General Chat

Dear All

Hello

On this day, Britain declared war on what is now Germany.

The lead up to this event was the assassination on 28 June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary.

Long-term causes, such as imperialistic foreign policies of the great powers of Europe, such as the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, France, and Italy, played a major role. Ferdinand's assassination by a Yugoslav nationalist resulted in a Habsburg ultimatum against the Kingdom of Serbia.

Several alliances formed over the past decades were invoked, so within weeks the major powers were at war; as all had colonies, the conflict soon spread around the world.

This conflict involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (centred around the Triple Entente) and the Central Powers.

More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the largest wars in history.

More than 15 million people were killed, making it also one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

This was supposed to be the War to end all Wars.

Less than 20 years later, World War II began.

Take gentle care
Best wishes
xx

Thank you for posting that Elizabeth, I did not know it was on 4th August the world was plunged into that terrible war.

My grandfather was in it ,he did come back home, a broken man. His
nerves never fully recovered.

Every good wish
Gwyn

Gentle nudge please

Thank you
xx

Last weekend in Folkestone there was a parade.

If anyone's relative went to fight in that war, there is a good chance that they walked down the steep hill from the town to the docks and then travelled to France. After the war, the road was renamed and is now called the Road of Remembrance. At the top of the road is the town's war memorial and nearby, surrounded by a bed of rosemary there is a special memorial remembering the thousands of men who walked past that spot to embark on their ships, many of them sadly never to return to British soil.
On Sunday after the parade and piped band had wound it's way to the harbour area, there was a time of remembrance when red, white and blue balloons were released while the lone piper played.
Later a wreath of poppies was cast into the sea in memory of lives lost in that terrible war.

Gwyn

My brother's birthday was yesterday 4th August

My paternal Grandfather fought in that war, and came home with shrapnel in his head, he died in great pain years later in his workshop - presumably the shrapnel moved and caused his death. Maybe he had constant pain from it all that time. Poor man. I can't find out anymore about it now as the one person who told me these details died last year, my Dad's cousin.

Lizx