British defence attaché Col. Jonathan Kitson on his role, Remembrance Sunday and Poppy Appeal
November 11th is Armistice Day, the international commemoration of the end of the First World War, which offers us today an opportunity to remember and honour those who have given their lives in combat. In the United Kingdom, the day is accompanied by Remembrance Sunday, and its distinctly British acts of remembrance will be taking place in Prague too. Danny Bate spoke to Colonel Jonathan Kitson, defence attaché at the British Embassy, about the nature of his position, and his role in November’s events of military commemoration.
Within the world of diplomacy and international relations, people will be familiar with titles like ‘ambassador’, but could you explain to us, what is the role of a defence attaché, which is your position here in Czechia and Slovakia?
“The British defence attaché in any embassy across the world is the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence’s representative at the embassy. So, we, as military people, effectively become diplomats, and we are very much a part of the diplomatic community around the British Embassy and more widely in the diplomatic environment here in Prague.
“My roles roughly fall into two areas. As a military person and representative of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence, my job is to promote the bilateral relations that exist between most countries at the defence level. You can imagine that here in the Czech Republic that we are fellow members of NATO, and we're very close allies bilaterally as well. We work together a lot at the NATO level, and to an extent in some of those areas to do with the European Union of course. We're no longer a part of it, but that doesn't stop us from being involved. So, my day-to-day work involves a lot of liaisons, going to meetings, discussions, so that we can understand each other's defence policies and strategies, and can support and help each other where we can.
“The second part is much more representative, just as ambassadors and chargés d'affaires represent the United Kingdom writ large. For defence, that means that we have a very strong historical link with the Czech Republic, more broadly Czechoslovakia, going back to the Second World War. A lot of that history is wrapped up in the day-to-day representation that I do. It's a great honour to do it, whether it's travelling around the country to the birthplace of some of these Czechoslovak heroes, or taking part in the national-level memorials, such as International Veterans’ Day, which is coming up on Monday.”
And on that subject, could you tell us about what's occupying your time during this month?
“Remembrance Sunday, as many people know, in the United Kingdom is an event on the Sunday closest to the 11th of November, which is Armistice Day. The 11th this year is on Monday, so this Sunday the British Embassy, and specifically the defence section, will be gathering together at the Olšany military cemetery, which is out in Prague 3. There is a very small Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery there. It's a very beautiful place, and we go there to conduct the Commonwealth-level Remembrance and Armistice Day ceremony. That's very much the traditional British activity.
“It kicks off at about 10:30 on Sunday, and it's a public event, so we're always very keen to encourage anybody from here who has connections with the United Kingdom, or is British, if they wish to come and take part. It's a very recognisably British Remembrance Day ceremony. That's what we're going to do this coming Sunday, and it revolves of course around the wreath laying.
“But just to tie in what happens here in Czech Republic more broadly, there is of course the International Veterans’ Day on the 11th of November, Armistice Day. There are a number of events here in Prague, specifically the armed forces Veterans’ Day national commemoration, which happens at the Vítkov memorial, attended by the president and the defence minister. As a representative of Great Britain, I also attend that to commemorate those who have given their lives in support of their own country.
“So those are the two main activities that are taking place in the next couple of days, and leading up to that, we've been raising money through the Poppy Appeal, in support of the Royal British Legion. We've also been supporting the Czech Republic’s new launch of its own national poppy appeal. So much of what we do over this period is to recognise, to honour and to renew our commitment and support to our veterans and the families of those who have made that ultimate sacrifice.”
