100 Years Since The Great War Was Declared

[Arthur Little]

For those who are interested ... a Special Service is being televised from Westminster Abbey tonight to commemorate the centennial of the outbreak of World War One!

[primdale]

For those who are interested ... a Special Service is being televised from Westminster Abbey tonight to commemorate the centennial of the outbreak of World War One!

I will be watching, just need to get a candle to light at 10pm.

[les_taxi]

For those who are interested ... a Special Service is being televised from Westminster Abbey tonight to commemorate the centennial of the outbreak of World War One!

Fantastic - good to see we never forget. I will have to turn my lights on then off again! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[andy222]

Doubt if there will be many lights off in some parts of Yorkshire or some parts of Birmingham and London. Those guys and gals who lost their lives for this country would be turning in their graves if they could see it now. The country has lost its identity that's for sure. God rest them all.

[les_taxi]

Doubt if there will be many lights off in some parts of Yorkshire or some parts of Birmingham and London. Those guys and gals who lost their lives for this country would be turning in their graves if they could see it now. The country has lost its identity that's for sure. God rest them all.

Well said and how so sadly true, they won't give a .... about the relevance of the very freedom it has given them now :NoNo:

[grahamw48]

Thanks for the heads-up Arthur. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Both of my Grandfathers fought in WW1, and both were fortunate enough to come home, my dad's dad albeit with part of his lower jaw shot off.

My mum's dad went on to fight all through WW2 as well ! 35 years service going from Private to Major. :smile:

He finished up running the Army Recruitment Office in Pontefract, which is why my mother came to be there and able to meet my dad.

[mickcant]

I too have family that died in the Great War, my thoughts are with them, seeing the conditions on newsreel footage is very humbling.

I would not volunteer for war.:NoNo:
Mick.:Erm:

[les_taxi]

I would not volunteer for war.

I most definitely would :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Maybe you would though Mick if it was happening at the time, you would want to protect your Family and stand up for your Country :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[mickcant]

I most definitely would :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Maybe you would though Mick if it was happening at the time,you would want to protect your Family and stand up for your Country :xxgrinning--00xx3:

In principle yes, but so many of the deaths were pointless.

I would not trust our politicians decisions now.

Fight for Cameron NO. :cwm23:
Mick. :NoNo:

[les_taxi]

No, look at it in context of a world war. I don't think deaths are pointless, just tragic. At the time, doing a certain action like a raid on a heavily defensive position had to be done - even knowing there would be loss of life. If we're talking about modern conflicts like Afghanistan, I would agree.

[Dedworth]

No, look at it in context of a world war. I don't think deaths are pointless, just tragic. At the time, doing a certain action like a raid on a heavily defensive position had to be done - even knowing there would be loss of life. If we're talking about modern conflicts like Afghanistan, I would agree.

The problem with "modern conflicts" like Afghanistan is that many deaths are pointless - because of spineless politicians our forces are having to fight with one hand tied behind their backs and the rule book in the other hand. Taliban scum hiding behind human shields in mosques and dwellings then being released to fight another day, soldiers up in court for killing them etc etc. Unlike the Israeli forces who have the full backing of their leaders.

Before anyone starts about the deaths of civilians - read this :-

In the early months of World War I, the German military employed their airships, which were capable of traveling 85 miles per hour and hauling two tons of explosives, on bombing raids on the cities of Liege, Antwerp and Paris. On January 19, 1915, the Zeppelins struck Great Britain for the first time, dropping bombs on the seaside towns of Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn. With the targeting of civilian populations from the air, modern warfare had arrived. “Nowadays there is no such animal as a non-combatant,” justified German Zeppelin Corps Commander Peter Strasser, “modern warfare is total warfare.”

[Terpe]

We were lucky enough to be able to attend some really good events in Folkestone yesterday.
Prince Harry hosted the military parade.

Pity the weather turned wet but some very good events and exhibitions :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Dedworth]

We were lucky enough to be able to attend some really good events in Folkestone yesterday.
Prince Harry hosted the military parade.

