory,

My grandfather said, "England is our home,

Besides, Edmund is here, and that was the thing that finally

decided them to make England their home.

the story we are telling tonight and a story of Belgian refugees there.

The Belgium problem - if I can put it like that. When there was the

ultimatum after Belgium had been invaded - how did it resonate with

people? I think the German invasion of Belgium was one of the things

that tilted British opinion. Belgium was neutral.

And those pictures and there were many of refugees, of this poor

little country, enveloped by this huge army shifted British favour

into intervention. The film told a story of a community which had moved

on block - its own little town, which was separate from local

communities, and yet, you know, what we had there was someone talking

about it in very constructive and positive terms because they had been

rescued, in effect. What was it about the story that tells us

something about people's wider experience? I think that Belgium was

helpful to the average British man and woman in the street. People who

would soon be caught up in this war. It gave them a focus. It was

difficult for people to understand the completing claims of Austria,

Hungary over the Balkans, for instance. Politicians had foreseen

Belgium being a problem. Germany planning for many years through

Belgium and the British Cabinet was evasive about all. This they thought

if the Germans went through the south of Belgium they could finesse

that. If they use it as a transit, that would be OK. They found many

ways in which they might not have to go to war if Belgium were invaded by

Germany. For the average person, here was an outrage, even the German

Chancellor said, we think we have breached international law. I think

it was important, therefore, for the man and woman, who was to be

involved - the British person in the war - here was something they could

identify with. That identification, was it, how powerful was it? Did it

happen straight away, David? There are two elements. There's the

breaching of international war and the nature of the invasion. Very

quickly the German army begins to display a brutality which plays into

the hands of propagandas and loses control of itself. There's the

element that the British and other countries admired the fact that the

Belgium defence, by the Belgium army, of their homeland, was pretty

brave and impressive, up against weapons of which the world had not

seen before. Let's talk more about the events in St Symphorien, because

that is where this evening's first major event is taking place. We have

the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and the Prime Minister

- they have arrived. There's the official welcoming party. The event

will start in about 15-20 minutes' time. Earlier this afternoon, the

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their private visit to the cemetery,

away from the cameras and they were able to appreciate its unique

history. Really it does have a special story. They were able to

reflect quietly on the lives of the young men from both sides, British

and Commonwealth and German, buried in this cemetery.

Almost a century after the Battle of Mons,

the cemetery of St Symphorien in Belgium is a unique reminder of

Built in 1917, while war was still raging in Europe,

this tranquil space is the result of the Germans, the Belgians

and the British working together in a spirit of common humanity.

This great obelisk designed by the Germans stands

at the heart of the cemetery and it reads "in memory to

the German and English soldiers who died at the Battle of Mons."

And from the very beginning, there was an understanding that

the graves of both nations would be treated with equal respect.

In 1916, the German army approached a local landowner,

German and British casualties had been buried

in makeshift graveyards, and the Germans wanted to give them

their own official military cemetery.

Houzeau De Lehaie agreed to offer the land for free.

The German designers combined British and German influences.

The trees echo the Teutonic tradition of woodland cemeteries.

The flowers follow the English custom of gardens of remembrance.

284 German and 229 British and Commonwealth soldiers are

commemorated here, including Captain Kenneth James Roy

of the 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment.

Captain Roy was 37 when he died just a few miles away from here,

in hand-to-hand combat on the road to Mons. And like so many who

died in the Great War, we know very little about the kind of man he was.

And now Captain Kenneth Roy, killed at the very start of the

Great War, lies here in this cemetery side by side with a German,

Reinhold Dietrich, who died in October 1918,

This place of memory and remembrance,

made possible by Belgian generosity, created by the Germans

and cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, shows that

joined here by two people who will be performing here later on this

evening, Gareth Malone, the choirmaster and Molly, who is 12.

What have you been doing? Why are you here? We have written a song to

commemorate World War I. It is called "Stand up, Be Proud." You

wrote it. You have written this amazing song. You came one the

lyrics and before today you only performed in front of your mum and

some friends, haven't you? Yes. It has been an amazing experience. It

is not just you. Who are you performing with? I am performing

with five other verial leapted singer-songwriters. -- very Talented

singer-songwriters. It is a wonderful song. The thinking was

linking the younger generations with this history 100 years ago. It is

about reconciliation and having young people at the heart of today

is very important. Molly, I am very proud of her - she has written a

beautiful song and will sing a solo. When we started they knew nothing

about World War I. We took them to Folkestone where the troops went off

to cross the Channel from Britain and

to cross the Channel from Britain about World War I. You found out

some history? I found out my great, great granddad was a dispatch rider.

I felt proud and want to commemorate this song to him. It is an amazing

evening for you. You have been in the tent, meeting the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge and the Prime Minister was there. And you will

perform in front of them. Are you nervous? I am very nervous, but very

excited. I cannot wait to do it. I know it is wonderful because I have

heard it. Congratulations! Very good luck tonight. Thank you very much.

Let's look at the scenes which are going on outside here. The

beginnings of the welcoming party there. You can see the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Prime Minister and the Culture

Secretary welcoming the first of the guests who will be arriving. We have

representatives from Canada, from France, we have the Canadian

minister of veterans' affairs of Canada.

Julian Fantino and there are two Canadian soldiers who are buried

here in this cemetery. The Canadians who were not involved in the early

battles, but were very much here at end of the war, when the Canadians

were responsible for taking back Mons from the Germans. Two Canadian

soldiers lost their lives here. One of the Canadian soldiers who are

buried here is said to have died just a few minutes before armistice.

