Britain 'owes its liberty to Australia and the sacrifices Diggers made during WWI'
ANZAC army soldier troops standing in a trench at Gallipoli during World War I. Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited
BRITAIN owes its liberty to Australia and the sacrifices Diggers made during World War I and that should be properly recognised, a former senior British Army commander has demanded.
The controversy of the apparent planned snub by the British Government of the contribution Australians made during the Great War has now attracted anger in Britain.
As revealed exclusively by The Daily Telegraph this week, the British Government department tasked with 100-year anniversary commemorations said there were no plans to hold any specific ceremony to recognise Australia.
A group portrait of the 3rd General Service Reinforcements, (QLD), Egypt for the Light Horse recruits, 1917. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
This came as mandarins in Whitehall briefed departments that the role of "new Commonwealth" nations such as Nigeria, India and Pakistan needed to be pushed to enhance "community cohesion".
But in an about-face, the department tasked with running commemorations in Britain, the Department for Culture, Sport and Media, said last night: "The UK will be commemorating the huge contribution and sacrifices made by members of the armed forces from Britain, Australia and other Commonwealth countries and allies."
This came just two days after the same department team categorically said there were no plans for any commemorations specifically for Australia or New Zealand; the announcement sparking public anger in Australia.
John Simpson was a World War I hero who, with his donkey, carried wounded soldiers to safety. Source: News Limited
Yesterday recently retired former commander of British forces in Afghanistan Colonel Richard Kemp suggested that was a travesty.
"This seems to be an attempt by the Government to use the centenary as a means of trying to appease large numbers of immigrants," he told a British newspaper.
"But it shouldn't be an exercise in political correctness or social engineering.
"Countries such as India and those in West Africa did make a significant contribution and we should certainly remember that. But we should not do so in the place of Australia and New Zealand.
"The contribution of those two countries, along with Canada and South Africa, towards the Allied victory was huge and they fought incredibly bravely, and made very, very immense sacrifices."
He added: "There should be a proper reflection that we owe our liberty, to a large extent, to them."
Aussie Diggers pose for the camera during WWI. Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited
Another British newspaper today reported Culture Secretary Maria Miller was also branded an "idiot" by senior government officials amid the claims ANZACS were to be snubbed for politically correct reasons.
"This is awful," a senior Whitehall source is quoted as saying. "The idiot Maria Miller is doing nothing to involve the rest of the Empire who sent vast numbers of people to help us. The DCMS say they don't want too much focus on death."
A source close to Ms Miller branded the attack as "petty and childish".
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