WW1 100 years ago
Discussion
My grandfather was a WW1 veteran. He was one of four brothers. He and two others fought in the war. He was the only one to survive. He died in 1982 and we still have all the correspondence and medals of the three of them.
Our lights are out.
Our lights are out.
Edited by ClaphamGT3 on Monday 4th August 22:14
Guam said:
Moving Ceremony at West Minster Abbey, I was pleased they involved the Germans as well, very well thought out.
I agree.Lights out in our house - just one candle on the hearth in the lounge.
We first visited the Somme nearly 30 years ago. I'm not ashamed to say that, whilst standing at the vast Thiepval Memorial, inscribed with the names of the seventy-two thousand British and Commonwealth soldiers who died on the Somme and had no known grave (I still can't get my head around the enormity of what that figure is saying), I suddenly, and without any warning, burst into tears. I've got a lump in my throat now, just writing this.
lamboman100 said:
A tragic war, for sure. And its gravity accelerated the sunset of the British Empire.
Agree.lamboman100 said:
But it was necessary to halt the rise of the German Empire. Which it eventually did, ~31 years later.
The WW1 (and WW2) lives were definitely not lost in vain.
Not so sure tbh.The WW1 (and WW2) lives were definitely not lost in vain.
onyx39 said:
Guam said:
R.I.P. to the Millions.
"THEY BURIED HIM AMONG THE KINGS BECAUSE HE
HAD DONE GOOD TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD
HIS HOUSE"
Tony2or4 said:
...Thiepval Memorial, inscribed with the names of the seventy-two thousand British and Commonwealth soldiers who died on the Somme and had no known grave
I went with my wife and son (who was ten at the time). I told him what the memorial was for. He said he had never met, nor heard of anyone with his name. We looked through the records and still have the photo of his rare namesake's memorial.RIP Sjt R P of the Northumberland Fusiliers
I don't mean to disrespect anyone, but I shy away from gestures which are then splashed all over my social media and seek to demonstrate more about how we want to be perceived than the underlying sentiment. But Lights Out is more poignant and touching than I thought it could ever be. How humbling and sorrowful.
funkyrobot said:
Our lights are out. A few other houses down the street have done the same.
Rest in peace, all of you.
Indeed, rest in peace. It was as if our village had had a power cut last night. The sadness and sobriety of the moment was almost palpable, very oppressive and that's how we should feel. Even now, the next morning, I don't think I'll see a lit vigil candle again without remembering first and foremost of last night. Rest in peace, all of you.
aeropilot said:
lamboman100 said:
But it was necessary to halt the rise of the German Empire.
Except they didn't start it, it was the Austria-Hungarian Empire that started it 
Regarding the ceremony in Belgium yesterday, I watched it all on Irish TV yesterday afternoon. I think it is the first time that the Irish media has fully covered a World War 1 commemoration ever - and it was also very good to see the President of Ireland - Michael D O'Higgins, as one of the main national leaders laying a wreath for all the Irish soldiers who fell.
Times really have moved ion in Ireland - and I am so glad.
After the event last night we went to a bar in Mons that was lit purely by candlelight. They're making quite a big deal of it over the whole town, it looks like there's something planned for the 23rd, which offhand I think was the original date of the big battle of Mons. Certainly lots of the graves in the cemetery have that date inscribed on them.
I'm thinking I might do a tour of the WW1 sites later in the year, it's sparked a bit of curiosity in me.
I'm thinking I might do a tour of the WW1 sites later in the year, it's sparked a bit of curiosity in me.
Eric Mc said:
Something would have started it - somewhere, somehow. Times really have moved ion in Ireland - and I am so glad.
True, it would have - and still time simmers.Let's not forget, the Home Rule debate was placed to one side - unthinkable. These days, the issue would be exploited for personal political gain.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/one-hundre...
Yes - in some ways, the outbreak of the war on the Continent acted like a safety valve for Britain. If the war had not started when it did, I am pretty sure a full scale and vicious Civil War would have broken out in Ireland before the end of 1914.
Of course, in 1916 a rebellion did occur, followed by a War of Independence in 1919-21 and then an actual Civil War. but I think the scale of a Civil War if it had broken out in Ireland in 1914 would have been a lot worse than the conflicts that eventually did come about.
Of course, in 1916 a rebellion did occur, followed by a War of Independence in 1919-21 and then an actual Civil War. but I think the scale of a Civil War if it had broken out in Ireland in 1914 would have been a lot worse than the conflicts that eventually did come about.
lamboman100 said:
A tragic war, for sure. And its gravity accelerated the sunset of the British Empire.
But it was necessary to halt the rise of the German Empire. Which it eventually did, ~31 years later.
The WW1 (and WW2) lives were definitely not lost in vain.
Not being argumentative for no purpose, but why was it necessary?But it was necessary to halt the rise of the German Empire. Which it eventually did, ~31 years later.
The WW1 (and WW2) lives were definitely not lost in vain.
The only downside would have been financial for the country. We would not have become poor, just no so advanced as Germany. Now fast forward to 1918 and ask yourself if a Germany dominated Europe would have cost us that much.
Above all, of course, were the deaths, the pointless deaths as it turned out given WWII.
From a personal, family, point of view, the war meant a higher infant mortality rate, little food for 14 years for a big family - my father was one of 18 children - and little heating. In fact, despite the dreadful life for the likes of my family before WWI, it actually was worse after it.
Whilst 20:20 hindsight is no real way to win an argument, I can't help believing that if Germany did take over various states in Europe it would have cost them more than they got from it in the medium and long terms. It would probably have meant no Holocaust of course.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff