Remembrance

Brits Don't Know Their Facts About The Forces, New Report Reveals

New research released by Forces Network highlights a severe lack of awareness regarding the UK’s part in past and current conflicts.

Shockingly, our report found 85% of Brits are unaware of over half the conflicts which the British Armed Forces have been involved in since 1939.

Nearly everyone asked (92%) didn’t know how many members of the British Armed Forces have died in wars and conflict since the First World War.

The gap in knowledge wasn’t just a history lesson issue, 37% of those asked couldn’t say which conflicts the British Armed forces are involved in currently.

When quizzed about Op Shader and the fight against so-called Islamic State, only a third of people were aware of our nation’s involvement.

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO, former Chief of the Defence Staff, said:

“It is very disappointing that the public does not know more about the Armed Forces’ role in defending our country and our allies.

Explore our interactive memory map, commemorating those involved in worldwide wars and conflicts since WWI

“It is always important, especially at this Remembrance time of year, to think about those thousands of people who have given their lives for our country since the end of World War 2.”

Asked when how many people they thought had died during the World Wars, one in five people thought fewer than 5000 service personnel made the ultimate sacrifice; in fact, it was one million.

It seemed the awareness issue spanned generations. Astonishingly nearly half of 18-24 year olds are not aware of British involvement in the Second World War.

However, the report isn’t all bad news. Our research revealed that as a nation we are actively interested in learning more about our military, with a majority of Brits wanting to see pupils taught more about the UK’s conflicts in schools.

Lord Richards added:

“I would urge the government to make the history of modern conflicts a compulsory subject in our schools to help youngsters better understand and respect the freedoms and lives they enjoy today.

“In truth, we don’t know where the next conflict will be but our armed forces stand ready for any eventuality.”

The research, conducted just ahead of Remembrance Day, was released to mark the launch of Forces Network’s Remembrance map.

The map was created to identify and commemorate all the conflicts which British Armed Forces have been involved in since the First World War. The hope is that the interactive map will help the public gain a deeper understanding of the commitments made by our nation’s service personnel.

Ian Beckett, Honorary Professor of Military History from the University of Kent, partners in the Remembrance map said:

“The significance and value of the Remembrance Campaign is that it reminds us of those many other occasions since 1914 on which servicemen and women have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of this country.”