The Kent History Forum

Military History => Miscellaneous Military History => Topic started by: johnfilmer on April 06, 2021, 12:23:37 PM

Title: Empire Day 1916
Post by: johnfilmer on April 06, 2021, 12:23:37 PM
This single-sided sheet was given to my aunt on that day. She was Four! I suspect that the source was Sunday School.
Title: Re: Empire Day 1916
Post by: Dave Smith on April 06, 2021, 06:00:59 PM
johnfilmer. I suspect we were given a similar one at school before WW2, for we always celebrated Empire Day. A service & songs/hymns in the hall. The world map would have been very much the same, with a lot of red countries. And weren't we glad of their help in fighting the war! Without them we could well have lost it before the Americans joined in. 
Title: Re: Empire Day 1916
Post by: johnfilmer on April 07, 2021, 12:10:02 PM
I realised that there was no date for the celebration of Empire Day on the sheet, so I went for a quick check.
 Empire Day was celebrated on Queen Victoria's birthday, May 24, starting in 1903 as a tribute to her after her death in 1901.
It was last celebrated in 1958, and has since become Commonwealth Day, no longer on the same day.
Title: Re: Empire Day 1916
Post by: grandarog on April 07, 2021, 06:21:18 PM
       This is my Father leading the front Horse and my Grandfather leading the Second Horse at an Empire Day Parade in Sittingbourne, between the Wars.
      The photo was taken in the High Street by the police Station as they are passing the junction with Park Road.
Title: Re: Empire Day 1916
Post by: smiler on April 08, 2021, 04:37:49 PM
   My daughter got married in Gibraltar in 1995 and Empire day was whilst we were there. Bank holiday and celebrated a lot more there than I ever remember in UK.
Title: Re: Empire Day 1916
Post by: Dave Smith on April 09, 2021, 10:26:49 AM
Smiler. As with so many other, "things from the past", Empire Day/ Commonwealth Day, were not relevant to the younger generation and therefore gradually died out. A pity, for what better way to remember our comrades from the past and keep their memory going? But that's so called, progress!
Title: Re: Empire Day 1916
Post by: pete.mason on April 09, 2021, 01:32:31 PM
The RAF celebrated it as Empire Air Day. Not sure when it changed but became Battle of Britain Day and in September sometime postwar guessing late '50s
Title: Re: Empire Day 1916
Post by: grandarog on April 09, 2021, 07:22:52 PM
There were only ever 5 Empire Air Days by the RAF.They ceased in 1939.
 Battle of Britain day is a completely different event,celebrated on

15 Sept,annually which was the turning point and climax ,commemorating the Air Battle which ran from 10 Jul 1940 – 31 Oct 1940

Empire Day officially ceased to be Celebrated in 1958.

Commonwealth Day only began to be celebrated in 1977