There you can see, in front of the royal welcoming party, the big white

stone. That is a stone that says, "Lest we forget." It is a paving

stone, placed here for this event today. It is the first of several

stones, commemorative stones, that the Government and the Commonwealth

War Graves Commission have come up with together and that will be laid

at various sites across Europe over the next few years. As these

commemorations continue. And arriving shortly, there he is, is

the Prime Minister of Belgium. A man who knows it very well. He started

his political career here and he was the Mayor of Mons as well. Belgium,

as you heard suffering very heavily during the war. Invaded 100 years

ago today and so many civilians who lost their lives. More civilians, in

fact, than soldiers were killed. 6,000 were executed by the Germans.

After him, we will have Jose Manuel Barroso and then the President of

Germany, who will be arriving shortly as well. Here in the studio

with me I have two people who know all about this cemetery. Well one

who knows an awful lot about it. You have studied this very hard, haven't

you? You have worked very hard over the last year to find out the

history of St Symphorien. What a history you have come up with. Yes,

indeed. There are many things about this cemetery we didn't know this

time last year. In the process of preparing we have uncovered some

interesting things about the formation of this cemetery. There

was a plan A. There was an alternative site which the Germans

earmarked for the site for the men who were buried at Mons. That fell

through because of difficulties. They chanced upon a man one day,

walking across his land. A man from the German army. He said he liked

the look of that spot and could they build a cemetery here. The rest is

history. It was very much a German idea. A German officer came up with

this idea in 1916. This land was given to him on the basis that both

the British and the German dead were treated we qual dignity and respect.

-- treated we qual dignity and respect? That is right.

We have talked about Belgium and the occupation. It was very important it

was a donation rather than being sold. We can see the President of

Germany who is arriving. He was with the French President

yesterday in France. And, it is an extraordinary event that is taking

place here in this cemetery and a real, I suppose, a tribute to the

work that you have done. Absolutely. It is also an expression of the

cemetery itself. The cemetery is really a symbol of reconciliation

and the event has very much been inspired by this place. Very

special, very unique am biance here. The combination of the influences

expresses the spirit with which tonight's events will unfold. There

are about 100 relatives of the men here, but a lot of these people had

no idea their relatives were here until they were contacted by

researchers working with you, who told them with their dead relatives

were. It is incredible. We are finding it more and more. Over this

period people are discovering what their ancestors did. It is a special

moment being able to bring a family to a graveside of a relative they

never knew. Maybe they have a photo and maybe knew some details of their

lives. It is a connection felt. You are a historian and you have spent

some time here. You walk around the graves and the ages are so young -

so many young men who died. A lot of these men, they were part of the

British force. They were the first to come out here and they part of

the trained units that later on, actually, they were younger. Yes, it

is incredible to look at the ages. When consciption came in. The upper

age was 41. When you read the accounts of the young soldiers. They

think over 30 you cannot cut it. They were saying, old men, falling

down. It is really a young man's game. It is incredible to see the

ages. We have the grave of the first man we believe to have died on the

Western Front and he's not the age he was that uth to be. He was only

just 17 and it is incredible to think these young men lied about

their age. They signed up and they were so eager to go to war. The BEF

was our professional army. It was tiny compared to Germany and France.

They had one million each. We had about 80,000. War was declared by

9th August they were here. What an incredible battle at Mons, holding

the line against the Germans when there were so much less of them. It

took place on 23rd, 24th August and very different to the subsequent

fighting that we are all sofa mill yar with that happened in the -- so

Familiar with with what happened in the years to come. It has been

forgotten now. We know more about the battle of the soms and the

famous of battles. It was after the news of the battle

famous of battles. It was after the news of came through that

recruitment surged. When people saw what a difficulty it was in, they

wanted to enlist and help out. If I go back to the Marne, where the

British and French held back... Incredible. It is amaze togs go in

here and go to the -- it is amazing to go in here and 46 men from the

Middlesex Regiment who fell and there is an amazing stone carving

which the men in charge of the site made. It is simply incredible they

were the enemy buried by the Germans. You are right about the

recruitment. We think there was a surge at the outbreak of war. Many

thought that they would not have to go along and it was Mons and the

news of the atrocities committed on the Belgiums, the occupation that

really spurred the British recruitment to surge, particularly

around young men. Obviously in the middle it says the Royal Middlesex

Regiment - incorrectly. It is often said because the Germans were so

impressed with the ferocity that the Middlesex fought. They thought they

had to be royal. It is more likely to be an error. The others are the

Royal Fusilierses and if it is an error it is respectful. And there

was a dedication ceremony here - the idea to create the

was a dedication ceremony here - the idea to create cemetery was in 1916,

but it was not inaugurated until September 1917. An amazing event.

but it was not inaugurated until September 1917. An Tell us about

that. The cemetery looked different. It

was more heavily wooded. The forest cemetery. And when you look at the

German graves in the area, just behind us, the pattern seemed

unusual. That is because it would have been rather like walking tloo u

a woodland -- walking through a woodland glad. They cleared away

some trees and planted more trees and gardens. That moment in 1917 is

significant. You had Germans fighting the British and then their

Allies, not far from here, about 60 miles away, pushing away slowly. At

that same time, they are here honouring the British and

Commonwealth fallen along side their own. The style of the fighting

changed so much between 1914 and 1918. They came here The French were

in their colours, with marching bands, going into battle.

