100 years ago

[jambo]

In one hours time, we arrive at the moment 100 years ago Britain declared war on Germany and World War 1 broke out. Here in the UK people are putting their lights out between 10pm and 11pm to reflect the words of the then foreign secretary about "the lights going out all over Europe" and the memory of the sacrifice made by many during the conflict. The wife and I were just saying that had we been living 100 years ago then each of our 3 sons would have been conscripted into the army and fighting in the trenches. Indeed they could well have found themselves in the 36th Ulster Division all but wiped out at the Somme in 1916.

It was meant to be the war to end all wars yet just 21 years after the 1918 armistice, history repeated itself with the outbreak of the second world war. Now 100 years one just wonders how much, if anything, man has learned.

 

[Leslie]

One lesson, amongst others, to learn is that the civilized world should confront international bullies sooner rather than later.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

My grandfather kept a daily journal during WWI, and he added this entry as a postscript clearly at a later date,

Lesson Unlearned [unmarked undated clipping]. El Paso’s Dr. C. M. Hendricks* ended his diary of the last world war on November 14, 1918 in these words: “Inasmuch as the censorship made it impossible to write only in a hazy way of my daily routine, I began this diary to set down the more important things and impressions experienced during the days of war. Now that the censorship is relieved and we can tell our whereabouts and the daily events in the letters home I will discontinue this diary as it will simply be a repetition of my letters. For those who may read this in after years I wish to leave this impression that in spite of all the bloodshed, suffering and toil of war, I feel that the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, prevented the greatest field military victory in history, that if the Armistice had not been signed within ten days or two weeks at least one-fourth of the German army would have been captured and the rest would have surrendered, thus bringing to end in a fitting way the ignominious defeat of the most arrogant and barbarous military power the world has ever known. Peace terms could have been much more easily arrived at and the people of Germany would have been taught a lesson that they have wholly missed by the signing of the Armistice. In the light of what is happening today, it would seem that the Germans would have been better off had they had that lesson. Perhaps they would not have turned so soon to the militaristic dictator who leads them like dumb cattle to another slaughter. Perhaps they would have developed an ability and desire to govern themselves. If they had this war would not have been" [WW2]. Unmarked undated newspaper clipping, probably ran in one of the El Paso Newspapers.
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*In addition to being one of America’s outstanding physicians, Dr. Hendricks promptly volunteered for duty in the service of his country in World War I. He attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was an instructor in the poison gas offensive and defensive operation in the inter-service school in Paris. He was promoted to Colonel in the medical reserve and served as commanding officer of the 315th medical regiment from 1922 to 1941" Cited from Obituary. Charles M. Hendricks. 1878–1953, reprinted in Diseases of the Chest, Vol. XXV, No. 4, April 1954.
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[jambo]

I am sure your grandfathers diaries of this period would make fascinating reading. The accounts of men who came through such momentous events as this are amazing. With the passing of time we can become detached from these days but such diaries, letters etc bring a much closer connection to these events.