Still fighting in the trenches: ‘War discourse’ and the memory of the First World War in Britain

Wilson, Ross J

Abstract

This article examines how the memory of the First World War (1914–1918) across Britain has been structured by the use of a specific ‘war discourse’. This means of communication draws upon the vast array of words, phrases and sayings that were popularised through the experience of large numbers of civilians in military service during the conflict. This lexicon has been subsequently incorporated into wider usage and retains a prominent place within cultural expression. However, rather than merely being used as an illustrative device, the ‘war discourse’ is employed to make specific references regarding both the past and the present within the political, media and public sphere, as issues of blame, responsibility and neglect are integral parts of its usage. Through the application of critical discourse analysis, the ‘war discourse’ can be observed as a significant means by which society remembers the Great War.

Citation

Wilson, R. J. (2015). Still fighting in the trenches: ‘War discourse’ and the memory of the First World War in Britain. Memory Studies, 8(4), 454-469. https://doi.org/10.1177/1750698015575174

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 1, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Mar 16, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Deposit Date: Nov 19, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 20, 2020
• Journal: Memory Studies
• Print ISSN: 1750-6980
• Electronic ISSN: 1750-6999
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 454-469
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1750698015575174
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5053751
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1750698015575174