We should remember that only the day before, 27,000 French soldiers had

been killed. These first few weeks of the war are incredibly

destructive. this time. I think it's the first

time that the British in particular understood what war was br. That,

they'd been Victoria's wars. The Queen had great empire wars. By the

end of her reign, we ruled a quarter of the world. A quarter of the

world's population was under the Queen. She was such a huge force and

there were these massive wars in Africa and they didn't impact on the

British population in the same way. They had a romanticised idea of war.

It was these marvellous pictures they saw. It was the marching bands

and music. I think there was a naivety about what war was when

people signed up for it. Trench warfare was proposed as a new place

in which it would be a modern war. But that wasn't the case at all. I

don't think anyone had any idea that it would be such an entrenched set

up. It's very important to remember that this was not, by no means,

British and German and Commonwealth, I mean, there were Indian soldiers

here, huge numbers of Indian soldiers sent to the Western Front

in time for the battle of Ypres. Yes the Western Front was one of the

most culturally diverse places in the world at that time. One million

men and women from across the British Empire, from Canada,

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, west Indians too. A real

selection of different classes and creeds but they are commemorated in

the same way, regardless of race, rank or In the class. Audience there

some of the Chelsea Pensioners who are invited this evening. I can see

the wife of Michael Holme Smith who is there as well. A lot of relatives

here tonight, about a hundred or so. Many dignitaries and German, Belgian

locals who have been invited here. It's a very significant moment for

me, and actually I think it's an expression of the spirit in which

the cemetery was created. There's a close connection between those

things. Of course, in 1917, it was only Germans here honouring the

fallen. Tonight, we bring together representatives from all of the

countries who are represented here. There's the president of Ireland

there. There are many Irishmen buried in this cemetery. Ireland at

that time was part of the British Empire. Many of the men who are now

buried here came from southern Ireland, now the Republic. They

played a very important part in the Battle of Mons. Then the king and

Queen of the Belgians who are about to arrive shortly, and his great

grandfather king Albert I, during the war he didn't leave Belgium did

he? No, he told the government to leave. About 95% of Belgium was

occupied. The government left. Many businesses were taken over by the

Germans, the Belgians refused to work as a way to resist. The

occupation constitutionally, the king was required to defend the

country and he D he remained, fought. He enlisted his 14-year-old

son as a private and his wife was the Queen nurse. She was a nurse on

the frontline as well. He led with a great example of bravery and he

really refused to give in, though behind-the-scenes, he was trying to

negotiate for peace, but simply neither side would agree to this

kind of peace because he was the one suffering. He was an incredible

character. In the aftermath of the war, he was asking for less punitive

treaty against Germany. He thought they might introduce some kind of

revenge. No-one listened to We must him. Talk about these wonderful

children here. They are coming forward to present the floral

bouquet to the Duchess of Cambridge. The courtesy has been practised and

the bow. Perfect. A wonderful moment for them.

There the floral bouquet beneath the words "lest we forget, August,

2014." So now the royal party and the dignitaries will make their way,

a short walk through the cemetery here, towards the stands ahead of

the event this evening. This event, which is a very Anglo--German

affair, isn't it? Absolutely. Again, it reflects the spirit of the

cemetery. Here we have Germans, British and Commonwealth and Irish

soldiers buried together. I think it's quite fitting that we should

bring together the leading figures from both Britain and Germany at

this time. They're just walking past some of the German headstones there.

Most of those soldiers would have come from the north of Germany, at

that time. Many of them came from infantry regiments 75 and 76. They

are collected alongside men from their local It's touching areas. To

see the unknown soldiers, on both sides, the German soldier, the

British soldier and that's all that was known about them. Absolutely.

More than 100 of the 513 men who are buried or commemorated here are

unidentified. For the British, the names are on the memorial near Le

Mans which commemorates those with no known grave. They're walking

through, past some of the German headstones. But they are at such

close proximity to the British, Commonwealth headstones. There are

two soldiers buried side by side, a German and Englishman. Absolutely,

that's a very important part of the cemetery, very symbol ebb. --

symbolic. The German was buried by the

British, after the The German was buried by the

British, end of the war. So each of them buried by the enemy side, but

buried alongside each other, united in death. You gave the Duke and

Duchess a tour of the cemetery, a private tour this afternoon. What

was their reaction? I think like every visitor here, they were very

struck by the beauty of the site, by the history behind it. In some ways

the cemetery speaks for itself. Can you see the care with which the

Germans commemorated the fallen of the British and Commonwealth forces.

They did comment on how splendid it looked. And that's down to the

gardening team, who work here, every day of the year, morning, noon and

night to keep it looking in this condition. Of course, they've had a

job on their hands with these preparations. But certainly their

efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Symbolic that it's the younger

Royals here tonight, taking on the mantle for future generations. Yes,

in London we have the Duchess of Cornwall at Westminster Abbey

ceremony. She will snuff out the last remaining light. This evening,

we have lights out across the United Kingdom and across Europe. The Queen

was at the ceremony this morning. The younger Royals are really doing

some of the hard work, the travelling. I think it's touching.

What I find so touching is seeing so many young people here. There's a

group here, Boy Scouts, so many young people coming along, the

choirs. That's been quite a wonderful thing, for me, as a

historian, to see in the commemorations, is how interested

the young people are and the children. Because it's so important

that we never forget. These school children are doing big projects.

This is appealing to them as well, the young Royals too. The royal

party have now taken their seats. The event will now begin.

Welcome to the military cemetery. In the fields around us, German and

allied soldiers fought and died for their countries in the Great War.

The bodies of friend and foe alike were brought here and buried in this

cemetery, during the war, by the German Army, which was then

occupying this part of Belgium. We're here today with the families

of those men, to remember all those their lives in the First World War.

