Goafer Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Lights Out at 10pm to Mark the 100 Year Anniversary of the Outbreak of WW1 Exactly 100 years ago at 10pm, the Declaration of War was signed by Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, who famously remarked: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime." The service at Westminster Abbey will see candles going out one by one from 10pm until just one oil-burning lamp remains at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. This will then be extinguished by the Duchess of Cornwall at 11pm, the exact time the British Empire joined the First World War. It is the centre of the 'Lights Out' campaign, where people are being asked to turn off their lights from 10pm and light a single candle to remember those to gave their lives. Major landmarks across the capital, including Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and the famous lights at Piccadilly Circus, will go dark for an hour tonight. The organisers wrote: "Everyone in the UK is invited to take part in LIGHTS OUT by turning off their lights from 10pm to 11pm on 4 August, leaving on a single light or candle for a shared moment of reflection. "People can take part in whatever way they choose, marking the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War either individually or by attending one of the many events being organised around the country for a collective experience." Following the declaration, four years of war followed with around six million men in the UK mobilised. More than 700,000 Britons died.
Happenstance Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Yeah we did it. Most of my street seems to have as well apart from our next door neighbours.
Goafer Posted August 4, 2014 Author Posted August 4, 2014 Not many on our street are doing it. The ones that do have the lights out might just have gone to bed. It's hard to tell really.
Cube Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 This is the first I've heard about it. I guess it's a bit late now.
Blade Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 I did it. I wouldn't have known about it though if I hadn't looked on facebook beforehand.
Ashley Posted August 5, 2014 Posted August 5, 2014 This is the first I've heard about it so no, didn't participate.
EEVILMURRAY Posted August 5, 2014 Posted August 5, 2014 Also didn't know about this until about half 10. Street lights were on, but tis a small 'hood so not that surprised. My bedside lamp was on, so that could be my candle.
Shorty Posted August 5, 2014 Posted August 5, 2014 (edited) Clearly this message wasn't well spread. It's the thought that counts though, not encouraging millions of people to light candles in their home (wonder how many fires started last night). Also, since when do we remember the day the war began? We remember the day the war ended usually.... Edit: This came across super cynical. My point was mostly meant to be the "thought that counts" part, literally not just as the cliché, thinking about those that gave their lives is more important. Edited August 5, 2014 by Shorty
Fierce_LiNk Posted August 5, 2014 Posted August 5, 2014 Clearly this message wasn't well spread. It's the thought that counts though, not encouraging millions of people to light candles in their home (wonder how many fires started last night). Also, since when do we remember the day the war began? We remember the day the war ended usually.... Edit: This came across super cynical. My point was mostly meant to be the "thought that counts" part, literally not just as the cliché, thinking about those that gave their lives is more important. Yeah, I'm familiar with remembering the day the war ended, not usually when it started. I didn't know about this either, so agree that the message wasn't well spread. I heard about candles being placed in churches, but that's it. I've had a look on facebook and there are quite a few people posting about the lights out, at about 10 o'clock last night. So, unless you happened to be online at precisely that time/a few minutes before or you had known about it earlier in the day (somehow...) it was quite an easy thing to miss. I would have liked to have taken part, especially as we have family who have fought in wars and know people currently away on service.
Rummy Posted August 5, 2014 Posted August 5, 2014 Didn't know myself, saw some candle pictures posted on facebook but it was well gone 10pm. I did like the idea of remembering the start of the war 100 years on, especially given the fact there's still heavy conflicts going on around the world. It's a shame we don't seem to learn.
MoogleViper Posted August 5, 2014 Posted August 5, 2014 Clearly this message wasn't well spread. It's the thought that counts though, not encouraging millions of people to light candles in their home (wonder how many fires started last night). Agreed. I wonder how many people who turned the lights off actually took a few minutes to think about the war, and all of the people who fought in it, suffered from it. Most people just do these things arbitrarily, completely missing the point of it. I also didn't see this until about 10 past 10 on facebook. Also I don't own a candle.
flameboy Posted August 5, 2014 Posted August 5, 2014 Didn't know about this myself nice way to commemorate even if people have said it's weird that it's the beginning of the war guess 100 years is significant. Talking of tributes have to say I'm a big fan of this from Portsmouth: Portsmouth unveil World War One shirt tribute to the 'Pompey Pals' Portsmouth Football Club have honoured every member of the 'Pompey Pals' who fell during World War One by including their name on the new home kit. The Pompey Pals, the 14th and 15th battalions of the Hampshire Regiment, recruited heavily at Fratton Park. They went on to suffer heavy losses at the Great War, with more than 1,400 making the ultimate sacrifice. "This is not about celebration, it's about commemoration," Pompey fan and historian Bob Beech told BBC Solent. "We need to remember what all of these men and women were doing during the Great War across the region." The shirt was launched on the 100th anniversary of Britain's declaration of war on Germany, while the club also unveiled a Pompey Pals memorial at Fratton Park on Monday paying tribute to those who served. "When Lord Kitchener's pointing finger was seen by all, Portsmouth Football Club responded with recruitment stands outside the ground," added Beech. "Many of those who turned up in Pompey blue were soon in army khaki. It is important we remember them." The shirt harks back to the 1914 version and contains the same badge - the first ever worn on a Portsmouth shirt. "It's the traditional royal blue Pompey shirt with the old badge of Portsmouth Football Club which was first used 100 years' ago," said Beech. "Woven into the kit more specially are the names of the fallen of all the Pompey Pals."
EEVILMURRAY Posted August 6, 2014 Posted August 6, 2014 (wonder how many fires started last night). Not to mention the global warmings.
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