11/11/2012: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.
Cooke4444
94 years ago, in a French train wagon, something was signed that should have brought peace to Europe/the world. After 4 years of the most disgusting and horrible battles in the history of mankind, "peace" was given a chance.
Due to harsh conditions, where no one wanted to admit that the war had no winner or loser, this war only led to bigger problems in the future. (Something with a guy with a small moustache).
So no one would ever forget:
(I have been gentle with the kind of pictures to show)
So no one would get shocked, I didn't post the harsh pics. What are those then? Well, victims... Victims from bombshells, gas attacks, trenchfeet,...
A whole continent was blown to bits in just 4 years. Don't be tricke
😛we (Europe) is STILL recovering from 2 world wars.
The pointlessness of this war, the mental and physical victims, the economical costs,... makes this all a bit surreal, but apparently only few people have understood the message, the cry for peace.
WW2, Vietnam, Iraq, Syria,... Looking back (or still in progress) to these wars: what outcome did they have apart from death and tragedy?
For those who want to know the full stories, the consequences,...: look for it on the internet or books, but the best way to "feel" the despair and emotions of WW1: Visit the Somme, Verdun or West-Flanders. You can only fully experience this awful period in time when you've seen the pictures, heard the stories of survivors or seen the graves.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row
Wilfred Owen (1893-1918, age: 25)
"Anthem for a Doomed Youth"
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
--Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries for them from prayers or bells,
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of silent minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
NOTE: In the next few days, I will write some articles about the memories in "the Westhoek", notable discoveries and false stories & interpretations on WW1.
Comments
Wilfred Owen is my hero.
Voted!
Very very nice article cooke
Voted, very interesting time for history even with it's cruel happenings...
I saw the title and my heart stopped. For a second there I thought Ward was back
I have been to all those places, they were in horrible circumstances. Battles where one man was killed for every 2,5 cm of frontline gained, people dying from weakness, lack of hygiene, so weak they drowned in the mud (yes, because the landscape was one big pack of mud), men catching cold-foot and having to amputate it before it could spread to the whole body, people shellshocked so hard they went mad and shot at everyone... And all this for what? Might? Power? Some pieces of land? Greediness...
Thanks.
Last week there were celebrations of this "victory" in my country.
I was labelled anti-patriotic because I didn't like the celebrations.
The only good thing, is that that a "useless slaughter" finished.
I was astonished to see not only right wing, but also center and left wing politicians celebrating the "Victory Day", WITHOUT REMEMBERING that it was only a stupid massacre.
And we are in 2012: the European Union won the Noble for Peace.
A lot of people are not able to say why.
"Si sta come,
d'autunno,
sugli alberi,
le foglie"
G. Ungaretti, an Italian soldier
"We are like,
in Autumn,
on trees,
the leaves"
o7 Lest we forget...
Voted. My Great Grandfather was killed at hill 60 at Ypres in 1916 leaving behind a wife and 5 children...one whom he had never even seen. He was a tunneler with the Royal Engineers 175th Tunneling Company.
Lest we forget O7
thoughtfully done.