Centenary of Great War battle marked by MPs

MEMBERS of Parliament were yesterday urged to “learn the proper lessons of warfare” as the Commons commemorated the centenary of one of the bloodiest battles of World War I.

Kevin Brennan, MP for Cardiff West, paid a touching tribute during the proceedings, when he read out a poem in Welsh by Hedd Wyn. The poet lost his life on the first day of fighting at the Battle of Passchendaele.

The battle was fought near Ypres, Belgium, between July 31 and November 10 1917, in battlefields that turned to liquid mud. Allied forces suffered more than 320,000 casualties and German losses are estimated to be between 260,000 and 400,000.

Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West, called the First World War battle – in which his father fought – an “immense, wasteful loss of human life” which soldiers were coerced into through “persuasion and propaganda”.

The former shadow Welsh secretary, said: “To many of the people who were there, including my father, this was a terrible, terrible tragedy as a result of the misjudgement by the generals and others.

“We can’t look at this without remembering that many of those who lost their lives, they didn’t give their lives – they were told that if they went there, they’d stop the Huns bayoneting Belgian babies.

“They went there as a result of persuasion and propaganda, and we must remember that if we’re going to learn the proper lessons of warfare and the immense, wasteful loss of human life.”

Mr Brennan read out the poem Rhyfel (War) in Welsh before giving its English translation. The poem includes these lines: “The harps to which we sang are hung on willow boughs, and their refrain is drowned by the anguish of the young, whose blood is mingled with the rain.”

UK Culture minister John Glen told the Commons there would be three commemorative events held in Belgium on July 30 and July 31.

Mr Flynn went on to talk about the war in Afghanistan, saying: “Ministers of all sides were mistaken by the claim they were making to potential soldiers that they could go to Afghanistan and reduce the threat of terrorism in this country.

“And I think that was an untruth because... the only reason the Taliban were killing our soldiers in Afghanistan is because we were there.”

He added: “That particular call to soldiers to do that for that purpose was not true, so I believe we’re still in a position where politicians lie and soldiers die, and unless we can be frank with them I think we can find a generation who will reject war.”

Ahead of the debate, MPs had paid tribute to the police officers who apprehended the killer of Jo Cox after they paid a visit to Parliament.

Craig Nicholls and Jonathan Wright were special guests in the gallery of the Commons chamber.

Shadow Culture Minister Mr Brennan said: “May I add on behalf of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition our gratitude and thanks... to Mr Nicholls and Mr Wright, the two police officers who helped to apprehend the killer of our beloved late colleague Jo Cox, whose plaque is now behind me on this side of the House and rightly standing with all the plaques of members who gave their lives on behalf of the country in previous conflicts.”