Remembrance Day should be “decolonised”, campaigners say as they call for an end to “nationalist narratives” that “whitewash” and “glorify” the British Empire.
Ceremonies to commemorate members of the Armed Forces who have fallen in service “gloss over the history and violence of colonialism”, according to the Peace Pledge Union (PPU).
The PPU, which distributes white poppies, says that Remembrance Sunday events should “examine the human cost of colonial conflicts” such as the Amritsar massacre in Punjab, India, and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, both of which took place when the territories were under British colonial rule.
Launching their new campaign aimed at “decolonising” Remembrance Sunday, the PPU said: “To remember the victims of colonial wars, we must actively challenge nationalist narratives that whitewash or glorify colonialism.
“We also need to oppose the racist legacies of colonialism that continue to influence who is remembered and whose histories and experiences are erased.”
Their campaign was launched this week ahead of the weekend of Remembrance which will begin on Saturday evening with the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
On Sunday, the King will lead the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in London – his first since his cancer diagnosis.
‘Diversion from Remembrance Sunday benefits’
Colonel Richard Kemp, the former commander of the British Forces in Afghanistan, accused the PPU of trying to “hijack” Remembrance Sunday.
“Frankly, if they have a genuine interest in commemorating or making a statement about people who died as a result of British colonisation – by all means, do it, but do it on a different day,” he said. “Don’t do it on the day that we commemorate people who died to give us the freedoms that we have today.
“Thousands of people from the British colonies from the First and Second World Wars voluntarily served to fight for the British Empire – they weren’t forced to, they wanted to do it. And those who lost their lives are commemorated alongside British people on Remembrance Sunday.”
“If people want to wear the white poppy that is entirely up to them but one of the problems is that the money donated to do white poppy goes to propagandising their political cause, it doesn’t go to helping wounded servicemen and their dependents as the red poppy does. It is a diversion from some of the benefits of Remembrance Sunday.”
London Poppy Day, the flagship event for the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal, launched on Thursday, with about 2,500 volunteers and Armed Forces personnel selling poppies and collecting donations at Network Rail and TfL stations across the capital.
The Royal British Legion distributes about 30 million poppies a year. Last year, the Poppy Appeal raised £49.2 million for members in need of the Armed Forces. This year, the charity’s target is £53.1 million.
James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said: “The point about the festival of Remembrance is that it is to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to defend the freedom of our nation and all freedom-loving nations.
“I will be proud to wear the traditional red poppy because we must never forget the sacrifice of those who gave their lives so that we can be free.”
He said that the PPU’s campaign to “decolonise” Remembrance Day “would completely undermine that message” adding: “I would encourage everyone to continue to support the poppy appeal and to observe all the traditional facets of Remembrance weekend.
“As the war in Ukraine has shown, if you want to have peace, you have to be ultimately prepared to fight for it by deterring your adversaries.”
White poppies have been worn since 1933. They stand for remembrance for all victims of war, both civilian and military, of all nationalities, as well as challenging militarism and a commitment to peace.
They differ from red poppies, which were designed specifically to commemorate and support the British and allied Armed Forces personnel.
Geoff Tibbs, the PPU’s Remembrance Project Manager, said: “When we still see politicians openly celebrating the British Empire, it is vital that we remember the impacts that colonial wars and violence have had – and continue to have – around the globe.
“We need to make space for the victims of colonial wars on Remembrance Day. This involves listening to the voices of those affected by that history and the ongoing impacts of colonialism, both in the UK and elsewhere. It involves actively challenging the racist legacies of colonialism that continue to influence whose lives are valued and whose are not.”
He said that a number of official Remembrance Sunday events around the country are making use of white poppies in their ceremonies.
This year, Haringey Council’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony will feature a white poppy wreath for the first time – a move which is supported by the Mayor’s Office of the north London borough, which coordinates the event.
It joins several other events including Sale Town Hall, South Manchester where white poppies will be included in the official event for the second year running, as well as ceremonies in Leicester and Aberystwyth.
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