Details for Article #7
2014-Jul-28 Centennial of the First World War (H. Chapman) Desc: Memoriam

Centennial of the First World War 28th July, 1914 — 2014 Life Photo courtesy: Google Images. (Copyright attribution: Unknown) A  s traumas go, the First World War was a grand success — 10 million military and 7 million civilian deaths over a period of 4 years, not to mention 20 million wounded. Of course, these are conservative figures — some estimates put the total number of deaths at 65 million! Trauma is necessary for development — genuine development. Every important development or achievement or attainment is the fruit of trauma. Life itself is a period terminated by a trauma at either end — birth and death. So if the First World War is considered a trauma then there must be some development that we can claim as an achievement. What does shine forth from this outrageous trauma is the indomitable human spirit. In the face of overwhelming odds we see heroes standing tall, undaunted. We witness acts of human camaraderie in the midst of the most insane barbarism. We see hope rising, rising, rising ... and eventually vanquishing despair! The League of Nations from which sprang the present United Nations Organisation was a direct outcome of the deathly insanity of the First World War. This is indeed a welcome development — cooperation and collaboration for world peace, for human harmony. No, we have not given up our penchant for waging war at the drop of a hat but we are working on it. Several social organisations have emerged over the years and the message for peaceful coexistence is becoming stronger and louder. Rendezvous With Death I have a rendezvous with Death At some disputed barricade, When Spring comes back with rustling shade And apple-blossoms fill the air-- I have a rendezvous with Death When Spring brings back blue days and fair. — Alan Seeger (killed in action July 1, 1916, aged 28 years) Excerpt of speech given at annual Officers' Training Corps (1914) ... That war should be avoided at almost any cost, that war would solve nothing, that the whole of Europe and more besides would be reduced to ruin, and that the loss of life would be so large that whole populations would be decimated. In our ignorance I, and many of us, felt almost ashamed of a British General who uttered such depressing and unpatriotic sentiments, but during the next four years, those of us who survived the holocaust — probably not more than one-quarter of us — learned how right the General's prognosis was and how courageous he had been to utter it. — Donald Christopher Smith a cadet reporting General Horace Smith-Dorrien's speech. Links and references: The First World War - History Channel The First World War - Wikipedia World War I Casualties - Wikipedia Worst Casualties - Wikipedia The Poetry of War — Alan Seeger, eyewitnesstohistory.com The Poetry of War — Wilfred Owen, Wikipedia Article compiled from various resources by H. Chapman (webmaster@angloindian.chapmanhilton.com) Your queries, comments, and suggestions are appreciated. I'll respond as best I can. — H. Chapman

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