Will 1914 matter in 2014? Nobody who experienced the war is still alive. Most of us struggle to recall more than the most basic facts about what happened and why. Yet, the first great global conflict remains a pivotal cultural reference point for understanding the last century and how it shaped the country we have become today.
In our report, Do mention the war, we highlight these points and more. Do mention the war draws on original research into what the public know and don’t know about the first world war, why they think next year’s centenary will matter and what they want it to be about.
The report features polling carried out for British Future by YouGov, which found that Britons struggle to tell the first world war and the second world war apart. For example, more people think Britain declared war in August 1914 because Germany invaded Poland (as was the case in 1939) than Belgium: only 13% knew the right answer.
Drawing on public workshops in England, Scotland and Wales, alongside the new national polling, the report also reveals why most people think we should seize this chance to learn, and explores which meanings of the centenary people agree on and which ones don’t.
Other highlights of Do mention the war include:
Can the PM use the lessons of this rocky first year in power to fix his government’s strategy and story? @sundersays column for @EasternEye [1/2]
'‘Past, Present and Possibilities’: Windrush legacy celebrated' - report from @TheVoiceNews on the recent #WindrushDay event at @NFFC, co-hosted with @LCFC and @britishfuture [1/2]
“Communal life in Britain is under threat like never before," says former Communities Secretary Sir Sajid Javid.
Together with former Labour MP Jon Cruddas he will co-chair a new Independent Commission on Community & Cohesion that meets for the first time today [1/2]
"Can this government tell a shared story of how we got here and where we are going?" asks @sundersays for @easterneye, reflecting on #windrushday2025 last weekend and the anniversary of the UK riots next month [1/2]
Sad to hear of the passing of Sgt Mohammed Hussain, who had been one of the last living Indian Army WW2 veterans in the UK. Rest in Peace.
Lovely film from @NFFC from the conference they hosted this week with @LCFC and @britishfuture to mark #WindrushDay - featuring Forest & England legend Viv Anderson, among many others.
On Thursday, we proudly hosted a special conference at the City Ground to mark #WindrushDay.
The event brought together over 100 people from across English football to celebrate the incredible contributions of the Windrush generation to our game. ❤️
It’s #WindrushDay2025 with events taking place across the country.
It’s ever-more important to commemorate the legacy & contribution of the Windrush generation, with so many Windrush pioneers passing over last 12 months [1/2]
'Windrush and football: Past, present and possibilities' - report from a pre-#WindrushDay conference hosted by @NFFC @LCFC @britishfuture exploring how football can engage with Windrush Day to help combat racism and promote inclusion [1/2]
@100Windrush
Today we are at the @NFFC City Ground for the 'Windrush and Football: Past, Progress and Possibilities' event hosted by @100Windrush @britishfuture @LCFC and @NFFC !
#WindrushDay
“A deeper determination to keep their memory and legacy alive” - @ppvernon for @100Windrush on why marking #WindrushDay this Sunday matters even more with the passing of yet more Windrush pioneers
With #WindrushDay 2025 fast approaching, our Windrush 100 convenor @ppvernon reflects and pays tribute to the pioneers of the Windrush Generation whom we have lost over the past year...
https://www.windrush100.org/news/windrush-generation-pioneers-end-of-an-era