This war had an impact like no other. The emotional shock waves

would be felt in all corners of the globe. It left no family untouched.

It continues to shape our lives today. 100 years ago, on the 4th

August, 1914, Britain and Germany were at war.

Now, a century later, we gather in peace to commemorate this

anniversary and remember the cost of war.

On the idle hill of summer, Sleepy with the flow of streams,

Far I hear the steady drummer Drumming like a noise in dreams.

Far and near and low and louder On the roads of earth go by,

Dear to friends and food for powder, Soldiers marching, all to die.

East and West on fields forgotten Bleach the Bones of comrades slain

Lovely Lads and dead and rotten None that return again

Far the calling bugles hollo, High the screaming fife replies,

Gay the files of scarlet follow: Woman bore me, I will rise.

# They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old

# Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn

# At the going down of the sun and in the morning

# Ladies and gentleman, the right

honourable, David Cameron, the Prime Minister.

unlike any other. The unspeakable karnage, the

unbearable loss, the almost unbelievable bravery. 100 years on,

it is right that we meet here and around the world to remember.

We remember the sheer scale of the First World War. A conflict that

stretched from the Western Front to the deserts of the Middle East, from

the plains of Poland to the frozen mountains of Austria. Touching and

ending millions, upon millions of lives. We remember the reasons

behind this conflict. Too often it has been dismissed as a pointless

war, fought by people who didn't know why they were fighting, be u

that is wrong. These men -- but that is wrong. These men preserved the

principals of freedom and sovereignty that we cherish today.

Perhaps, above all, in this, the centenary of the First World War, we

must remember the human stories, conveyed in the poems, the

literature and the pictures that still entrance us.

History is not shaped by invisible forces, but by millions of

individuals, who plan and work and love and fight and destroy things

and build them again. History is human stories. And so we remember

them. The teenagers who fought in the

fields around here, some of them terrified and missing home.

The men who laid down their lives for their friends.

The veterans who were never the same again. The families who bore those

silent wounds. The place at table that was never filled, the marriages

that never happened, the babies that were never born. This was a war with

an immense human cost and we must always, always remember that. No

matter how busy things are. So much of modern life is a race to what

comes next, a race to the future. But we are all in a long chain of

events. The inheriters of the fights won before us, the stewards of the

world that the next generation will inherit. In shaping that future, it

is vital that we look to the past. Here on the continent of Europe we

saw not the war to end all wars, but the precursor to another desperate

and violent conflict just two decades later. We should never fail

to cherish the peace between these nations and never underestimate the

patient work that it has taken to build that peace.

So, 100 years on, it is right that collectively we stop, we pause and

repledge this for the next 100 years - we will never forget, we will

always remember them. Thank you, Prime Minister. This

cemetery stands on the outskirts of Mons, where the first major battle

was fought between the British and German forces in The Great War. This

old quarry, now a place of tranquillity and peace, was the

generous gift of a local Belgian man. The land could be used as a

cemetery to bury both sides, so long as they were shown equal respect. On

6th September, 1917, a dedication ceremony was held by German army

officials and dignitaries t at the end of the service, the chaplain

said, "let there be light." This commemoration follows in that

tradition. Today St Symphorien Cemetery is maintained by the

Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Who continue this ethos - no matter

which side a soldier fought on, no matter their rank, race, creed or

class, they will be commemorated with dignity, respect and equality.

In the weeks before the start of August 1914, few could have imagined

the events were leading to a conflict of such catastrophic

proportions. Many who went to war were excited by

the prospect of adventure. Some were worried this would be a short war,

that they might miss. In Britain, a huge recruitment drive

bolstered its small standing army, by the end of September, more than

750,000 men had volunteered. Men came from every walk of life to

join the Warminster's new armies. -- the war Minister's new armies.

Many joined up with friends. Whole units were raised in one place, or

from the same club or professional - known as the Pals.

There were the Grimsby chums, the Cardiff Commercials. The Post Office

Rifles, the Stock brokers. In Germany too soldiers often came

from the same town Oregon. They were waved off with the -- -- town or

Region. They were waved off. In 1914, hundreds of thousands of

men marched to war with a sense of anticipation.

22-year-old Private Charles Heare of the 2nd Battalion,

Monmouthshire Regiment, was one of the young men caught up

Major Nathan Hale from the Royal Navy reads an extract

This life is grand, marching and singing.

I have a fairly loud voice and let it go.

How fond we all are of marching and singing!

"Tipperary" is sung, as is "A Soldier Man" and

"Who's Your Lady Friend?" and a host of others.

All who had volunteered for foreign service are given a silver brooch

with "Imperial Service" on it, with a crown on top - our first medal.

We all laugh and say we won't see a clothes line

in France, never mind the front line, and if we go and the Germans

knew the 2nd Mons were coming out, they would give it up as a bad job.

A new lot joined my company on a Saturday route march

of 20 miles. I am behind a bandy-legged man.

I can't take my eyes off his legs, and I'm always out of step.

What a great holiday, all the boys say.

It's the best war we've ever been in.

# Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag

# While you've a lucifer to light your fag

# So pack up your troubles in your old kit bag

# Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag

# While you've a lucifer to light your fag

# So pack up your troubles in your old kit bag

writer, a small boy in 1914, who later recalled the optimism of the

early days of the war. # Zum St?dtele hinaus

St?dtele hinaus # Kann I glei net allweil

bei dir sein # Wie wenn d'Lieb?

