Jim Kirkwood's story about The Great War
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Author: Correlli Barnett
SynopsisIn his classic text on the First World War, distinguished military historian Correlli Barnett vividly illuminates the complex story of the First World War, a war that left millions dead and changed the face of the Europe forever. Drawing on accounts of ordinary soldiers as well as primary sources, Correlli Barnett tells the story of the war from the causes of the war through the long, bitter years of stalemate on the Western Front to the compromise peace in 1918. He follows the campaign through all theatres of war - land, air, sea - from the trenches to the strength of the civilians on the Home Front.
My Story
The Great War was a catastrophe which eclipsed the European continent from 1914 to 1918. Throughout these years of bitterness, loss and destruction, people wondered why and prayed that this was the war to end all wars.
To me this book highlights that nothing changes and history continues to repeat itself.
The Great War killed so many young men between 1914 and 1918. Where is the learning when today's newspapers, radio reports and countless TV newsreels churn out stories about young men being killed or maimed to the extent where their lifeless or limbless bodies are being discarded like old chip paper?
During the First World War weapons of mass distruction from the death industry enabled armies to kill even more on a larger scale. Where are the priorities when even today despite having enough weapons to destroy the world over and over and over again, countries still focus on the death industry?
During before and after the Great War people's quality of life was determined by insufficient discriminatory poor laws, yet millions of pounds were spent and even borrowed to maintain the war effort.
Am I the only person angry and resentful knowing that today's situation merely reflects this inhumane situation where despite child poverty, falling national health and education standards, low wages and high unemployment, tax increases and pension cuts which are all a major concern for the people, still the government continue to plough so much money into needless wars?
I say, spend spend spend on the vital services that matter and to make war mongers think again about the real mood of the decent people who lost family in wars from the past and present. We can't change the past, only learn for the future.
