SUNDAY – OUR TIME TO REFLECT
100 years since end of WWI
East Kilbride and Avondale will fall silent on Sunday to remember those who sacrificed their lives in conflict as the country marks 100 years since the end of the First World War.
Armistice Day commemorations on November 11 mark the end of the Great War in 1918 – one of the deadliest conflicts in history in which over 16 million people died.
The total number of both civilian and military casualties is estimated at around 37 million.
And for one East Kilbride pensioner, the sacrifices made by so many to allow us the freedoms we take for granted today should never be forgotten.
Jimmy Ingram, chair of the Royal Army Service Corps Association, has laid a wreath on their behalf at the war memorial for the last 25 years. He said: “Generations to come should never be allowed to forget – the sacrifices could very easily be forgotten.
“I have always taken great pride in laying the wreath at the cenotaph on behalf of the association and this year will be all the more moving given it is the 100th anniversary since the end of World War I.”
Jimmy, 92, joined the Territorial Army in 1947 and went on to become a Regimental Sergeant Major in the army cadets.
He said: “I grew up in the aftermath of WWI, which my father served in, and was meant to be the war to end all wars.
“But my two brothers were then sent to Germany during WWII.
“I was a fire messenger during WWII and also a fire watcher, perched on top of a factory roof, on the lookout for incendiary devices across the city of Glasgow.”
Jimmy, who received the Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Corps of Transport Certificate of Merit for his efforts as a fire service messenger, added: “Armistice Day is always a special day for me where I, along with many others, take time to reflect and pay my respects to the friends, family and colleagues we have lost.”
Bobby Russell, vice-chair at Legion Scotland East Kilbride, will also be in reflective mood for his great-uncle Tommy was killed towards the end of WWI, making this year’s ceremony all the more poignant for his family.
He said: “The 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War was brought home to me recently when I was given my great-uncle Tommy’s 1914-15 Star.
“Sadly, he was killed in the last days of war.
“It was given to me by my brother before he passed away and my son, who is only seven, was fascinated by it and wanted to take into school as part of a show and tell day.
“It drove home how important honouring people like my great-uncle is and educating children from a young age in our schools.
“In the Legion’s eyes, there are not enough words in the dictionary to use that would thank men and women who gave their all during the Great War – this was called the war to end all wars.
“We would like to thank and honour the men and women of the era as they gave all their todays so that we and generations to come could have our tomorrows.”
He added: “In the first day of the Somme alone, nearly 20,000 British and Commonwealth men were killed.
“It was down to people like my greatuncle that we enjoy freedom of speech and our liberty and for me, personally, the 11th hour on November 11 will be all the more poignant.”
Bobby believes there needs to be a renewed effort to ensure younger generations are made aware of the horrors and sacrifices of events a century ago.
“In all honesty,” he said. “I don’t think this country does enough to honour its war dead bar official commemorations and, worryingly, I think there is a real lack of understanding in the younger generations, particularly about WWI.
“Every one of us should stop and take time to remember the horrors not only of World War but all the conflicts since but I also feel we should celebrate the Armistice was the end of fighting and the end of killing on the battlefields of WWI.”