BROADCASTER and historian Dan Snow has stressed it is vital to keep the memory of the First World War alive for young people.

Snow, who lives in the New Forest and has close links with Dorset, said many teenagers may think the conflict has little to do with them.

But he said the war is an “enormous warning” which is as relevant today as it has always been.

Snow, whose great great grandfather was Prime Minister David Lloyd George, said: “It’s a gigantic lesson into looking beyond fake news and propaganda, about trying to find out the truth from multiple sources, not just believing what you are told from a bunch of old white guys who control the governments.

“It’s a warning of the catastrophic effects of listening to people who peddle nationalism and racism and inter-state competition. It’s a giant warning about what happens when societies sleepwalk because they’re told through patriotism or through duty that they have to do exactly what they are told and it results in catastrophe - millions of people died,” added the TV personality.

Snow, son of famous broadcaster Peter Snow and nephew of newsreader Jon Snow, is a First World War expert.

He is a Trustee of the Tank Museum at Bovington and is a regular visitor to its collection of WWI tanks.

He went on : “You need to take this stuff seriously because in the past decisions have been made, mistakes made, signals sent, people have gone to war almost by accident assuming the other side won’t step up. And tens of millions were killed and wounded and traumatised for the rest of their lives.”

Many schools in Dorset have organised commemorative events, including Bournemouth School where boys will welcome former deputy head teacher and respected history teacher Will Pyke.

Will has written a book telling the story of the involvement of former pupils and masters to the Western Front in WW1.

Head teacher Dr Dorian Lewis said the school also has a Combined Cadet Force and runs an annual trip to the WWI battlefields.

Speaking just two weeks before the Armistice Centenary, Snow said he believes there is a chance that memory of the conflict will not die out because documents exist from the time.