Jetzt w?r vorbei # Der M?dele viel

M?dele viel # Lieber Schatz

I bleib dir treu # Denk du net wenn I

ein Andre seh? # Der M?dele viel

M?dele viel # Lieber Schatz

I bleib dir treu regiment, he left Southampton on the

13th August, 1914, arriving in France the next day. A week later

John Parr, aged 17 was one of the very first British soldiers killed

in the war. Back in London, his mother was desperate to know her

son's fate. She asked a simple question that millions of mothers

would ask in years to come. She wrote to the war office. Iris,

John's niece now reads the letter. Sir, I have been to the War Office

today, October 26th, concerning my son,

Private John Parr, 14196, D Company, 4th Battalion

Middlesex Regiment, 8th Infantry, who went on active service

in August. I have not heard from him at all and

the War Office can tell me nothing. The War Office seems to think

this is rather a long time. I am very anxious

as it is now ten weeks. If anything has happened to him

by this time, I have heard from Berlin,

the address is from a prisoner of war to say that

my son was shot down at Mons. That is the reason

I went to the War Office. Yours Truly,

Mrs Parr. On the eve of the battle of Mons,

soldiers from the British expeditionary force gathered,

unaware of the horror they were about to face.

The mood was jolly. It was the 22nd August, 1914.

The following morning, the German first army marched towards Mons.

There had been a number of skirmishes in the days before, but

this would be the first large-scale clash between the two nations.

They faced each other along the line of the Mons canal.

Despite being outnumbered, the British repulsed the first attacks

with machine gunfire. Eventually though the German assault proved too

much. A desperate retreat ensued. One of

the longest in British military history.

After an exhausting 200 mile withdrawal, the British and French

finally halted the Germans just outside Paris.

Mons was to remain under German occupation until November 1918, when

the Allies advanced back into Belgium.

The harsh reality of this war reverberated across the globe, and

We hear first from Fusilier Beckett reading an extract from an interview

with Private William Holbrook conducted after the end of the war.

William was a private with the 4th Battalion Fusiliers,

who fought at the Battle of Mons, and then Fusilier Charles Wollacombe

who will read an extract from Walter Bloem, a Grenadier Officer.

I could see the Germans coming down in waves.

I don't think I was nervous when the action started,

But it was all new to me - it was new to all of us.

Shells seemed to worry me a bit, the bursting of shells.

When I returned after the first message, I had

When I got back to where we were before, they had gone!

The Germans were just over the bridge,

so I cleared off as quick as I could.

Of course, I was behind the troops retiring

As we went towards Mons, I saw a man with a pack mule

who showed us how close we were to the line.

Then just as he put his head to one side,

he was suddenly shot clean through the head.

The thing that upset me most was the refugees,

thousands of refugees coming from Mons.

They were pushing all sorts of things.

At Mons there were acts of great courage on both sides, as

Lt Maurice Dease of the Royal Fusiliers, who is buried here,

won the Victoria Cross on the bridge at nearby Nimy.

German Musketier Oskar Niemeyer, laid to rest not far away,

swam across the canal in the face of gunfire, to help

The soldiers of the Middlesex Regiment

Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. They

were among the first to die and they were

buried here by the Germans. Such was their

fearless reputation, that the Germans gave

them a Royal prefix to their Regimental Title.

Before the Battle of Mons, Corporal Frank

Agger wrote home to his sister Kate, like

soldiers then and now, to put his affairs in

order. Frank Edward Agger, his second

cousin, who was named after his relative,

reads Agger?s letter home.

My dear Kate, We are mobilising for War, we expect to move to the

Well, I have made my will out, in case I should be numbered

among the unlucky ones, but still, I don't hope to be.

I do not mind going in the least, and nearly everybody

among us is looking quite bright, and eagerly anticipates the idea

I don't think I should get married while I am still serving.

I am quite happy and in the best of health, and feel as

if I can with truth say, that I am as fit to fight for my country

So I must close now, trusting you will keep a stout heart and look

on the bright side of things, and the honour and glory of saying

my brother is doing what every able-bodied Englishman should do.

Cheer up, I remain, Your ever-loving brother, Frank.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Mons, volunteers came from all walks

of live. Many musicians, writers, poets and artists volunteered for

service. Amongst them was the young George Butterworth. A contemporary

of Holst. Like many of that generation he was never able to

realise his enormous potential. He lost his life at the battle Battle

of the Somme in 1916. Two of the world's leading orchestras have come

together. Members of the London Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin

orchestra will perform the. the war that people had hoped would

be over by Christmas would be a lot longer. Millions of men faced each

other along a 400 mile front from the North Sea to Switzerland. Both

sides created an elaborate trench system, nearly impossible to

penetrate. Trenches offered defenders have some protection from

bullets, bombs and shells, whilst attackers were cut down in the open.

Movement was almost impossible. The war became one of attrition. Front

line soldiers injured often terrible conditions in the trenches, were

even trying to keep clean and dry was a challenge. The noise from

artillery fire was relentless. The threat from enemy snipers was ever

present. Sleep was snatched on wooden boards or dugouts. Food was

bully beef and biscuits. Hot soup, from the kitchen to the rear, if

possible. Men could not wash or shave for days and slept in dirty,

lice infested clothes, offending off rats and often surrounded by the

stench of rotting bodies. Time and again, the frontal assaults pitted

human flesh against high explosives, poison gas, shrapnel, bullets and

barbed wire. Technological advances created a new kind of war, in which

entire industries and societies were mobilised. Going over the top

exposed soldiers to weapons that were far more accurate and more

destructive than any that had gone before. Attacks on enemy trenches

were costly and rarely able to convert initial success into

breakthrough. On 30th May 1915 Private Michael

Lennon of the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers wrote to

his brother Frank, the day before he Lennon was killed, in action,

on 28th June 1915, exactly one year after the assassination of

Archduke Franz Ferdinand His Royal Highness Prince Henry of

Wales reads Private Lennon's letter. Well, Frank,

I suppose we are for it tomorrow, I can only hope that we have all

the luck to come through the night, and if I should get

bowled out - I shall pack up to the place "Where

falls not rain, not hail, nor any snow, and where the wind

never blows loudly", but as I have said before,

I am looking for something better than that and I shall see you again

when the job is done. The tragic loss

of life was felt deeply by many. Dreams of the future were

destroyed when so many men died. The British writer Vera Brittain

gave voice to her grief She interrupted her plans to go to

Oxford University to train as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse

