British Ambassador attends First World War centenary service in Morocco
The British Ambassador and his family laid wreaths on the graves of British and other Commonwealth soldiers who gave their lives for international freedom and are buried in Rabat.
British Ambassador to Morocco, Mr. Clive Alderton, accompanied by his wife, children and members of the British Embassy, attended a Ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the First World War at the European Christian cemetery in Rabat on Monday 4 August 2014. The British Ambassador and his family laid wreaths on the graves of British and other Commonwealth soldiers who gave their lives for international freedom and are buried in Rabat.
The British Ambassador to Morocco said:
“Exactly 100 years ago today, Britain entered the First World War. My wife and I wanted to bring our children, and colleagues from the Embassy, here today to pay a personal tribute to the courage and sacrifice of all those who have given their lives in the name of peace. It is a humbling and emotional moment for us all. Many British and Commonwealth soldiers were not much older than my own children when their lives were brutally cut short by the horrors of War. In laying flowers on graves we think not just of our own heroes and the families they left behind, but also of the many thousands of Moroccans who have made similar sacrifices. The world is currently facing a dangerous series of threats to international peace and stability. As I stand beside Commonwealth graves today I will offer a silent prayer that everyone – Leaders and Citizens alike – meditates for a moment or two on the futility of conflict and the senseless suffering it brings. That is the lesson I want my own children to take home today.
The UK is cooperating with 22 countries, including former adversaries, to commemorate the centenary of the First World War with a focus on remembrance, Education and Youth. The centenary is also an opportunity to stress reconciliation and the need to resolve conflict. The centenary is an international moment that goes far beyond the simple outcome of a military conflict; sacrifice was endured by all.