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RemembranceMyths vs Evidence
Poppies, the silence, the Unknown Warrior and the war myths, checked against the records.
35 pages A4 · phone edition 83 pages · free, no email or sign-up
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About this guide
Every November, millions of people across Scotland and the rest of the UK wear a poppy, stand in silence and gather at war memorials. It is one of the oldest shared traditions we have, and one of the most meaningful. It also attracts myths.
More about this guide
This free guide sets each claim against the evidence: rules about how to wear a poppy, claims that poppies have been “banned”, and stories about the war itself, from “lions led by donkeys” to the Christmas truce football match. It uses the Imperial War Museums, the Royal British Legion, Poppyscotland, the National Army Museum, Westminster Abbey, Hansard and other original records.
It also looks at the spiritual side of Remembrance across faiths and none, how Scotland remembers, and how to find a relative who served or died. It is written with respect for everyone who served and everyone who lost someone.
Published by Clarity Guides. In a world full of disinformation, get Clarity.
What’s inside
- Why 11 o’clock on the 11th?
- Where the poppy really came from
- Red, white, purple, black: poppies of different colours
- The silence, the Cenotaph and the Unknown Warrior
- The spiritual side of Remembrance
- How Scotland remembers
- “Lions led by donkeys”?
- Six more claims about the First World War
- Finding the people behind the names
- Checking Remembrance stories online
General information about history and commemoration. Clarity Guides is independent and not linked to any charity or organisation named in the guide.
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