and witnessed at first hand the She shared a love of poetry with her

fiance Roland Leighton, a school Both young men had been desperate to

fight for their country Vera and Roland wrote to each other

often when Roland went to the front. Roland was gravely injured

by a sniper's bullet and later died Two other close friends

and her brother Edward were also This personal tragedy would stay

with her for the rest of her life. She wrote this poem shortly

after hearing of Roland's death. Perhaps some day the

sun will shine again, And I shall see that still

the skies are blue, And feel once more

I do not live in vain, Perhaps the golden meadows

at my feet Will make the sunny hours

of spring seem gay, And I shall find the May-blossoms

sweet, Perhaps the summer woods

will shimmer bright, And crimson roses

once again be fair, And autumn harvest fields

a rich delight, Perhaps some day

I shall not shrink in pain To see the passing

of the dying year, But though kind time

may many joys renew, There is one greatest joy

I shall not know Again, because my heart

for loss of you There is no-one left alive who

fought in the First World War. Harry Patch, known as the

Last Fighting Tommy, died aged 111, But we still we have their diaries,

letters, music We pass the baton of remembrance to

the next generation, and we ask them to keep their

memories alive and not forgotten. In a unique project six of Britain's

most talented young singer-songwriters have come

together to write and perform a song that marks the

centenary of the First Wold War. Along the way they have discovered

what their ancestors did in the war, learnt about the terrible conditions

young soldiers had to suffer, The chosen song, written by 12 year

old Molly from Huddersfield, expresses their hopes for the future

and is called Stand Up Be Proud. We heard earlier about John Parr,

the young soldier who lost his life in the early days

of the war and is buried here. Just a few steps away

from his grave we are now at the final resting place of one

of the very last soldiers to be The frontline had returned to Mons

in November 1918, and it was here where the fighting

stoppped when the Armistice came. Private George Ellison was a family

man from Leeds, married to Hannah. He had a four year son, James.

For many years George was a regular soldier

but had left the army believing his fighting days were over.

On the outbreak of war he was recalled as part

He fought many campaigns only to die on 11th November 1918,

the day the war ended on the Western Front, he was 40 years old.

Tragically he was not the only casualty so close to

Nearby is the grave of a 25 year old Canadian

Killed just minutes before 11 o'clock on the 11th of the 11th.

Our specially assembled Orchestra performs the final movement of the

German Requiem. MUSIC: "Ein Deutsches Requiem"

by Brahms Now the Royals and dignitaries

making their way to the seats from the cemetery. Their pathway is lined

by candles. They are heading towards The Obelisk, in the centre of St

Symphorien Cemetery, the highest point here. There, they will lay

flowers, for a minute's silence in honour of all those who lost their

lives. Yesterday I visited

the battlefield of last year. Instead of a wilderness

of ground torn up by shell, the ground was a garden of

wild flowers and tall grasses... I was specially struck by a cross

to an unknown British warrior which stood like a sentinel over

the vast cemetery of the fallen... Most remarkable of all was the

appearance of many thousands of white butterflies which fluttered

round this solitary grave. It was as if the souls

of the dead soldiers had come to It was so still that it seemed

as if one could almost hear Indeed, there was nothing to disturb

the eternal slumber of this unknown who was sleeping

his last sleep where he fell. Reflections from an anonymous

British officer, written a year after the war ended.

the Belgians, David Cameron and the German and Irish Presidents will lay

their floral wreaths at the foot of the on blix.

-- obelisk. THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY WILL

GIVE BLESSING. God of peace and justice, who in

compassion for a world, broken by our sins of pride, desire,

selfishness brought reconciliation to all who seek you. Strengthen us

to seek peace and pursue it. To forgive, as we are forgiven.

And the blessing of God almighty the father, the son and the holy spirit

be amongst you and remain with you always.

Amen. The floral bouquets which were laid.

They choose not to use wreaths or poppies on this occasion. Instead

formal flowers found locally, roses. The tradition a laying wreaths only

began after World War I had ended. Let there be light - they were the

words of a German can chaplain in September 1917.

These lanterns are a reminder of those words, almost 100 years later.

War cemeteries and memorials around the world commemorate those who did

not survive this conflict. Over 9.5 million sailors, soldiers and airmen

died in the First World War. Together with millions of civilians.

Tonight, we have certainly witnessed something very special in this

beautiful St Symphorien Cemetery. And honoured the men who lie here.

Now, let's remember all who died and the families that were left behind.

dignitaries make their way slowly out of St Symphorien Military

Cemetery. They will pass the new paving stone

which has been laid here and the words "Lest We Forget."

