Remembrance Day Event: Have we forgotten the horrors of war?

As veterans who served in the armed forces continue to relive the terrors they experienced, is it easy to forget the horrors of war when you cannot see it up close? The Hive wants to hear your opinion at its Question Time-style debate with the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) on Tuesday 11 November at 6.00pm.

Guest speakers at the debate, which commemorates the centenary of the First World War, include Professor Maggie Andrews, from the University of Worcester, and Nic Millington, Chief Executive of the Rural Media Company.

Professor Maggie Andrews is a Professor of Cultural History at the University of Worcester and acting as an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded adviser to the BBC in the West Midlands on its World War One at Home project and is the historical consultant for the new BBC Radio 4 drama set on the Home Front in World War One.

Speaking on the topic of the debate at The Hive, Professor Maggie Andrews said: “Many of us are aware of the high death toll of World War One and are familiar with images of the Union Jack draped over coffins returning to this country as a result of the conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, such deaths are only the tip of the iceberg. There is a tendency to forget that war destroys communities and fractures families. Participation in war has prolonged physical and emotional effects for those directly involved but also for their loved ones and children. The horror of war experienced in everyday lives, behind closed doors in homes should not be forgotten.”

The debate is organised in conjunction with The RSA, a 27,000 national fellowship involved in research, development projects and public debates about future prospects, challenges and solutions.

Trevor Philpott OBE, a Former Royal Marine Lieutenant Colonel and Fellow of the RSA, commented: “Help for Heroes and other military charities have raised millions of pounds, most of which has rightly been used to help those with physical injuries. Too often these images fail to portray the other equally damaging mental health symptoms caused by violent combat. Critically, levels of mental ill-health and Combat Operational Stress Reaction (COSR) or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rarely become apparent until many years later. For example, of all those who fought in the Falklands war, more have subsequently committed suicide than were killed in action.

“We are concerned that the full and lasting horrors of war are debated and given adequate consideration alongside the rightful commemoration of events in World War One.”

The Remembrance Day debate is the fourth in a series of a joint initiative between the RSA and The Hive to involve the public in topical discussions.

Laura Worsfold, Business Development Manager at The Hive, said: “We are really pleased with the range of topics and quality of speakers for the debates we are putting on with the Royal Society of Arts and hope to host many more on a variety of topics to interest and engage the people of Worcestershire. This is our fourth debate and it is an extremely topical one, with two very eminent speakers. We hope people will come along and join in the discussion.”

Tickets for the debate are free of charge, as funded by the Voices of War and Peace: the Great War and its Legacy, and can be collected on Level 1 Information Pod at The Hive. For more event information please visit www.thehiveworcester.org/whats-on.