Pity the weather turned wet but some very good events and exhibitions :xxgrinning--00xx3:

I used to like Folkestone when it was a ferry port - remember aged 10 going with my Mum & Dad on a day trip to Boulogne - the train station was right alongside the ferry

[Terpe]

I used to like Folkestone when it was a ferry port - remember aged 10 going with my Mum & Dad on a day trip to Boulogne - the train station was right alongside the ferry

Looks very tired these days, but some fascinating connections to WW1

We decided to stay on for a few days and explore the area :xxgrinning--00xx3:

BTW those railway tracks are still there.

[imagine]

Bless them all,

My father was an Army man, served in World War 2, my grandfather World War 1. Another - not sure - would be my great grandfather? Boer War, were rifflemen. Another one was a Major, but without refreshing my memory on my family tree, I'm not exactly sure which or how many greats my great grandfather was in the Boer War,

Seems all my family tree down the male side were army men.

[Dedworth]

Looks very tired these days, but some fascinating connections to WW1

We decided to stay on for a few days and explore the area :xxgrinning--00xx3:

BTW those railway tracks are still there.

9 million men passed through there on their way to WW1 battlefields, you wonder how many came back

http://www.theremembranceline.org.uk/past_harbour.htm

[stevewool]

Such a sad time, but do we learn

[Dedworth]

Interesting programmes

Michael Portillo examines the role of the railways in World War I.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04dbt1w/railways-of-the-great-war-with-michael-portillo-5-railways-and-remembrance

[mickcant]

Interesting programmes

Michael Portillo examines the role of the railways in World War I.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04dbt1w/railways-of-the-great-war-with-michael-portillo-5-railways-and-remembrance

Yes all his Railway programs have been interesting and these very good, they seem to do in depth researching.
Mick.:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[grahamw48]

I've been watching them too. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

I must go down to the National Railway Museum today!

It's just down the road, FREE, and I haven't been in for ages. :doh

[lordna]

It seems very odd to me to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the start of a conflict that killed so many on both sides and in some way inappropriate to be remembering the event we all know (now) was the start of such a huge loss of life and misery.

I agree that we should never forget what happened BUT it would have been far better to delay any "celebration" a further 4 years to mark the END of the conflict and suffering it caused worldwide and the tragic waste of human lives that was the result.

[Arthur Little]

It seems very odd to me to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the start of a conflict that killed so many on both sides

:Erm: ... I refer to my opening post on this thread:

:ReadIt: ... and you will note I'd carefully chosen the word commemorate - as opposed to celebrate - the centenary of the so~called "War to end all wars" which, no doubt, was also the intention of the programme's producers.

[les_taxi]

I was just going to add that Arthur, that it was to commemorate, not Celebrate :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Arthur Little]

I agree that we should never forget what happened BUT it would have been far better to delay any "celebration" a further 4 years to mark the END of the conflict

........................... :yeahthat: WILL be cause for celebration. :iagree: ... assuming the combined power of these :crazy: Arab States doesn't blow us all :cwm24: to 'Kingdom Come' before November 2018. :omg:!

[lordna]

It seems very odd to me to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the start of a conflict that killed so many on both sides and in some way inappropriate to be remembering the event we all know (now) was the start of such a huge loss of life and misery.

I agree that we should never forget what happened BUT it would have been far better to delay any "celebration" a further 4 years to mark the END of the conflict and suffering it caused worldwide and the tragic waste of human lives that was the result.

It matters little if I use the word commemorate or celebrate as commemorate is defined as:-

1) Recall and show respect for (someone or something) or

2) Mark or celebrate (an event or person) by doing or producing something

Still seems odd to "recall and show respect" or "Mark" the start of hostilities as the point or event being remembered nobody had actually died and the magnitude of slaughter was not then known. In remembering the war dead, we definitely would be "showing respect" by "Marking" the END of hostilities a very short 4 years after.

There obviously is a political motivation behind celebrating it now...maybe Cameron thinks he can gain support by "commemorating" now rather than wait till he is no longer in office.

[les_taxi]

There obviously is a political motivation behind celebrating it now...maybe Cameron thinks he can gain support by "commemorating" now rather than wait till he is no longer in office.
Honestly, what a load of rubbish to say that :doh

It's perfectly normal to commemorate something on the day it happened - Twin Towers is one, Munich air disaster another, and Hillsborough etc.

You WOULD celebrate something like the end of the war.

I can look at your statement and say you are scoring cheap shots being anti Tory so you are no better.

To me, we should mark the awful start of the War and try and imagine the scariness of it all and the terrible things our brave boys had to go through.

