Letitia Blake
The conference, which was organised with energy and passion by Edmund O’Sullivan, covered a wide range of topics. These included: the legacy of the Polish armed forces in the UK; the Sandakan death march in Borneo; the North African campaign in Tunisia; football; and the Second World War and the Special Forces. Some speakers related more personal stories of relatives fighting and escaping in various countries, as well as of families coping back home with scant news of loved ones abroad.
Four current and former Monte San Martino trustees were present at the conference, held in London on May 10th, to hear the former chair, Nick Young, speak powerfully and movingly about the Trust and his father’s escape involving the devastating deaths of the two young Italian partisans who had helped him. He described the MSMT’s research partnerships and initiatives and reported on hearing the King’s speech on his State Visit to Italy during which he expressed gratitude to the Italian people for the help given to escaping PoWs in 1943 – 1945. Nick ended his speech with the words: “We will remember them.”
A theme running through the day was the role and purpose of commemoration. Gareth Crossman, of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, gave three key reasons why commemoration matters: it keeps us all focused on the human cost of conflict; it serves as a reminder to the State of the obligation to remember; and it is a force for good, connecting older and younger generations. As another speaker, Richard O’Sullivan, of the London Military Museums Network, put it: “Remembrance is our responsibility.”
Many attendees stayed on after Edmund had closed the conference to talk to the speakers and each other about the many moving stories and intriguing topics that were voiced at this eye-opening, enriching conference.