In memory of those who gave their lives for their countries.
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:30 am
At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns which had been firing almost continuously from 1914 fell silent, marking the end of the largest and bloodiest conflict the world had ever seen.
The optomistically titled "War to end all wars", or "Great War" which later became known as World War 1 was over.
Some of the countries in existence before the war dissapeared forever, and other countries were born from the ashes.
A whole generation of men had been fed through the meatmincer at places that most people hadn't even heard of, and very few came out the other end. Many of the survivors were never the same again, and a new "sickness" - shell shock (now known as "post traumatic stress disorder") became widespread. The maimed and wounded were everywhere.
There had been many amazing feats of courage under fire, under the harshest of conditions. There had also been stupendous mismanagement by High Commands who seemed to care little for the value of human life.
Victories were often measured in yards gained at the cost of tens of thousands.
The war brought together people from all over the world. Africans and Asians fought on a continent far from home. Australians fought alongside British and French. The U.S. sent troops and equipment. No one continent was spared the cream of their youth in the pursuit of some barely understood political ideal. Many people who had no quarrels with each other were supplied with rifles, bayonets, artillery and machine guns to kill each other.
There are not many survivors of this conflict left alive after 87 years. It's up to us to remember the sacrifices of the many who fought and died for their countries. Also to remember that the benefits of sending our troops to fight and possibly die should be weighed up against the tragic cost.
On this day 87 years after the last shots were fired, in memory of the generation of soldiers who were left scattered all over Europe and other parts of the world, we should never forget.
Armistice Day, November 11th 2005.
The optomistically titled "War to end all wars", or "Great War" which later became known as World War 1 was over.
Some of the countries in existence before the war dissapeared forever, and other countries were born from the ashes.
A whole generation of men had been fed through the meatmincer at places that most people hadn't even heard of, and very few came out the other end. Many of the survivors were never the same again, and a new "sickness" - shell shock (now known as "post traumatic stress disorder") became widespread. The maimed and wounded were everywhere.
There had been many amazing feats of courage under fire, under the harshest of conditions. There had also been stupendous mismanagement by High Commands who seemed to care little for the value of human life.
Victories were often measured in yards gained at the cost of tens of thousands.
The war brought together people from all over the world. Africans and Asians fought on a continent far from home. Australians fought alongside British and French. The U.S. sent troops and equipment. No one continent was spared the cream of their youth in the pursuit of some barely understood political ideal. Many people who had no quarrels with each other were supplied with rifles, bayonets, artillery and machine guns to kill each other.
There are not many survivors of this conflict left alive after 87 years. It's up to us to remember the sacrifices of the many who fought and died for their countries. Also to remember that the benefits of sending our troops to fight and possibly die should be weighed up against the tragic cost.
On this day 87 years after the last shots were fired, in memory of the generation of soldiers who were left scattered all over Europe and other parts of the world, we should never forget.
Armistice Day, November 11th 2005.