[lordna]

Honestly, what a load of rubbish to say that :doh

It's perfectly normal to commemorate something on the day it happened -Twin Towers is one, Munich air disaster another, and Hillsborough etc.

You WOULD celebrate something like the end of the war.

I can look at your statement and say you are scoring cheap shots being anti-Tory so you are no better.

To me, we should mark the awful start of the War and try and imagine the scariness of it all and the terrible things our brave boys had to go through.

In the case of your examples Les, I would agree as they were events that took place on a single day. BUT, in the case of the Great War this happened over a period of 4 years and the point I am trying to get across is, that at the beginning of the war, there were NO casualties and nobody could have predicted how bad it was going to be. So it is odd commemorating an event because lives were lost after the event.

I would describe myself as more anti-Cameron than anti-Tory, but what other reason could have motivated him to commemorate something four years too early?

[les_taxi]

Yes but it has been commemorated all over the world inc Australia,France,Belgium,New Zealand etc etc so nothing to do with Cameron.

[Dedworth]

Yes but it has been commemorated all over the world inc Australia,France,Belgium,New Zealand etc etc so nothing to do with Cameron.


Correct Les

Remembrance Day 11am 11/11 & Remembrance Sunday has been held every November since 1919 to remember those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today

Nothing political about it whatsoever (except those vermin burning poppies a couple of years ago)

[Arthur Little]

I would describe myself as more anti-Cameron than anti-Tory ...

So ... you're anti-Cameron, eh? Now, who's being biased? :doh


... but what other reason could have motivated him to commemorate something four years too early?

Well ... does he really need a reason? :Erm: ... apart from the MAIN - and, I would say, ALL IMPORTANT - fact that, as Prime Minister, he's Head of HM Government and, as such, it's naturally enough expected of him.

There again ... :anerikke: ... like countless others, he too, may have lost a grandparent (or great-grandparent) amidst all the horror and carnage of warfare in the 'Trenches'.

At least - unlike his opposite number - he had the good grace to actually personalise his tribute to the fallen!

[grahamw48]

I'm saying nowt. :NoNo:

[Dedworth]

There's been all sorts of anniversaries commemorated 60th & 70th anniversaries of D Day, 60th anniversary of the end of WW2, Holland has a liberation day holiday in May. None are political

Lordna, the French have a socialist President was he making a political statement by attending their commemorations of the 100th anniversary?

[Terpe]

Everyone's entitled to express an opinion.
In my opinion lordna's comments are out of sync and outside of reason. :doh

Now I'll say nowt more.

[lordna]

Correct Les

Remembrance Day 11am 11/11 & Remembrance Sunday has been held every November since 1919 to remember those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today

Nothing political about it whatsoever (except those vermin burning poppies a couple of years ago)

Not Correct actually, as the 11am, 11/11 commemorates the END of the first world war. Which is actually the point I am trying to make.

Although we do very rightly commemorate this event every year, the 100th anniversary should have also been planned for 11/11 and NOT the start of war.

What actually triggered the start of war was the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28th 1914 and NOT August 4th when Britain declared war on Germany. So it seems Britain declaring war is the event being commemorated and not the deaths of millions from all countries involved following that event. Before August 4th Serbia, Russia, France, Austria/Hungary and Belgium were already involved in the war.

This particular commemoration is only being held around Britain and Cameron last year allotted 50 billion to mark the event. Let's not forget there are still 4 years of battles to commemorate and that perhaps marking the "sabre rattling" of just Britain becoming involved may not be the most appropriate. The other countries involved in the conflict are NOT involved in this commemoration and my opinion is that the 50 billion would have been far better saved for the 11/11 2018 AND be a joint event with the other countries involved.

Let's make it clear that I AM NOT SAYING THE WAR SHOULD NOT BE COMMEMORATED.

[grahamw48]

.

This particular commemoration is only being held around Britain and Cameron last year allotted 50 billion to mark the event.


. The other countries involved in the conflict are NOT involved in this commemoration and my opinion is that the 50 billion would have been far better saved for the 11/11 2018 AND be a joint event with the other countries involved.

Let's make it clear that I AM NOT SAYING THE WAR SHOULD NOT BE COMMEMORATED.

Where on earth do you get that figure from ?