??FORCEWHITE STUDIO: Now the sun has set over the fields

surrounding the cemetery we are left to reflect on the stories of the

German and Commonwealth soldiers buried here. Their bravery, their

fears, their families, their descendants. Here a German saying of

the time still holds true. In life, these men were enemies. In

death, they are united. Yes, nightfall in Belgium at the St

Symphorien Cemetery. You have enjoyed a rich mix of German and

British voices singing and a wonderful blend of music,

recollections and tributes in that special commemorative event in

Belgium. Here, in London, well, final preparations have been made.

People are starting to arrive at Westminster Abbey for the special

candle-lit service. Throughout that service, the candles will be

gradually extinguished until one candle remains - a single candle, at

the The Grave of the Unknown Warrior. That is the high point of

the service in the Abbey. Beneath that black marble tombstone is a

soldier of The Great War, name and rank unknown, representing all those

who lost their lives in war. That last candle of 2000 will be

extinguished by the Duchess of Cornwall at 11pm - the precise

moment that the British Government declared war on Germany, a century

ago. Well, it was early morning on the

4th August, 1914, when German forces invaded Belgium. Britain sent an

ultimatum to withdraw or face a declaration of war. It was midnight

Central European Time. 11pm in London. The last few hours of peace

were recalled by David Lloyd George at the time. It was like a waiting,

he said, the waiting for the signal of a lever which would send millions

to their doom, with the chance that a reprieve might arrive in time. As

we know that did not arrive. Over the next four years, millions of

men, sons, husbands, brothers, fathers, uncles, friends - women too

- would die in that conflict. Hooer to discusses a -- here to discuss

aspects, I am delighted to say Baroness Shirley Williams is here.

Daughter of Vera Williams, who described her experiences as a in

the war. So, it is lovely to have you here with us. Thank you very

much. And the author Sebastian Faulks and Margaret MacMillan with

us too. Thank you for staying with us. Reflections on what we have seen

in Belgium. The poem which of course resonates with all of us, but for

you especially - what did that mean? It summed up the sense of, in a way,

never being able to recover the sense of joy that had existed in the

ten years before the First World War. Not joy for everybody,

ten years before the First World honest. Those from prosperous

families were enjoying a wonderful time. Those from not such prosperous

families not so. A grieve that would never complete itself. I think a lot

of the stories from the poets of the First World War reflects that. I

also think the First World War, in an extraordinary way, threw up a

level of poetry and prose that no other war before or since has done

and it may be because the horror of leaping from what was a fairly

stable, though for some people a poor one, into something like the

trenches, when especially those who became officers, the young men in

public schools had read the story of King Arthur and the knights of the

round table and saw as it was suggested, a gallant escape from the

time. Then finding themselves with parts of bodies, with lice and rats

in the trenches. It must have been one of the most astonishingly awful

transformations anybody could imagine. As for women, my mother was

one of the few that volunteers not of to become a nurse, but also to

serve in the hospitals outside Britain, where she could no longer

be protected and France and Malta and so forth. One thing she found is

they were all rejected. They were not wanted. It was made quite clear

that is not what women should do, especially middle class women. So

she, when she first suggested that she had volunteered to become a

nurse, because she couldn't stand being divorced from her brother, her

fiancee, her best friends by being in the home front, it was divorced

from the war because there was no television and radio. People lived

an unreal life about what they knew about the war. When she first came

forward with most other who volunteered they were rejected by

the Army. You probably know that the British Army would not have middle

class young women because they didn't think they should be

associated with naked human bodies, where as the French embraced them.

The first women who volunteered from Britain served in French wartime

hospitals. The other thing is, well, in my view, the big leap forward in

terms of women's opportunities came after the Second World War, no t the

first one. It is true it was harder and harder for men to say that women

were not capable of taking part in some of the most of awful aspects. I

remember my mother telling me what it was like to hold the leg of a man

that was being sawn off because he was suffering from gangrene. Most

women and men had some sense of the awfulness of the war.

It is how their place in society changed as well.

realised that their perceptions of women had to change. Women played a

vital role that we have been told about in that war effort. Women

stepped into jobs as bus conductors, fire wardens, jobs in munitions

factories and building boats and planes. So, let's have a little more

about their role. It wasn't restricted to home. About 7000 women

served on the front line in great danger and some of them never came

back. In York Minster, a memorial

commemorates around 1400 women Among them is Una Duncanson who

volunteered as a nurse alongside Una volunteered for the VAD

hospital in Maidstone in 1915. She was a very lowly person there I

think, assistant cook and bottle washer, but she applied for nursing

training and went up to York in 1917 with her best friend Doris Carpenter

and then they applied to go overseas,

which they did in late 1917. My grandmother was

Doris Carpenter. Doris decided to become a nurse I

think quite early on. Una was in the red cross already

in service and I think was what possibly what

led her into it as well. They boarded a troop ship, the

Osmanieh, and sailed for Alexandria. They arrived

on 31st December 1917 and while they were taking a pilot on board outside

the harbour the ship hit a mine. It sank very quickly in about

one and a half to two minutes. Hundreds of soldiers

and eight nurses. My grandmother

kept various diaries. My grandmother's entry for the date

of the 31st December was that the Osmanieh sank in three and half

minutes. "All boats capsized, in water

about one and a quarter hours. "Picked up by destroyer Jackall

and got alongside 2.30. "Una, Rogers, Brown, Ball, sister

Roberts, Hawley and others missing." Una and her colleagues are all

buried in Hadra military cemetery in Alexandria and she's

commemorated here in York Minster. Una and all

the others are passing into history and I think it's very important we

try and prevent that happening My grandmother went through the

war until April 1919 in service. It was generally

and always had been a man's thing. For a woman at that time to have

been pulled into war, to have seen the bloodshed during

that time must have been absolutely horrific. But, again, the diary

shows that they just coped with it One of the powerful themes we are

exploring on the BBC, as we think about what happened a century ago.

