Agenda item

5.1

It was moved by Councillor Terry Fox, and seconded by Councillor Steve Wilson, that this Council:-

(a)       notes that on 11 November 2018 it will be one hundred years since the First World War ended;

(b)       notes that an estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a direct result of the war, while it is also considered a contributory factor in a number of genocides and the 1918 influenza epidemic, which caused between 50 and 100 million deaths worldwide;

(c)        notes with great loss the senselessness of war, which kills people and animals indiscriminately, and believes that everything should be done to ensure that mankind’s past mistakes are not repeated;

(d)       notes with great sadness that as well as the many millions killed during the First World War throughout the world, it is estimated that upwards of 50,000 men went from Sheffield to the various ‘Fronts’ during this period, many of whom never returned home;

(e)       notes that the Sheffield City Battalion comprised of men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and colleagues ("Pals"), rather than being arbitrarily allocated to battalions;

(f)        further notes that the Sheffield Pals trained for two years before being sent to what became known as the Battle of the Somme and that many of the Sheffield Pals were killed in the very first day of fighting, many in just the first 10 minutes, and that by the end of the four-month long battle, 90% of the Sheffield Pals were gone;

(g)       notes that a permanent overseas memorial to the Sheffield Pals, and all of the 31st Division, stands on the Somme Battlefields and that the Sheffield Memorial Park, as it is named, is an important and fitting tribute to all of those from Sheffield who lost their life there;

(h)       notes that, as many of the Sheffield Pals signed themselves up to the War inside Sheffield’s Town Hall, it would, therefore, be fitting to honour them, and the ultimate sacrifice they paid, with a specific memorial at the Town Hall and this Administration is looking into how this can best be achieved;

(i)         notes the remembrance events in the city to commemorate one hundred years since the First World War ended including:-

(i)         Weston Park being designated as a Fields in Trust Centenary Field, and to feature in the Centenary Fields Legacy Programme, to remember those who served and lost their lives during conflict; the commemoration event is a “Thank You” to those who fought and fell in the First World War, including hundreds of Sheffield Pals;

(ii)        the planting of three hundred memorial trees throughout the city’s parks; and

(iii)       school programmes throughout Sheffield acknowledging the 100 year anniversary;

(j)         places on record our thanks to all of those who took part in the cycle ride to the Somme earlier this year to raise funds for the remembrance works now being implemented in our parks and open spaces; and

(k)        believes that this centenary reminds us once again of the tragic consequences of war, and as well as honouring all of those killed or injured in battle, it is important to give thanks and gratitude to all service personnel, past and present, whom work so hard and sacrifice so much to keep us safe.

5.1.1

(NOTE: With the agreement of the Council and at the request of the mover of the Motion (Councillor Terry Fox), the Motion as published in the Summons was altered by the substitution, in paragraph (i)(ii), of the word “three” for the word “one”.)

5.2

After contributions from eight other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Terry Fox, the Motion, as altered, was put to the vote and carried as follows:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       notes that on 11 November 2018 it will be one hundred years since the First World War ended;

(b)       notes that an estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a direct result of the war, while it is also considered a contributory factor in a number of genocides and the 1918 influenza epidemic, which caused between 50 and 100 million deaths worldwide;

(c)        notes with great loss the senselessness of war, which kills people and animals indiscriminately, and believes that everything should be done to ensure that mankind’s past mistakes are not repeated;

(d)       notes with great sadness that as well as the many millions killed during the First World War throughout the world, it is estimated that upwards of 50,000 men went from Sheffield to the various ‘Fronts’ during this period, many of whom never returned home;

(e)       notes that the Sheffield City Battalion comprised of men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and colleagues ("Pals"), rather than being arbitrarily allocated to battalions;

(f)        further notes that the Sheffield Pals trained for two years before being sent to what became known as the Battle of the Somme and that many of the Sheffield Pals were killed in the very first day of fighting, many in just the first 10 minutes, and that by the end of the four-month long battle, 90% of the Sheffield Pals were gone;

(g)       notes that a permanent overseas memorial to the Sheffield Pals, and all of the 31st Division, stands on the Somme Battlefields and that the Sheffield Memorial Park, as it is named, is an important and fitting tribute to all of those from Sheffield who lost their life there;

(h)       notes that, as many of the Sheffield Pals signed themselves up to the War inside Sheffield’s Town Hall, it would, therefore, be fitting to honour them, and the ultimate sacrifice they paid, with a specific memorial at the Town Hall and this Administration is looking into how this can best be achieved;

(i)         notes the remembrance events in the city to commemorate one hundred years since the First World War ended including:-

(i)         Weston Park being designated as a Fields in Trust Centenary Field, and to feature in the Centenary Fields Legacy Programme, to remember those who served and lost their lives during conflict; the commemoration event is a “Thank You” to those who fought and fell in the First World War, including hundreds of Sheffield Pals;

(ii)        the planting of three hundred memorial trees throughout the city’s parks; and

(iii)       school programmes throughout Sheffield acknowledging the 100 year anniversary;

(j)         places on record our thanks to all of those who took part in the cycle ride to the Somme earlier this year to raise funds for the remembrance works now being implemented in our parks and open spaces; and

(k)        believes that this centenary reminds us once again of the tragic consequences of war, and as well as honouring all of those killed or injured in battle, it is important to give thanks and gratitude to all service personnel, past and present, whom work so hard and sacrifice so much to keep us safe.