[Dedworth]

This particular commemoration is only being held around Britain and Cameron last year allotted 50 billion to mark the event. .

Gauck and Hollande commemorate 100th anniversary of World War One

On August 3, 1914, the German Empire declared war on France. One-hundred years later, the German and French presidents commemorated the event that irreversibly changed not only their countries, but the entire world.

http://www.dw.de/gauck-and-hollande-commemorate-100th-anniversary-of-world-war-one/a-17828582

Royals attend moving twilight ceremony to mark WW1 centenary

Members of the Belgian and British royal families, as well as other heads of state, have attended a number of events today to mark 100 years since the German invasion of Belgium, which triggered World War One.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at L'Abbaye Saint-Laurent in Liege this morning where they were received by King Philippe of the Belgians.

They then walked to the Cointe Inter-allied Memorial for a service which included wreath laying and a minute's silence. Prince William along with French President Francois Hollande, German President Joachim Gauck, Belgian Prime Minister Elio du Rupo and the King of Belgium gave short speeches

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11008731/Royals-attend-moving-twilight-ceremony-to-mark-WW1-centenary.html

[les_taxi]

50 billion? :yikes::icon_lol:

C'mon Lordna please correct such an obvious error :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[lordna]

Where on earth do you get that figure from ?

Ooops! ....you're right it was 50 million, Sorry folks!

[les_taxi]

Here you go Lordna, done it for you:

In Britain, £50 million has so far been committed by the Government and National Lottery to support centenary events, although £35 million of it is for refurbishing the Imperial War Museum.

The Australian government, meanwhile, has already pledged to spend £72 million.

[lordna]

Gauck and Hollande commemorate 100th anniversary of World War One

On August 3, 1914, the German Empire declared war on France. One-hundred years later, the German and French presidents commemorated the event that irreversibly changed not only their countries, but the entire world.

http://www.dw.de/gauck-and-hollande-commemorate-100th-anniversary-of-world-war-one/a-17828582

Royals attend moving twilight ceremony to mark WW1 centenary

Members of the Belgian and British royal families, as well as other heads of state, have attended a number of events today to mark 100 years since the German invasion of Belgium, which triggered World War One.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at L'Abbaye Saint-Laurent in Liege this morning where they were received by King Philippe of the Belgians.

They then walked to the Cointe Inter-allied Memorial for a service which included wreath laying and a minute's silence. Prince William along with French President Francois Hollande, German President Joachim Gauck, Belgian Prime Minister Elio du Rupo and the King of Belgium gave short speeches

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11008731/Royals-attend-moving-twilight-ceremony-to-mark-WW1-centenary.html

Oh blast!...looks like I got the facts wrong here too!

Still, this is interesting!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/10677769/Germany-attacked-for-scandalous-First-World-War-anniversary-spending.html

[lordna]

This particular commemoration is only being held around Britain and Cameron last year allotted 50 billion to mark the event. Let's not forget there are still 4 years of battles to commemorate and that perhaps marking the "sabre rattling" of just Britain becoming involved may not be the most appropriate. The other countries involved in the conflict are NOT involved in this commemoration and my opinion is that the 50 billion would have been far better saved for the 11/11 2018 AND be a joint event with the other countries involved.



I must apologise for my comment above stating other countries were not involved, but this was based on a comment taken from Cameron's speech from the Imperial War Museum:-

"Our ambition is a truly national commemoration, worth of this historic centenary. I want a commemoration that captures our national spirit, in every corner of the country, from our schools to our workplaces, to our Town Halls and local communities. A commemoration that, like the Diamond Jubilee, celebrated this year, says something about who we are as a people."

Thee was no mention of the other countries partaking in this "NATIONAL" commemoration and I wrongly assumed this was the case.

I also apologise for saying 50 billion had been allocated and not 50 million and thanks to those who promptly pointed it out.

However, I have nothing more to say on this subject (Hooray you're probably all saying!)

Although I still have the opinion we should be marking the END of hostilities and not the start.

[grahamw48]

Hooray. :biggrin:

You just need to watch more TV.

There were multiple reports about the commemoration in other countries. :smile:

[Arthur Little]

Surprisingly - rather like the War itself - this thread has " rumbled on " :icon_rolleyes: ... so I'd respectfully suggest it's time to call a truce, as it would appear that the essential difference between commemoration and celebration has since been firmly established.