There is a lot more on the BBC website about the role of women.

Shirley Williams has presented a guide, and how artists responded to

the trauma of the war. Tonight, people all over Britain are finding

their own ways of marking the centenary, often by adopting

familiar symbols and rituals of remembrance which emerge from the

First World War. None has more resonance than the poppy, which

managed to balloon even in the excellence and... Desolate area of

Flanders. The larks, still bravely singing,

fly Among the graves in France

and Flanders is one belonging to One of 100 men who enlisted

from the village of Northlew in Devon, and one of

at least 22 who never came back. In commemoration, the villagers

have planted millions of poppy seeds along the route the men would

have taken when they left for war. Northlew was not

the only village to suffer. Across Devon over 11,000 men

and women were killed in the war. And in nearby Chudleigh,

their names are being remembered on a huge banner which has been

travelling all over the county. We're asking people to donate

a poppy. On the poppy, they write the name of

a family member who served in the war, and if they don't have anybody

they can write a group of people. We have people coming to sign

poppies and we have stories My father-in-law, Fred Holliday,

was an able seaman but during that battle over 6,000

British sailors lost their lives. It's not about the politics,

it's about the men who served, and the women,

and it's the stories we are getting Events like this are uniting

communities all over the country. In Bradford,

groups have been learning about the city's role producing textiles

for the war effort and the service of the city's

Pals Battalions. The Bradford Pals were

the men who recruited from groups of friends,

so you would go to the factory, to the football ground

and to the music hall and groups

of friends would all join together. So we had the idea to create

a textile poppy field to remember those men and also the contribution

the whole community made to the war. My grandfather, Ralph Hodgson,

signed up for the First World War before he was called

up and he died in September 1918. He wrote quite prolifically to

his mother and his sister. before I get my leave and another

little drink won't do us any harm". And he signs it bon soir,

spelled incorrectly, but that's The textile frieze will

contain over 1000 poppies, one for each of the Bradford Pals

who fell on the first day We lived, felt dawn,

saw sunset glow Loved and were loved,

and now we lie The fallen are also being

remembered at the Tower of London, where over 800,000 ceramic poppies

are being planted in the moat, one for every British and Colonial

serviceman who died in the war. By having such

a physical demonstration of the total number of British

and Colonial soldiers who died, the Tower is trying to focus

everyone's attention on the enormity It wasn't just the soldier

of course that was affected, it was The Tower

of London played a critical role throughout the First World War

and particularly at the beginning. On 29th August,

one of the first Pals battalions, the Stockbrokers' Battalion,

was sworn in, and from here they marched out

to start their training. This idea of people coming down

in their groups from their city offices, and

swearing their allegiance to the I think it's really important

to mark this centenary because the First World War was a huge event

in international history and it's important that we study it to

understand what went wrong. After all, the world remains

a pretty uncertain place. We've got to make

sure that we don't unwittingly fall We shall not sleep, though

poppies grow That is the poppy fields that you

saw in the film. It will be staying there until remembrance weekend. It

really is a wonderful site. You be leaving us soon. You will go

to the Abbey. What should we look forward to. I am the last thing, but

there are several excellent readings. Poems read from Poets'

Corner, by actresses and abouting tors. There are read -- actors.

There are readings, new commissions for this service, in particular.

There was a rehearsal this afternoon, it ran to within five

seconds because it is very important that it should finish exactly on the

stroke of 11pm. The theme of light moving to darkness and all of these

candles being extinguished - what is the impression that people will take

away from this service tonight at the Abbey, do you think? I hope the

impression people will take away is of a world that came to an end and

of a world that changed and a war that changed our idea, not only of

Europe, but of what human beings are. That is something that I think

100 years later we are still grappling with. An immense sadness,

but at the same time, there was a lot of debate as to whether the

Abbey should be plunged into total darkness, or whether there should be

some symbolic light left burning. You will have to wait and see what

the Abbey has decided. Margaret, a thought from you. What do you hope

it will achieve? I hope it will remember all those who died on both

sides and commemorate their lives. I hope it will be in the spirit of

reconciliation. It is an important war for Britain and for the empire

and all those other sides. It was a catastrophe that hit Europe and the

world. I think 100 years on, we should look at it is in a

transnational, international way. And the message of reconciliation we

have spoken about - again, are we going to put that in a modern

context? We should always ask, of course. We have a very uneasy world

at the moment. We have places where it is badly needed. I said, what we

have to take away from it is we must not give up. It seems difficult.

There are situations in the world where it does not look like any

reconciliation is possible. But we have to keep trying. Thank you very

much. Best of luck to you in the service. We are just a couple of

hours away from 11pm. The exact time that Britain declared war on

Germany, a century ago tonight. It is very difficult to imagine what

Britain's leaders were feeling on that August evening. Back in 1914

Winston Churchill was first First Lord of the Admiralty. Later he

recalled the atmosphere of that night. It is called "The World

Crisis." I will give you a flavour of it.

It was 11 o'clock at night, 12 by German time,

The windows of the Admiralty were thrown wide

Along the Mall, from the direction of the Palace, the sound

of an immense concourse singing "God Save the King" floated in.

On this deep wave, there broke the chimes of Big Ben.

And, as the first stroke of the hour boomed out, a rustle

The war telegram, which meant "Commence hostilities

against Germany" was flashed to the ships and establishments under the

I walked across the Horse Guards Parade to the Cabinet Room, and

reported to the Prime Minister and the ministers who were assembled

are commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of the First World