Wednesday, October 21, 2015

A century ago, a whole generation was butchered and damned

The last post reminded me that we're in the centennial anniversary of the meat grinder that was The Great War.  Grandpa was called up for that but was lucky enough to not ship out until the armistice canceled his date with Eternity.  Older Brother has the flag that covered his coffin, from back in 1964.

But millions weren't so lucky; lions were led by donkeys in those days.  The remembrances are their due, and our duty.



This is Jeff Beck's cover, done for the British Legion's annual veteran's charity appeal in 2014.  The photographs are of the glass poppies displayed at the Tower of London.  More than 800,000 poppies each represent one of the Willie McBrides who never came home.



And a note to our readers, "The Last Post" is the song that we colonials call "Taps".
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Et lux perpetua luceat eis. Amen.

2 comments:

  1. AjdshootistOctober 21, 2015 at 8:22 PM

    My Grand Father was gassed in the First World Was he lost 5 members of his family 3 on the same day! He himself joined the Home Guard in the second World War as a Sgt died in 1943 from a chest complaint due to having been gassed in the first world war and being out in the cold nights I never met him due to being born in 1949 have his silver fob watch and chain which still goes and i have been know to wear with a three piece suit.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Comrade MisfitOctober 21, 2015 at 10:18 PM

    My grandfather was deferred because he had two very young children. He referred to them fondly as his "weatherstripping", because they kept him out of the draft.

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