French and Germans ‘used Passchendaele to promote EU’

British veterans’ group accuse countries of ‘disgusting’ attempts to politicise battle centenary

FRANCE and Germany have been accused of a “contemptible” attempt to hijack this week’s Passchendaele commemoration to promote the European Union, with one veterans’ group describing the move as “disgusting”.

On the centenary of one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War, the French Embassy suggested on Twitter that the anniversary was an opportunity to “cherish peace, unity and solidarity brought by the EU”.

Sigmar Gabriel, the German foreign minister, also tweeted about the commemoration, saying: “Today, more than ever, Europe is our future.”

In a statement on the German Foreign Office’s website Mr Gabriel went further, saying: “Europe is far more than a single market. Europe is a peace project. Europe is our future. We can only safeguard our interests and defend our values if we stand united.”

Tony Hayes, the chief executive of the Veterans’ Association UK, described the comments as “disgusting”. Mr Hayes said: “The French and Germans are using it as leverage against Britain.”

Tim Barrett, a retired solicitor from Norwich who attended the ceremony to honour his grandfather John Barrett, a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade who died on the first day of the battle, said the ceremony was “a chance to pay our respects”. He said it was “inappropriate” to “politically grandstand” on such an occasion.

Colonel Tim Collins OBE, the Iraq War veteran who achieved worldwide acclaim after a rousing eve of battle speech to 1st Bn, Royal Irish Regiment, described the comments as a “cheap shot”. He said that officials at the Passchendaele ceremony had stood next to Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and South African war graves alongside British headstones, adding: “Perhaps that should remind us who our real friends are and to whom we should reacquaint ourselves.”

The Prince of Wales and Theresa May were among the dignitaries who attended events to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele, which raged from July to November 1917 and resulted in up to 325,000 British and Allied deaths.

Events were held at Tyne Cot military cemetery, which contains 12,000 graves and is the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the world.

The French and German officials are not alone in being criticised for conflating war and Brexit.

In the run-up to the EU referendum last year, David Cameron invoked Winston Churchill and the “serried white headstones” of those who died in the world wars to suggest a decision to leave the EU could increase the risk of Europe descending into war.

The then prime minister was criticised by Leave cheerleader Boris Johnson, who accused him of using “scare stories” to boost the Remain vote.